Position Summary

The Director of Development – Individual Giving (Director) is a senior fundraising leader responsible for developing, leading, and executing comprehensive strategies to grow individual philanthropic support for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF). This position provides strategic direction and leadership for all aspects of individual giving, including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, recurring giving, endowment support, scholarship investments, and special philanthropic initiatives.

As the lead member of the Development team, the Director will build and manage a robust portfolio of individual donors and prospective supporters, cultivate meaningful relationships with high-capacity individuals, and secure transformational gifts that advance ASF's mission and long-term sustainability. The Director will develop strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors at all levels, with particular emphasis on growing major and leadership-level gifts and increasing donor lifetime value.

Working collaboratively with the President and CEO, senior leadership, Board members, volunteers, and development colleagues, the Director will establish and implement strategic fundraising initiatives, strengthen donor engagement, and identify opportunities to expand ASF's philanthropic reach nationally.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Individual Giving Strategy and Leadership

•    Develop, lead, and implement a comprehensive individual giving strategy aligned with ASF's strategic plan, annual operating objectives, and long-term fundraising priorities.

•    Provide strategic oversight of ASF's individual giving programs, including annual giving, major gifts, leadership giving, monthly giving, planned giving, endowment contributions, and scholarship investments.

•    Identify opportunities to expand and diversify ASF's individual donor base, increase average gift size, improve donor retention, and maximize lifetime philanthropic value.

•    Establish and oversee a comprehensive strategy to advance prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

•    Develop strategies to transition annual fund donors into major gift prospects and increase giving among existing supporters.

•    Evaluate fundraising performance, analyze trends, and use donor data and analytics to inform strategy, improve results, and identify new opportunities for growth.

Major Gifts and Portfolio Management

•    Personally manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, developing individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.

•    Identify, qualify, cultivate, and solicit major and transformational gifts from individuals, families, and other philanthropic supporters.

•    Develop and execute customized solicitation strategies, proposals, and giving opportunities that align donor interests and philanthropic priorities with ASF's mission.

•    Secure significant individual gifts for scholarships, endowments, restricted initiatives, and other organizational funding needs.

•    Engage the President and CEO, Board members, astronauts, scholarship recipients, and other key stakeholders in strategic donor cultivation and solicitation opportunities.

•    Develop and implement thoughtful stewardship strategies to ensure meaningful donor recognition, engagement, and long-term philanthropic commitment.

Donor Engagement and Relationship Development

•    Serve as a senior relationship manager and ambassador for ASF, representing the organization with professionalism and enthusiasm among current and prospective donors.

•    Build and maintain meaningful, long-term relationships with donors through personalized engagement, regular communication, strategic visits, and cultivation opportunities.

•    Develop and execute high-impact donor engagement initiatives, including private receptions, cultivation events, donor briefings, and mission-focused experiences.

•    Create opportunities for donors to connect directly with ASF's mission, including engagement with astronauts, scholarship recipients, university partners, and other key stakeholders.

•    Oversee the development and implementation of donor recognition and stewardship programs that strengthen donor loyalty and encourage increased giving.

Fundraising Operations and Collaboration

•    Work collaboratively with the Development team to integrate individual giving strategies with corporate relations, foundation fundraising, special events, and other revenue-generating initiatives.

•    Partner with senior leadership and Board members to identify prospective donors and leverage existing relationships to expand ASF's philanthropic network.

•    Collaborate with colleagues to develop compelling fundraising cases, proposals, campaign materials, and donor communications.

•    Establish and maintain accurate donor records, portfolio strategies, contact reports, solicitation activity, and revenue projections within ASF's CRM system (Bloomerang).

•    Utilize prospect research, wealth screening, donor analytics, and CRM reporting to identify new opportunities and prioritize fundraising activity.

•    Ensure donor confidentiality, ethical fundraising practices, and compliance with organizational policies and accepted development standards.

•    Represent ASF at national conferences, networking opportunities, community events, and other external engagements that advance individual philanthropy.

Organizational Leadership and Strategic Partnership

•    Serve as a strategic partner to the President and CEO and Development leadership in establishing and achieving organizational fundraising priorities.

