Working/Functional Title

Regional Assoc Director of Devel, IGU

Position Summary

Join the Regional Giving Team: Seeking a Dynamic Associate Director of Development!

Are you ready to help us connect Spartans from around the country back to MSU? Our Individual Giving Unit is adding two new Associate Director positions to help manage a portfolio of donors in different regions around the country. Specific areas of focus, which could change over time may include Texas, Washington DC, Florida, Ohio, Atlanta, and Chicago. Special consideration will be given to candidate’s previous experience in determining geographical focus and positions will be based in Michigan with the ability to work remotely within the state of Michigan.

In addition to these two positions, the Regional Giving Team includes Directors of Development based in California and Michigan, led by a Senior Director in the NYC metro area. Our focus is on building a stronger pipeline of major gift donors and connecting them with the constituency units on campus. These positions are highly collaborative and build both lateral and upward management skills. As our colleges and units move through the campaign, opportunities will arise to specialize in fundraising initiatives such as capital projects, matching challenges, and other areas where our talents are needed. 

The Associate Director of Development will report to the Senior Director of Development for the Regional Giving Program, providing a clear avenue for mentorship and partnership with many of the other units at Michigan State University and a supportive team of other development officers. 

The duties of the Associate Director of Development are as follows but are not limited to:

Job Duties:

Across all job duties, the Associate Director of Development will center diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; maintain, elicit, and model ethical fundraising; and think and act collaboratively to advance advancement and ensure the overall success of MSU.

Fundraising:

• Engage in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts from individuals, in support of Michigan State University campaign priorities, including working collaboratively to identify and engage regional campaign volunteers.
• Collaborate and coordinate with colleges, units, and peers to research and develop plans and strategies for solicitation of major gifts, with a focus on gifts and pledges of $100,000 or more.
• Identify and maintain an active pool of 75 prospects under strategic management.
• Achieve fundraising goals through an active and consistent program of prospect/donor outreach that includes 180 significant personal contacts annually. Utilize phone calls, email, mail, social media, and other strategies to identify, connect with, and engage alumni, parents, and friends 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 MSU areas of funding priority and opportunity.
• Provide assistance to donors regarding tax laws, policies, and procedures and resolve questions in order to maintain a positive image of the university.
• Establish direct or indirect contact with those major gift prospects having the greatest potential for support of University programs and activities to assure a level of mutual understanding conducive to support.

Strategy, Coordination, and Communication:

• Assist in the coordination of activities with constituency-based development officers, regional major gift officers, and gift planning advisors to maximize efficiency of the solicitation process and magnitude of gifts. 
• Assist leadership, colleges, and units with recommendations as they travel, design, and implement programs and events in the regions. Help connect networks of donors across constituency units. The Central Development staff is often called upon to make recommendations that support the team working with the president, provost, vice presidents, and other University leadership when traveling to the region.
• Maintain records and resource materials which will assist in the identification of major gift prospects interested in support of University programs and activities.
• Plan and host campus visits for out of state major gift prospects with faculty and University leadership as part of a strategic cultivation plan when appropriate for fundraising purposes.
• Develop promotional materials, transmittal letters, and other supportive material required for discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Build remote relationships using virtual platforms.
• Develop proposals and gift agreements and assist University Advancement staff, faculty, and administration in the presentation of proposals and gift agreements to major gift prospects.

Program Management:

• Assist with the coordination of and participation in alumni and donor engagement, prospecting, recognition, and stewardship events, as appropriate.
• Utilize Ascend, MSU’s 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.
• Build working relationships with internal constituents to enhance information exchange across MSU.
• Prepare reports on the activities/operations of the region and its accomplishments and maintain the prospect tracking system for major gift prospects, especially those within the Regional Director’s portfolio. 
• Plan and produce strategic engagement opportunities in the region for major gift prospects ranging from targeted dinners with individuals and couples, to small campaign-related dinners, to partnering with the MSU Alumni Office and University Advancement alumni donor relations team on larger alumni engagement events, when appropriate.
• Develop annual planning and goals that will lead to success in the region beyond the Regional Director’s portfolio.                  

COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Interacts with:

• Michigan State University alumni and employees, individuals, corporations/businesses, and corporate leadership to solicit and cultivate them as potential donors, and manage donor requests, and volunteers.
• Peers – in order to obtain advice and counsel on options being considered for proposals and in order to coordinate the cultivation and solicitation of donor prospects.

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; 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. Travel is required, must have a valid vehicle operator’s license at the time of hire.

Desired Qualifications

• 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.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Experience in public speaking.
• Collaborative (teamwork) skills and interest.
• 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.
• Interest and ability to travel, including by automobile, airline, and rail.

If you review this job description and have done many of the responsibilities or have transferable skills, we want to hear from you and welcome your application!   We are seeking successful, ambitious fundraisers who wish to become part of our team and, help us help us in our ambitious campaign! 

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

Special Instructions

HOW TO APPLY

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Patricia Karam, Director of Recruitment, at karampat@msu.edu. 

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Work Hours

8 am - 5 pm with some evenings and weekends

Website

Advancement.msu.edu

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Bidding eligibility ends on 1/21/25 at 11:55 PM

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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