Director of Development, (Las Vegas)

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or jobs@unr.edu. For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at (775) 784-6778. 

Job Description

The Director of Development leads the Guinn Center’s fundraising and advancement strategy, cultivating and sustaining relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and public partners. This role combines strategic vision with hands-on execution to foster a strong culture of philanthropy, aligning with the Guinn Center’s commitment to nonpartisan integrity, civic engagement, and lasting community impact.

The ideal candidate understands Nevada’s policy and philanthropic landscape and can translate our mission into compelling narratives that inspire investment. The Director will help position the Guinn Center for long-term sustainability by expanding major gifts, planned giving, foundation grants, and endowment initiatives. This position will be employed by the Guinn Center.

Major Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy and Execution

• Lead and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to sustain and grow an annual budget from $1 million to $3 million by 2028.  

• Develop strategies for major gifts, planned and legacy giving, and endowment growth.

• Manage annual giving campaigns, donor engagement events, and other fundraising initiatives.

• Oversee the Client Relationship Management System and track fundraising metrics for leadership and the Board.

• Lead the development, writing, and submission of competitive grant proposals at the national, state, and local levels to grow sustainable revenue.

Donor and Partner Relations

• Cultivate and steward relationships with donors, foundations, and corporate partners.

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and research team to align fundraising priorities with programmatic goals.

• Ensure proposals and stewardship materials reflect the Guinn Center’s mission and demonstrate impact.

• Maintain a strong understanding of the Guinn Center’s research to effectively communicate its relevance.

Organizational Leadership and Collaboration

• Partner with the Executive Director to advance sustainability and legacy giving strategies.

• Engage board members, volunteers, and partners in donor cultivation activities. Represent the Guinn Center at community events and philanthropic forums statewide.

• Collaborate with the Assistant Director and communications team to ensure consistent, high-quality donor engagement.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree with four (4) years of related experience, or Master’s degree with two (2) years of related experience.

Related Experience: Candidates must demonstrate experience developing and executing successful fundraising strategies, managing donor relationships, and achieving fundraising goals for organizations of similar size and scope.

Additional Qualifications

Strategic, creative thinker with a commitment to mission-driven work. Collaborative leader who works effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Strong attention to detail, organization, and project management.

Proficiency with donor management systems and Microsoft Office applications. Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain confidentiality. 

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experience in grant writing, foundation relations, and corporate sponsorships. Proven ability to grow planned giving, legacy giving, and endowment programs. Strong writing, listening, and public speaking skills, with the ability to communicate complex policy work to diverse audiences.

• Familiarity with Nevada’s philanthropic and policy environment.

• Experience in nonprofit, higher education, or public policy settings. 

Schedule/Travel Requirements

• Remote and hybrid work arrangements are available for consideration based on the location of the candidate.

• Statewide and occasional national travel is required

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated salary range for this position is $90,000–$140,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Nevada has no state income tax.

About the Guinn Center
The Kenny C. Guinn Center for Policy Priorities is a nonprofit, independent, statewide, nonpartisan policy research center that seeks data-driven policy solutions and well-researched best practices in numerous topic areas important to the State of Nevada and the Intermountain West region. The Guinn Center is affiliated with the University of Nevada, Reno, with researchers and collaborative partnerships at NSHE institutions across the state.

Since its inception in 2013, the Guinn Center has published over 150 policy reports on taxation, fiscal management, education, health care, social concerns, economic development, workforce development, governance, climate, and energy. The Center analyzes key issues, collaborates with stakeholders, and evaluates policy solutions implemented in other states to offer concise, practical, and sound policy recommendations for the public, the Nevada Legislature, and other government agencies. 

Exempt

Yes

Full-Time Equivalent

100.0%

Required Attachment(s)

Please e-mail the following documents to: info@guinncenter.org

• Cover letter

• Resume/CV

• Contact information for three professional references

• A brief (one-page) statement describing how your experience and perspective would contribute to the Guinn Center’s commitment to inclusive, equitable, and culturally responsive research and community engagement.

• A short fundraising portfolio (2–3 pages) or two development-related writing samples, such as a funded grant proposal, case statement, donor appeal, stewardship report, or similar materials demonstrating your fundraising impact. 

Posting Close Time

This posting will close at 12:00 am on the date listed below. The posting will no longer be available to apply to after 11:59 pm the day prior.

Posting Close Date

06/30/2026

Note to Applicant

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

  

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

  

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

  

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

  

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

    

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes). 

About Us

The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.

Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”

Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.

The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.

Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.

Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.

The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.

Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.

For more information, please visit the University’s website.

University of Nevada, Reno