Asst Director of Devel, College of Ed / Development Officer I

at  Michigan State University

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

The College of Education (CED) is seeking an accomplished, responsive, and collaborative member of its Advancement Team. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development for the College, the Assistant Director of Development will serve as a major gift fundraiser for CED. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, managing a portfolio of donors for the College; building long-term relationships that promote the reputation and success of the College and MSU; managing the annual fund campaign; participating in College engagement initiatives/events; and assisting the Senior Director with planning and implementing a comprehensive fund raising program in support of the College’s strategic goals and fundraising priorities.
The ability to think and act strategically will be critical to the success of this position. The Assistant Director of Development will play a key role in developing and advancing donor relationship and encouraging increased giving through the execution of cultivation and stewardship strategies for alumni and friends of CED. With a portfolio of 100-125, the Assistant Director of Development is responsible for developing ongoing personal relationships with prospects, as well as internally with stakeholders who can support the deepening of those relationships.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

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; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in professional fund raising, public relations, marketing, higher education fund raising or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Must have a valid driver’s license.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, and/or Business; three years of experience in higher education fundraising, marketing, or related field; or three years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education development, public relations, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving; significant in-state and occasional out-of-state travel required.

Solicitation, Cultivation & Discovery:

• Maintain an active pool of 50-70 prospects under strategic management.
• Achieve fundraising goals through an active and consistent program of prospect/donor outreach, including achieving core metrics based on annual operating plan
• Identify and qualify major gift prospects through discovery visits, commensurate with portfolio composition.
• Engage donors and potential donors through personal visits, online meetings, phone calls, email, mail, social media, or other strategies as appropriate.
• Determine prospects’ passions, interests, and needs and meld with College funding priorities and opportunities.
• Develop and implement targeted strategies to maximize involvement of key volunteers and faculty members in the CED development effort.
• Conduct joint visits with Unit administration or other Development colleagues, as appropriate.
• Serve as liaison between CED and donors/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.
• Communicate with and coordinate donor/prospect activity with fundraising colleagues across campus, including regional representatives.

Annual Giving:

• Oversee the College’s annual fund activities. Working in collaboration with University Advancement colleagues to ensure strong, consistent, and clear messaging on behalf of the college. This includes developing messages and materials for the annual fund campaign, Give Green Day, Greenline, and other initiatives.
• Develop and prepare segmented donor lists, by department and designation, to increase and retain annual giving donors.
• Work independently and in partnership with the Advancement team and college faculty/staff to construct and execute messages for alumni and prospects.

Strategy & Coordination:

• Build working relationships with internal constituents to enhance information exchange between units within CED, including advising faculty and administrators of appropriate fund-raising strategies.
• Prepare annual personal fundraising goals and analyze/report goal accomplishment.
• Use donor database and other tools to coordinate and track strategies, record activities, maintain updated prospect information, and manage gift documentation.