Assistant Director of Development

Title: Development Officer I
Level: AP12
Working Title: Assistant Director of Development

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), AgBioResearch and MSU Extension Advancement team is seeking an enthusiastic, energetic and results-oriented individual to join its dynamic fundraising team as the Assistant Director of Development. The Assistant Director will be instrumental in helping the college achieve increased fundraising success.

The Assistant Director of Development is expected to be an accomplished, responsive and collaborative member of the CANR Advancement team who executes an aggressive schedule of donor activity to ensure a continuous pipeline of private support for the college.
Reporting to the Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations, and working closely with the other office staff, administration and the volunteers, the Assistant Director will develop and manage a portfolio of 150 special donor prospects, employing an aggressive, strategic moves management program, averaging 12 – 15 face-to-face strategic visits per month including a strategic focus on the identification and discovery of new prospects, and 2 to 4 solicitations per month. The position will dedicate a significant amount of time traveling, with emphasis initially focused on prospects in Michigan.

Job Duties:

FUNDRAISING

Collaborate and coordinate with the CANR Development Team, college administrators and educators, and Advancement staff to create and carry out fundraising strategies and solicitation of gifts.

• Build strong, engaged relationships with prospects to determine and merge their passions/interests/needs with CANR funding priorities and opportunities.

• Build working relationships with internal CANR constituents to enhance information exchange of appropriate fundraising priorities and strategies.

• Engage 12 to 15 prospects through personal visits which result in strategic “moves” toward closure of major and special gifts each month.

• Develop and deliver funding proposals and case statements to effectively communicate in writing and verbally, the strategic funding priorities for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

• Maintain accurate donor/prospect records for planning and documenting significant strategic prospect “moves” toward closure of gifts.

• Implement a yearly strategic fundraising plan as part of the CANR Development team in collaboration with University Advancement.

• Identify and maintain an active pool of 150 prospects under management.

• Achieve CANR fundraising goals through a consistent program of prospect/donor outreach that includes 150 personal visits 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 University Advancement regional staff.

• Work in conjunction with annual giving to develop messages and materials for annual fund campaigns, including faculty/staff and student philanthropy.

• Prepare annual personal fundraising goals and analyze/report goal accomplishment. Assist in planning and implementing special purpose appeals as necessary.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Develop and prepare annual giving solicitation appeals with focus on gifts renewing and engaging young alumni through the clear identification of funding priorities and articulation of the case for support of the college, 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 college alumni and donor engagement, prospecting, recognition, and stewardship events, as appropriate.

• Utilize MSU’s 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.

• Build working relationships with internal constituents to enhance information exchange between units within CANR, including advising faculty and administrators of appropriate fundraising strategies.

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 CANR 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.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Required:
The job requires: 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 of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in public relations, professional and higher education fundraising, marketing or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired:

• A Bachelor’s degree.

• Five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive experience in professional fundraising, public relations, marketing, volunteer administration, or related field; 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.

HOW TO APPLY

We will continue evaluating applications until the position is filled.
If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Pat Karam, Director of Recruitment at karampat@msu.edu

All candidates must submit an application, resume and cover letter through the Michigan State University Human Resources web-based system the URL for that website is careers.msu.edu. Please indicate position number 878842 when submitting your application.

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/4400773

MSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.

MSU is committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. The University actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans and persons with disabilities.