Jacksonville University, College of Law – Major Gifts Officer

Description

THE OPPORTUNITY The Angeletti Group invites nominations and applications to join the advancement team of Jacksonville University as a Major Gifts Officer for the College of Law.

Newly opened in 2022, the College of Law fulfills a much-needed gap in legal education as the first new law school to open in Florida in more than 20 years. This is an exciting opportunity for an entrepreneurial fundraiser to build a new much-needed institution in the vanguard of legal education by leveraging existing community support and developing new partnerships across the Jacksonville area and beyond. The MGO will join the Advancement team ahead of the public launch of the University’s historic, $175 million Future. Made. Campaign.

JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY’S BOLD VISION AND SURGING SUCCESS

Jacksonville University is transforming lives through innovations, scientific inquiry, and generating economic opportunity and growth that spans multiple community and public service sectors. As northeast Florida’s premier private institution of higher education, Jacksonville University recently celebrated four consecutive years being ranked among the top 25 percent of regional universities on U.S. News & World Report’s prestigious list of Best Colleges, as well as consistent recognition as a Best Value and Military Friendly school.

Founded in 1934, Jacksonville University offers more than 100 majors, minors, and programs, including in-demand degrees in Liberal Arts and the Humanities, Nursing, Business, Marine Science, Engineering, Finance, and Psychology, as well as those in the highly specialized fields of Aviation, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Film, Animation, and Healthcare Administration. In recent years, the University has successfully expanded to include five colleges, eleven schools and four institutes—including the recently announced College of Law and four-year medical school in partnership with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine—and it has established nearly 500 partnerships with world-class companies, healthcare providers, and community organizations. Every day, Jacksonville University delivers on its unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of our students, our state, and the world forever.

Jacksonville University’s President, Tim Cost, celebrated 10 years of service to the University this February. Under President Cost’s leadership, the University has enjoyed an era of unparalleled success and growth. The costs helped build the University into a $400 million economic engine for Jacksonville and for the Arlington community it calls home. The growth, and the President’s proactive approach to partnership, also helped attract more than $500 million in private investment and development throughout Arlington.

The University is at a pivotal moment in its history. Early in 2022, Jacksonville University opened its College of Law and began inaugural classes at Jacksonville University Downtown—fulfilling a much-needed gap in legal education as the first new law school to open in Florida in more than 20 years.

The new College of Law is already garnering recognition for delivering high-quality education inside and outside the classroom, and it enjoys outstanding support from the local bench, bar, and civic leadership of the community.

2,771 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
1,283 GRADUATE STUDENTS
STUDENTS FROM 58 COUNTRIES AND 47 STATES REPRESENTED
SMALL CLASS SIZES PROMOTE STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND ACTIVE LEARNING
NCAA DIVISION I, ASUN CONFERENCE, AND METRO ATLANTIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (MAAC) SPORTS
Mission Statement

Jacksonville University empowers students for life-long growth as global citizens through a transformative, innovative educational experience, built on excellence in community-centered service. The overarching goal of Jacksonville University’s five-year Quality Enhancement Program is to enhance student success by integrating the concepts of justice, equity, diversity, inclusivity, and belonging throughout the student experience.

Vision

Jacksonville University is one university at different locations, including the College of Law, which affirms the importance of scholarship, leadership, creativity, and service. Jacksonville University prepares students to build better communities and make meaningful contributions to an increasingly connected society. As a community, we aspire to:

provide a distinctive campus experience for students, faculty, staff and visitors
deliver undergraduate and graduate programs that are nationally recognized for quality and innovation
be a center for intellectual and creative excellence and respectful discourse
produce high quality research through undergraduate and graduate programs
serve as an engine to economic vitality in northeast Florida
FUTURE. MADE. CAMPAIGN: BUILDING ON SUCCESS

This year, the University will launch the Future. Made. Campaign, the largest campaign in the institution’s history. This initiative has already attracted recordbreaking gifts and pledges from alumni, corporate and community leaders, and friends in support of the University’s priorities across healthcare, technology, business, and law.

To date, the campaign has raised $90 million in the silent phase toward its $175 million goal in support of regional expansion of the University, the construction of the Medical Mall, development of both on and off campus areas, including activation of the Waterfront, and programs that challenge and enable students, faculty, and staff to reach new heights. Led by an engaged and active Campaign Committee comprised of alumni, donors, staff, and volunteers, the Future. Made. Campaign represents the next frontier for innovation and investment at Jacksonville University.

Prior to the Future. Made. Campaign, Jacksonville University successfully completed the record-setting ASPIRE campaign in 2018, raising more than $121 million to support game-changing scholarships, inventive academics, sweeping campus upgrades, and dynamic student life. The campaign made possible more than $100M worth of investment into the grounds and facilities of Jacksonville University’s sprawling 240-acre campus.

THE COLLEGE OF LAW

For nearly a century, Jacksonville University has pursued bold opportunities that create waves of good in our community. With continuing projected job growth statewide in the legal field, there is increasing demand for individuals with a Juris Doctor. Florida is the third most populous state in the U.S., but is ranked 24th in lawyers per capita. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are roughly 1.5 jobs for every lawyer in the state.

By positioning the College of Law within Jacksonville University’s downtown location, just a short walk to the Duval County Courthouse and United States Courthouse in the midst of the bustling, growing city, College of Law students have immediate access to prominent legal organizations, active courtrooms, and extensive judicial legal libraries.

The Jacksonville University College of Law prepares students with a unique, hands-on learning experience to become high-quality lawyers. The College’s small class sizes afford individualized attention, externships at prestigious organizations, easy access to the City of Jacksonville’s greatest legal resources, and strong community connections. Additionally, Jacksonville University’s cross-disciplinary platform also opens career paths that expand beyond the field of law. College of Law students will have unique opportunities to augment their education with study and graduate certificates through existing programs at the University, in fields such as business, healthcare, fine arts, marine science, technology, public policy, and more.

DEAN NICHOLAS W. ALLARD, ESQ

Jacksonville University was proud to welcome Nicholas “Nick” Allard as Founding Dean for the College of Law. Nicholas is a graduate of Princeton (1974), Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar (1976), and Yale Law School (1979). He most recently served as senior counsel at Dentons, the largest law firm in the world with offices in more than 80 countries. He served as Joseph Crea Dean (2012-18) and concurrently as President (2014-18) at Brooklyn Law School (BLS) where he also has been a tenured professor. During his time there, he launched several noteworthy initiatives designed to make legal education more affordable, accessible, and valuable.

Nick is an experienced educator, a published author, a proven academic leader, and a trusted public policy advisor. He is widely recognized by peers and the media as a leader in higher education, law, government relations and politics, who lends his expertise to complex legal and ethical issues. Notably, Nick has decades of experience successfully fundraising for many different kinds of academic and nonprofit institutions throughout the U.S. and abroad.

As both an academic and a legal professional, he is the recipient of many honors and awards, including being named a Bodley Fellow of Oxford’s Merton College in 2020, and being acknowledged as a Visionary by the “National Journal-Legal Times.” He also served as a member of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Government Affairs, as well as its Task Force on Lobbying Reform, and he chairs its Standing Committee on the Law Library of Congress.

THE MGO, COLLEGE OF LAW

The Major Gift Officer will work on a daily basis with the College of Law Dean to support the overall major gift efforts of Jacksonville University. The MGO will serve as the University Advancement liaison to the Jacksonville University College of Law, with major gift support provided to the other Colleges or Institutes within the University as needed. Reporting to the Vice President, Advancement and Associate Vice President of Development, this position will also work closely with the Dean of the College of Law to develop donor strategy and build relationships.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES

Serve as the primary manager for a portfolio of at minimum 150 prospects, moving potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion from identification, cultivation, solicitation and to closure of gifts of $25,000 and up.
Develop a compelling case for support encompassing the wide array of elements that provide an outstanding legal education, such as facility, operational, scholarly, curricular, and co-circular funding opportunities as well as faculty support, scholarships, and financial aid.
Recommend and implement short, intermediate and long-term individual major gifts cultivation and solicitation strategies for individual prospects (e.g. University alumni, parents, trustees, friends of the University, current students, board members, faculty and staff), working with administration, faculty, board members, volunteers (as appropriate) to identify and engage new prospects for purposes of meeting fundraising goals.
Identify prospects, engage in personal outreach, all necessary travel, and oversight of gift closure process, meeting metrics that include an expectation of at minimum 100-125 personal touchpoints/visits per year.
Plan and implement events and activities (volunteer experiences, tours, receptions, friend-raisers, etc.) for individual major gift donors, using existing activities as appropriate; engage in networking activities or other opportunities to generate potential prospects.
Maintain basic knowledge of non-cash gifts, investments and other planned giving opportunities. • Cultivate and expand planned giving opportunities with new and existing donors, and integrate planned gift objectives into donor solicitations in collaboration with Advancement leadership.
Represent the College of Law externally; participate with College leadership (when appropriate) in community and industry-related events.
Help establish and sustain an advisory board for the College of Law; work closely with advisory board members, academic leaders, faculty, staff and other volunteers to identify, engage and evaluate prospective donors and volunteers.
Work with Advancement Marketing and Communications to develop major gift materials (e.g. proposals, overviews and other informational and stewardship materials).
Work with Advancement Services to request research and other information on alumni, parents, and friends to qualify interest and giving potential.
Monitor weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual activity to achieve individual performance measures (e.g. meetings, proposals, major gift revenue).
Assist administrators and faculty in the recognition and prioritization of institutional and departmental funding needs, in particular for any assigned schools, departments, units or programs; keep abreast of institutional and departmental priorities, University programs, personalities and events.
Track and report relationship management activity using Raisers Edge® constituent relationship management system. • Develop and maintain strong collaborative working relationships with other team members. This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required for this position. The University reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet institutional needs.
QUALIFICATIONS AND PREFERENCES Jacksonville University is seeking a proven fundraiser with a demonstrated track record of accomplishments. The ideal candidate will possess the following:

At least five years of fundraising or nonprofit experience, preferably in a higher education setting.
Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, including the ability to secure gifts of $25,000 or more.
Experience developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies and plans. • Advanced knowledge of all aspects of fundraising and donor relations.
Strong presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate the mission, vision, and priorities of the College of Law and University objectives to various audiences.
Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to develop compelling proposals and other donorfacing materials.
Ability to analyze and interpret data to inform fundraising strategies and plans. • Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of individuals including alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and volunteers.
Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to forge new relationships on behalf of the College and the University.
Ability to represent the College of Law and the University with professionalism, integrity, and enthusiasm.
Strong familiarity with fundraising software, preferably Raiser’s Edge.
JD and/or experience in legal environments preferred.
Strong commitment to the mission and values of the College of Law and the University.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE Applications will be accepted until position is filled. To be considered, candidates should submit a statement of interest and CV to The Angeletti Group at search@theangelettigroup.com. Nominations and confidential inquiries can be made to: The Angeletti Group, (973) 540-1400, search@theangelettigroup.com.

Jacksonville University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively seeks to diversify its work force. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex, marital status, handicap, or pregnancy status.