The Office of Philanthropy for Undergraduate Education team is seeking an enthusiastic, energetic and results-oriented individual to join its dynamic fundraising team as the Associate Director of Development for Student Affairs and Services. The Associate Director will be instrumental in helping the unit achieve aggressive goals by identifying, cultivating and soliciting individuals for significant 6- and 7-figure support as well as periodic special purpose appeals and programs with key constituencies, corporations and foundations.
This individual will serve as the lead fundraiser for the Division of Student Affairs and Services. The Division serves the entire student population of the university through a variety of organizational entities, programs and services. All of this support is rooted in three over-arching themes for the student population:
Living, Learning and Leading – includes focus on career services, service-learning and civic engagement, leadership development, and college life;
Culture and Identity – creating a welcoming and safe environment for all students, this includes greek life, the LGBT Resource Center, and the Multicultural Unit Center
Health, Wellness and Safety – information and services to help students develop and maintain good physical, psychological and emotional health.
The Associate Director of Development is expected to be an accomplished, responsive and collaborative member of the Office of Philanthropy for Undergraduate Education Team who executes an aggressive schedule of donor activity to ensure a continuous pipeline of private support for the university. The Associate Director will report directly to the Senior Director of Development for the Office of Philanthropy for Undergraduate Education and work closely with the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services and the program directors in the Student Affairs and Services Division.
The Associate Director of Development will manage a portfolio of approximately 120 major donor prospects, focusing efforts on prospects whose philanthropic capacity is $100,000 or more in order to maximize the fundraising potential on behalf of Michigan State University. The Associate Director will average 12-15 significant and strategic contacts per month, which will result in greater engagement and movement toward a major gift solicitation at a rate of 2 to 4 solicitations per month, with all solicitation efforts cleared and coordinated with the Office of University Development at Michigan State University. The Associate Director will dedicate a significant amount of time traveling throughout the United States.
The duties of the Associate Director of Development for Student Services are as follows but are not limited to:
Job Duties:
FUNDRAISING
Engage in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, professional groups and key constituencies in support of the Student Services Division at Michigan State University.
Collaborate and coordinate with University Advancement, and administrators and faculty of the Student Services Division, the Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, the Office of Financial Aid and the Office of Admissions to create and carry out fundraising strategies and solicitation of gifts of $100,000 and more.
Identify and maintain an active pool of 120 prospects under strategic management.
Achieve the unit’s fundraising goals through an active and consistent program of prospect/donor outreach that includes approximately 150 significant personal contacts annually. Utilize phone calls, email, mail, social media and other strategies to identify, connect with and engage alumni with the goal of soliciting financial support of the university.
Identify, qualify and work to build strong, engaged relationships with major gift prospects to determine and merge prospect passions/interests/needs with the Office of Philanthropy for Undergraduate Education Team’s areas of funding priority and opportunity.
Develop and implement targeted strategies to maximize the involvement of key volunteers in the Office of Philanthropy for Undergraduate Education development effort. Schedule joint prospect visits with members of the university leadership, faculty or other Development colleagues, when appropriate.
Serve as a liaison officer between the Unit and donors and potential donors to ensure that such information and service as may be desired is provided to the full extent permitted by University policy, rules and regulations.
Serve as a consultant to donors on the tax advantage of various types of gifts.
Plan and host campus visits for donors or potential donors or their representatives.
Prepare annual personal fundraising goals and analyze/report goal accomplishment. Assist in planning and implementing special purpose appeals as necessary.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Serve on point for the identification of funding priorities and developing the case for support for the Student Services Division.
Develop and prepare solicitation appeals, development and alumni articles, marketing and communication materials, proposals, and other materials with focus on gifts of $100,000 or more that, through the clear identification of funding priorities and articulation of the case for support of the university, engender a level of understanding that is conducive to giving and that help achieve the Unit’s fundraising goals.
Assist with the coordination of and participation in alumni and donor engagement, prospecting, recognition and stewardship events, as appropriate.
Utilize Advance alumni and donor database to coordinate with other development colleagues, record contact activities, update donor information, record strategic moves management steps and gift documentation as appropriate.
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Interacts with:
Michigan State University alumni/individuals/Corporations/Businesses/Employees and corporate leadership – in order to solicit as potential donors, manage donor requests, and to cultivate and train them as potential volunteers.
Faculty and Department Chairs, Program Directors and other university leaders – in order to assist in the understanding and implementation of fundraising procedures, to seek their advice on funding needs, to answer development questions, to advise them on development strategy and to solicit them as potential donors.
Peers – in order to obtain advice and counsel on options being considered for programs and in order to coordinate the cultivation and solicitation of donor prospects.
Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing and/or Business; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in public relations, volunteer administration, professional and higher education fund raising, marketing or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Desired Qualifications
A Bachelor’s degree; master’s degree preferred.
Five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive experience in professional fundraising, public relations, marketing or related field; working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license.
Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Experience in public speaking.
Collaborative team-oriented style.
Experience with “Moves Management” or related strategic relationship development.
Ability to “close” gifts or business deals with demonstrative experiences closing gifts of $50,000 or more.
Working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving.
Travel involving automobile, airline and rail.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Application Materials
Resume and Cover Letter
Work Hours
Work hours are 8AM to 5PM with some nights and weekends
Bidding and eligibility end on 5/11/2021 at 11:55 PM
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