Application Development Director Jobs in Ruskin, FL

USF Advancement connects the university with donors who want to make a difference by providing philanthropic support to promote student success, research, academic excellence and other strategic priorities. With an endowment that now exceeds $700 million in value, our dedicated team of approximately 200 professionals, including 60 fundraisers, encompasses alumni, development and foundation operations. The team is responsible for raising more than $150 million annually and has broken records year after year with more than $184 million raised in fiscal year 2025.

The Director of Development is a fundraising professional responsible for securing philanthropic support for Women in Leadership & Philanthropy (WLP) and strategic priorities across the University of South Florida.

Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President for Affinity Programs and Executive Director of Women in Leadership & Philanthropy, this position is dedicated exclusively to development activities and serves as a key member of the USF Advancement team.

The Director of Development identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and closes major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The successful candidate will manage a portfolio of prospects and donors, develop meaningful relationships that advance donor engagement, and partner with university leadership to align philanthropic investments with institutional priorities.

Employees of USF Advancement live out the values of responsibility, innovation, service, and excellence in each of its highly collaborative departments. We use trusted data and ethical AI to enhance decision-making, strengthen engagement, and enable our teams to focus on what matters most: relationships and impact.

This position is primarily onsite and requires flexibility to meet with donors and prospects throughout the Tampa Bay region and beyond.

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF 

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: 

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.  This job description does not constitute an employment contract.  

This position requires Bachelor's degree and 5 years of experience related to development or other appropriate professional experience.  Five to seven years demonstrated experience identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing major ($50,000+) philanthropic gifts is preferred.

Identify, cultivate, solicit and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors ($50,000+) with a focus on securing significant philanthropic support for Women in Leadership & Philanthropy and the University of South Florida.

Identify and qualify new prospects through research, referrals, volunteer engagement, and personal outreach.

Conduct discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship meetings with prospects and donors.

Develop and implement individualized strategies to move prospects through the donor pipeline from identification to gift commitment.

Collaborate with advancement colleagues and university stakeholders to identify philanthropic opportunities and align donor interests with institutional needs.

Prepare proposals, gift agreements and other donor communications that support fundraising objectives.

Maintain accurate records of prospect activity, strategy, and outcomes within university systems.

Meet established activity and fundraising goals, including visits, solicitations, proposal submissions, and gift commitments.

Represent the University of South Florida and Women in Leadership & Philanthropy at donor meetings, events, and community engagements as appropriate.

Perform other duties as assigned.