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Higher Ed Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... studio on a higher education national rollout project. Position Summary The Job Captain is ... Continuously review the development of the Contract Documents with the Project Architect and ...

Lead or contribute to PS CS SF implementations at higher ed institutions, hands-on from start to ... Opportunities for growth and development * A collaborative and engaging work environment If this ...

Key Responsibilities HED AI Feature Development * Ship and improve AI features weekly across ... We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and ...

Architectural Project Manager | Higher Ed

Dallas, TX · On-site

$79K - $105K/yr

Oversee development and presentation of appropriate technical solutions to project stakeholders ... Higher Education * Professional registration * High commitment to QA/QC * Ability to be hands-on ...

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Higher Ed Development information

See salary details

$24K

$87.9K

$150.5K

How much do higher ed development jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for higher ed development in the United States is $87,937.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56,000.00 and $113,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Higher Ed Development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Higher Ed Development, you need strong fundraising expertise, relationship-building abilities, and typically a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as communications or nonprofit management. Familiarity with donor management systems like Raiser's Edge and experience in campaign planning or grant writing are highly valued. Outstanding interpersonal communication, strategic thinking, and persistence help professionals cultivate meaningful donor relationships and advance institutional goals. These skills are crucial for securing financial support and fostering long-term engagement essential to a university's growth and mission.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in Higher Ed Development, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Higher Ed Development often encounter challenges such as cultivating long-term donor relationships, balancing multiple fundraising campaigns, and aligning institutional needs with donor interests. Navigating these challenges requires strong communication skills, persistence, and the ability to collaborate closely with academic leaders, alumni relations, and marketing teams. Staying current with fundraising trends, leveraging data analytics, and participating in professional development can help address these challenges, making it easier to meet ambitious fundraising goals and enhance donor engagement.

What is higher ed development?

Higher ed development refers to the work of professionals who raise funds and build relationships to support colleges and universities. These individuals, often called development officers or advancement professionals, engage with alumni, donors, and the community to secure financial support for scholarships, research, buildings, and other institutional needs. Their work is crucial for ensuring the long-term growth and success of higher education institutions. Development professionals may also organize fundraising events, write grant proposals, and manage donor stewardship activities.

What is the difference between Higher Ed Development vs Fundraising Coordinator?

AspectHigher Ed DevelopmentFundraising Coordinator
CredentialsBachelor's degree often required; advanced degrees preferredBachelor's degree typically required
Work EnvironmentUniversities, colleges, higher education institutionsNonprofits, educational organizations, sometimes higher ed
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily in higher education institutionsBroader nonprofit and educational sectors, including higher ed
Primary FocusSecuring major gifts, building donor relationships, strategic fundraisingOrganizing fundraising events, donor outreach, supporting campaigns

Higher Ed Development focuses on cultivating major donors and strategic fundraising within higher education institutions, often involving long-term relationship building. Fundraising Coordinators handle event planning and support fundraising efforts across various organizations, including some in higher education. While both roles involve fundraising skills, Higher Ed Development typically requires more experience in donor relations and strategic planning specific to higher education.

More about Higher Ed Development jobs
Infographic showing various Higher Ed Development job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% Full Time, 88% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $87,937 per year, or $42.3 per hour.
Senior Director, Higher Ed Sales

Senior Director, Higher Ed Sales

Fundraise Up

Estherville, IA • Remote

$370K - $385K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

About Fundraise Up

We're Fundraise Up - a global fundraising platform built to make donating to nonprofits fast, seamless, and accessible to all. Every month, our technology powers tens of millions of dollars in donations across the globe. We focus on innovation that directly impacts results: faster load times, higher conversion rates, global payment support, and accessibility-first design.

Our platform is trusted by many of the world's leading nonprofits, including UNICEF, the Alzheimer's Association, and a wide range of global NGOs. With a 4.9/5 rating across top software review platforms, we're recognized not just for our impact - but for the quality of the product we deliver.

