Working/Functional Title
Assoc. Director of Development, OPUE
Position Summary
Michigan State University’s Office of Philanthropy for Undergraduate Education team is responsible for raising funds for crucial initiatives dedicated to the undergraduate student experience. This expansive unit raises critical support for the Office of Undergraduate Education, the Division of Student Life and Engagement, and the Division for University Health & Wellbeing, all of which directly impact the experience and success of undergraduate students.
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 focused on the Office of Undergraduate Education. 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 focus on the Office of Undergraduate Education, but function as a team member for an office dedicated to student success as a whole. The Office of Undergraduate Education covers areas such as undergraduate scholarships, high-impact practice learning, pathways and bridge programs, and undergraduate student success initiatives. This unit serves the University's entire student population by actively working to close opportunity gaps and graduate every student accepted to MSU.
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 Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education and the program directors in the Office of Undergraduate Education.
The Associate Director of Development will manage a portfolio of approximately 75 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 face-to-face strategic visits 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 University Advancement at Michigan State University. The Associate Director will travel as needed to facilitate donor engagement and close major gift solicitations.
The duties of the Associate Director of Development for The Office of Philanthropy for Undergraduate Education include, but are not limited to, the following:
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:
Fundraising:
• Engage in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, professional groups, and key constituencies in support of Undergraduate Education at Michigan State University.
• Collaborate and coordinate with University Advancement and the administrators and faculty of the divisions that OPUE covers to create and carry out fundraising strategies and solicitation of gifts of $100,000 and more.
• Identify and maintain an active pool of 75 prospects under strategic management.
• Achieve the Unit fundraising goals through an active and consistent program of prospect/donor outreach that includes 180 significant 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.
• Identify, qualify, and work to build strong, engaged relationships with major gift prospects to determine and merge prospect passions/interests/needs with OPUE’s areas of funding priority and opportunity.
• Schedule prospect/donor visits with members of the Unit 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.
Strategy & Coordination:
• Interpret needs/priorities of OPUE units, verbally and in writing, to engender a level of understanding that is conducive to giving.
• Participate as part of the OPUE Advancement team on strategic planning and initiatives, budgeting, reporting, and special events.
• Assist the Senior Director of Development in planning for the 2030 comprehensive campaign. This includes the development of funding priorities, the identification and cultivation of leadership gifts, recruitment of volunteers, and development of the case for support.
• Build working relationships with internal constituents to enhance information exchange between OPUE units, including faculty and administrators, of appropriate fundraising strategies.
Data Management & Planning :
• Prepare annual personal fundraising goals and analyze/report goal accomplishment.
• Assist in planning and implementing special purpose appeals as necessary.
• Attend appropriate workshops and seminars to enhance professional development.
• Act as a public goodwill ambassador for Michigan State University and all the units contained within the OPUE divisions.
• Ensure best practices in office systems, practices, files and record keeping; ensure effective use of strategic tools and resources such as contact reports, prospect management, research, and analysis, and the Advance database.
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Interacts with:
Michigan State University alumni/individuals/Corporations/Businesses/Employees and corporate leadership – in order to solicit potential donors, manage donor requests, and 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 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
