Principal Gift Strategist

Department: Donor Engagement
Reports to: AVP, Donor Engagement
FLSA Status: Exempt
 
The anticipated salary for this position starts at $120,700+. The final pay will be determined based on several factors, including qualifications, experience, education, and years within the job or industry, with a strong emphasis on maintaining internal equity.
 
Who we are and what we’re about:
KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization and the official fundraising foundation for the University of Kansas.  We partner with donors in providing philanthropic support to build a greater KU.

As an employee of KU Endowment, you’ll witness firsthand the power of our donors’ generosity.  You will join a talented and fun group of people who are inspired to help KU through the support of loyal alumni and friends.  This support fuels excellence, enabling students and faculty to develop innovative programs and research that distinguish the university.  We connect the philanthropic passions of donors with the needs of students, faculty and programs – and everyone benefits.

People are engaged. Purpose is ignited.  Lives are changed.
 
What we are looking for:
The Principal Gift Strategist serves as a senior, cross-functional leader responsible for driving strategy, alignment, and momentum across the philanthropic pipeline. This role functions as both the central traffic controller and lead strategist for principal gift donors and prospects at every level of the donor experience, from acquisition to stewardship ensuring efforts are coordinated, timely, data-informed, and donor-centered.
 
In addition to holding and actively managing a select portfolio of high-priority donors and prospects, the Principal Gift Strategist directly supervises the Principal Gifts Coordinator and mentors frontline fundraisers and collaborates with affiliates partners, strengthening overall performance, execution, and strategic discipline across the team. This position plays a critical role in advancing KU Endowment’s most complex, high-impact fundraising priorities.
 
The individual in this position is expected to embrace KU Endowment’s stated core values – collaboration, curiosity, empowerment, and excellence – and demonstrate support for them through professional interactions and activities. 
 
Hybrid Work Environment: 
Following the initial training period, this position offers a hybrid work schedule, with the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week. However, the role requires multiple days per week on-site at our Lawrence, KS office to ensure effective collaboration, team engagement, and alignment with organizational goals. 
 
What’s a typical day look like?
Strategic Leadership & Coordination

• Serve as the primary strategic architect and “traffic controller” for principal gift activity, ensuring alignment of outreach, solicitation strategies, stewardship, and proposals across units and development teams.
• Lead strategic planning for top prospects and donors, guiding coordinated, multi-channel, multi-relationship engagement strategies.
• Ensure clarity of roles, next steps, timelines, and accountability for each prioritized donor strategy.

• Maintain and actively manage a curated portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, coordinating and executing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.

• Provide direct supervision and leadership for the Principal Gifts Coordinator, including setting priorities, assigning work, monitoring performance, and supporting professional development.
• Ensure high-quality coordination, tracking, reporting, and operational support for principal and leadership gift strategies.
• Mentor and coach Development Directors and emerging fundraisers on strategy development, donor engagement, and moves management.
• Model best practices and provide feedback on donor strategy, communication planning, and portfolio management.
• Support a culture of learning, strategic thinking, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Partner closely with Frontline Fundraisers, Donor Engagement, specifically; Stewardship, Events, Brand Communication, and Business Intelligence to ensure a seamless and coordinated donor experience.
• Serve as a strategic connector between campus partners and fundraising teams, helping translate institutional priorities into compelling donor strategies.
• Server as a strategic partner and support to KU Athletics and the University of Kansas Health System

• In close collaboration with the Director of Stewardship, design, implement, and continuously refine customized, multi-year stewardship plans for high-capacity and principal-level donors, ensuring alignment with donor intent, institutional priorities, and campaign objectives.
• Identify stewardship gaps, risks, and opportunities, bringing forward recommendations for innovation and continuous improvement in donor experience design.
• Champion a proactive, relationship-focused stewardship philosophy that reinforces trust, transparency, and long-term donor loyalty.
• Ensure consistency in messaging, donor experience, and timing across all touchpoints.

• Increased velocity, coordination, and clarity in principal gift strategies
• Improved movement of top prospects through pipeline stages
• Stronger alignment and collaboration between units on high-level prospects
• Increased confidence and performance in frontline fundraisers through coaching and strategy support
• Clear documentation and tracking of donor strategies in CRM
• Regular and reliable attendance is essential for this position.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in advancement, fundraising, strategy, or donor engagement (preferably in higher education or large nonprofit environment).
• Demonstrated experience managing high-level donor strategies and complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead strategy at both high-level and detailed executional levels.
• Demonstrated success managing major and/or principal gift portfolios.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Strong mentoring and coaching abilities.
• High level of data literacy, including the ability to translate insights into action.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Deep familiarity with CRM systems, data segmentation, and performance tracking tools.
• Experience with Salesforce preferred.
• Strong process orientation with experience designing, improving, and scaling workflows.
• Ability to influence without direct authority and drive alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• Unwavering commitment to a donor-centered approach.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional and effective working relationships inside and outside KU Endowment.
• Ability to adapt to new procedures and technology.

• Self-Motivated: You’re a go-getter who takes initiative and drives projects forward with enthusiasm and determination.
• Collaborative: You shine in a team setting. Whether with your colleagues, prospective donors, or campus partners, you’re always finding ways to combine efforts and maximize outcomes.
• Master Communicator: You have a knack for articulating compelling stories and connecting with donors on a deep level.
• Resilient: You stay positive and persistent, turning challenges into opportunities and never losing sight of the mission.
• Unwavering Integrity: You build trust through honesty, transparency, and the highest ethical standards.
• Growth Mindset: You embrace challenges, see setbacks as learning opportunities and consistently strive to grow in personal and professional endeavors.

• A valid driver’s license.
• Must have access to reliable transportation to travel between multiple locations for training, donor meetings, networking, events and/or work-related activities.
• Must be able to respond quickly and effectively to directions and safety hazards.

• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office productivity machinery such as computers, keyboards and a mouse, laptops, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
• This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to move files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary.

• The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

• The person in this position frequently communicates with donors, colleagues, students, and general public. Must be able to communicate with others effectively.

• Physical effort/lifting: medium-up to 50 pounds.

• Frequent travel requirements can include the following, evenings, weekends, and out of town overnights as a regular part of the job.

• 100% employer-paid pension plan
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) and Roth 401(k) matching program
• Section 125 flexible benefits
• Generous paid leave including holidays, personal and sick leave
• Volunteer and community engagement opportunities
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability insurance
• Legal & ID Theft protection
• Critical Illness
• Accident and Hospital Indemnity insurance
• KU education assistance
• Free parking