•    Provide recommendations regarding individual giving strategy, donor pipeline development, revenue forecasting, and long-term philanthropic growth.

•    Contribute to the development of annual budgets, fundraising plans, and performance reporting for individual giving. Establish annual and multi-year revenue goals.

•    Participate in strategic planning and cross-departmental initiatives that advance ASF's mission and organizational sustainability.

•    Provide guidance, mentorship, and support to development colleagues and contribute to a collaborative, accountable, and results-oriented fundraising culture.

•    Perform other duties as necessary to support the mission and strategic priorities of ASF.

Qualifications and Experience

Basic Qualifications

•    Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, social science, or related field required.

•    At least eight (8) years of progressive professional fundraising experience, with significant experience in individual giving and major gift development.

•    Demonstrated success developing and implementing individual giving strategies that generate measurable revenue growth.

•    Demonstrated experience developing donor pipelines, cultivating high-capacity prospects, and moving donors through increasingly significant levels of philanthropic engagement.

Additional Qualifications

•    Advanced degree and/or professional fundraising certification preferred.

•    Experience managing a substantial portfolio of individual donors and prospective major gift supporters.

•    Experience developing annual and multi-year fundraising plans, establishing revenue goals, and evaluating performance against measurable objectives.

•    Experience engaging senior executives, Board members, volunteers, and other influential stakeholders in donor cultivation and solicitation.

•    Experience in higher education, scholarship fundraising, science, technology, aerospace, or mission-driven nonprofit organizations is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

•    Demonstrated ability to develop and execute sophisticated individual giving and major gift fundraising strategies.

•    Exceptional relationship-building, interpersonal, and executive-level communication skills.

•    Strong track record of securing significant philanthropic gifts and successfully managing a portfolio of major gift prospects.

•    Ability to develop and execute strategic donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.

•    Strong understanding of moves management, donor pipeline development, prospect research, wealth screening, and fundraising analytics.

•    Ability to think strategically while maintaining the initiative and discipline required to achieve measurable fundraising results.

•    Excellent presentation, negotiation, proposal development, and persuasive writing skills.

•    Ability to build productive relationships with senior executives, high-net-worth individuals, Board members, volunteers, astronauts, corporate leaders, and other key stakeholders.

•    Strong financial and analytical skills, including the ability to develop revenue projections, assess fundraising performance, and identify opportunities for growth.

•    Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and exercise sound judgment and discretion.

•    Ability to lead through collaboration, influence, and relationship management.

•    High level of professionalism, integrity, confidentiality, flexibility, and accountability.

•    Proficiency in donor database and fundraising software; experience with Bloomerang preferred, along with Microsoft Office Suite.

Travel and Work Requirements

•    Willingness and ability to travel nationally as required to cultivate and solicit donors and represent ASF.

•    Flexibility to attend donor meetings, special events, and organizational activities outside normal business hours, including evenings and weekends.

•    Ability to work in a collaborative, mission-driven, and results-oriented environment.

•    Passion for the mission of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and its commitment to advancing STEM education and innovation.

Physical Requirements

•    Ability to communicate clearly on the phone, in writing and in person

•     Ability to read written material and computer screens

•     Ability to spend multiple hours on the telephone and computer

•     Ability to enter data into a computerized record

•     Ability to lift 25 pounds as required

•     Ability to stay still in place for prolonged periods of time for computer or conference work. 

•     May include prolonged periods of standing or sitting. 

•     May include short periods of excessive movement. 

Work Schedule and Location

This position is based in Central Florida with an expected annual salary range of $85,000 to $90,000 depending on qualifications and experience. Most work will be conducted during typical weekday business hours, with flexibility for scheduling occasional evening or weekend work. Employees are expected to work hybrid with two-to-three days in-person in the office and other days may be remote in accordance with the agency’s remote work policy. Some overnight U.S. travel is required. 

About Astronaut Scholarship Foundation

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded by the Mercury 7 astronauts that provides annually more than 70 scholarships to the brightest and most talented college students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Our mission is to aid the United States in retaining its world leadership in technology and innovation by supporting the very best and brightest scholars in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while commemorating the legacy of America’s pioneering astronauts.

Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) is an Equal Opportunity Employer.