About The Role

At Fundraise Up, we are redefining the landscape of digital generosity through AI-powered donor experiences. As the Senior Director of Education, you will be the primary architect of our growth within the Higher Education sector. This is a high-visibility leadership position where success is measured by your ability to transform a complex, multi-stakeholder market into a thriving revenue engine. You will own the strategic vision for this vertical, moving beyond traditional sales tactics to establish Fundraise Up as the definitive category leader for institutional advancement and digital giving.

Key Responsibilities
  • Design and execute a comprehensive go-to-market strategy specifically tailored to the unique procurement and donor engagement cycles of Higher Education institutions.
  • Identify high-value market shifts and competitive white space to refine our Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) across diverse institutional tiers.
  • Act as the executive sponsor for Tier 1 accounts, building deep rapport with Vice Presidents of Advancement and Chief Financial Officers to navigate long-cycle institutional shifts.
  • Recruit, mentor, and scale a specialized team of business development and segment leaders, fostering a culture of high accountability and inclusive excellence.
  • Establish the operational "rhythm of the business," including precise forecasting, territory design, and performance analytics that ensure predictable revenue growth.
  • Transition regional successes into repeatable global playbooks, ensuring the team remains agile as the Higher Ed fundraising landscape evolves.
  • Partner with Product and Engineering teams to translate institutional feedback into a roadmap that addresses the specific compliance and integration needs of universities.
  • Collaborate with Marketing to launch high-impact, vertical-specific thought leadership campaigns that position our AI capabilities as essential infrastructure for modern development offices.
  • Synchronize with Customer Success to monitor post-onboarding health, ensuring that initial wins transition into long-term retention and expansion opportunities.
  • Define and own pipeline generation, revenue targets, and overall segment performance reporting to the executive leadership team.
Skills and Qualifications
  • Extensive experience in sales leadership, business development, or GTM strategy, specifically within complex SaaS or institutional environments.
  • Proven track record of managing managers and scaling high-performance teams in fast-paced environments.
  • Mastery of multi-stakeholder sales cycles and the ability to navigate "buying by committee" dynamics.
  • Exceptional commercial acumen with the ability to link technical product features to institutional financial outcomes.
  • Strong executive presence and the ability to serve as a credible spokesperson at major industry conferences and board-level meetings.
  • Data-driven mindset with proficiency in RevOps tools, forecasting models, and performance metadata.
  • Deep curiosity regarding the intersection of AI, philanthropy, and institutional advancement.
  • Experience in the Higher Education, Nonprofit, or EdTech sectors is strongly preferred.
  • Prior experience in a high-growth, venture-backed environment is a plus.
  • We expect every team member to actively use AI in their day-to-day work, identify where AI can change the shape of problems in their function, and grow their fluency as the tools evolve. You should already be using AI meaningfully in your work and understand where it adds value and how it can improve the way you operate
Compensation
  • The compensation range for this role is $370,000 - $385,000 OTE (On-Target Earnings).
  • Final compensation will be determined based upon relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and alignment with the role's requirements.
  • Location: Remote in the US (EST or CST) 
Perks & Benefits
  • Health, Dental, and Vision insurance covered at 100% for employees, 80% for employee plus dependents, and 70% for employees plus family.
  • FSA and HSA Spending Account.
  • 20 days of vacation, 5 sick days, 11 company holidays plus an additional 1 floating holiday.
  • 401(k) plan with company match.
  • 100% Company-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, basic life insurance and AD&D.
  • Paid parental leave (12 weeks for primary caregivers / 6 weeks for secondary caregivers).
  • Generous home office stipend to support your remote workspace.
  • Annual professional development stipend to support your growth (e.g., workshops, courses, and seminars).
  • Charitable giving program and paid volunteer time off with registered non-profits.

**Please note: All official correspondence from Fundraise Up will exclusively originate from the @fundraiseup.com domain. Exercise caution and ensure the authenticity of emails claiming to be from our company.***