You must apply directly through the UM Jobs website (umjobs.org). In addition to your resume, please submit a cover letter (not to exceed one page) that describes how this position advances your career goals and your experience would help you succeed in this role. Your resume and cover letter will be a writing sample for the initial screening process. Please submit your cover letter and resume together as a single electronic document (a PDF is best, but there are other acceptable formats), as the system will accommodate only one attachment.
Note: Please be aware that you will receive communication from us at LSA Advancement about the status of your application within a week or so after the posting closes.
Salary and Work Location:
The salary range for this position is $55,000 - $63,000.
Salary is determined by direct relevant experience and demonstrated past performance results while ensuring equity on our team.
Our office is located at 309 Maynard Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This position has the option to work on-site or hybrid (both remote and on-site).
Who we are
LSA Advancement champions the liberal arts at the University of Michigan by creating access and opportunities for learning, engagement, and giving that will improve the world. We are an office of more than 80 professionals who are building a positive work environment that supports the excellence and transformative power of the college's liberal arts mission through values-based fundraising, marketing, and communications. To learn more about what we do, our culture (including our practice of positive organizational scholarship), and our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, visit our Join Our Team Website.
Who you are
Are you a curious person who loves to listen to people tell their stories? Are you inspired to help connect individuals with causes they are passionate about? Are you somebody who is excited to travel and take on new adventures? Are you able to establish rapport quickly, and carry on a lively conversation about almost anything? And, do you enjoy chatting about your higher education experience and the power of the liberal arts?
If this sounds like you, then we want you as part of our Annual Giving and College Connections team! You should be able to communicate the outcomes of a liberal arts education with strong writing, critical and analytical thinking skills, and thrive in a collaborative team environment. This position will give you the opportunity to to learn about donor outreach, data, reporting, and content creation and how the field of annual giving fundraising connects to other parts of higher education and fundraising. You will also be working with team members to fundraise for important annual fund dollars, so you should be driven by making an impact on students and be able to make a convincing case for support.
What you'll do
As a member of the College Connections group, you will be part of a team of 3 that travels around the country to interview LSA alumni and parents, and connect them with opportunities to help the college.
Other duties and expectations include:
- Travel one week per month, 8 months per year to your assigned region
- Conduct approximately 250 interviews per year with LSA Alumni and parents to learn about their experiences, ideas, and insights about the college and also educate them about college fundraising priorities and volunteer opportunities (80% of interviews will be in person during your trips and 20% will be virtual over Zoom or the phone)
- Complete documentation of the interviews, compile reports of trends, and share those with the Dean of LSA; then follow-up with interested donors to connect them with fundraising opportunities
- Participate in annual giving projects such as: giving days, mail solicitations, department crowdfunding projects, and email marketing
- Work on special projects such as the Young Alumni Newsletter or Young Alumni giving
You'll report directly to the Director of Annual Giving and College Connections.
A full job description can be found here.
List the qualifications that you must have. These should all be things that can easily be determined from a cover letter or resume. We will determine the rest of the selection criteria (values, behaviors, attributes) during the interview process
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in education or a non-profit setting
- 2-4 years in annual giving or development (or transferable field)
- Must be able to speak to the value of a liberal arts education by showing a breadth of experiences (academic and extracurricular)
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency through actions, interactions, and communications with others.
- Experience in donor relations or transferable field such as customer service, interviewing, sales, etc
- Demonstrated writing and communication skills
Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and encourage you to apply.
Individuals who are women, LGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, or veterans are encouraged to apply.
Travel requirements:
Individuals must be able to travel by air and car to locations in the central United States, including areas that may not have reliable public transportation, Uber, Lyft, etc. Travel will include overnight stays several days a month and occasional evening and weekend work responsibilities such as attending events, dinners, etc.
Work Authorization:
Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment, and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.
As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.
To learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion in LSA, please visit lsa.umich.edu/lsa/dei.
To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision
