Working/Functional Title

Senior Director of Regional Devel, MI

Position Summary

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

Michigan State University is seeking a dynamic, results-driven individual to assist the Associate Vice President in guiding the development strategy for the state of Michigan, where the largest number of our alumni and rated prospects reside. MSU’s Office of Individual Giving is comprised of two inter-related teams: Regional Major Gifts and Gift Planning. As an integral member of University Advancement’s senior leadership team, the Senior Director of Regional Development for Michigan will be charged with growing the individual giving program both in terms of dollars raised and donors secured; amplifying efforts to successfully build networks of key alumni and other prospects as volunteers; serving as a mentor and consultant to all fundraising staff; and ensuring purpose and intentionality in all that is planned by the unit to ensure that maximum dollars are raised. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned professional with proven leadership skills, as evidenced by outstanding personnel and programmatic management experience, an ability to think and act strategically, and a track record in building and enhancing internal and external relationships with strategic partners. This is a Michigan-based hybrid position serving the Southeast Michigan and Detroit areas.

The Senior Director of Regional Development provides leadership for the development of individual gift prospects from a central, University Advancement perspective. This requires close collaboration with college and other constituent colleagues, other regional directors, and the leadership team of University Advancement. It is envisioned that the Senior Director will also collaborate closely with Prospect Development on prospect identification and portfolio/moves management.

The Senior Director of Regional Development will be a seasoned, independent-working, motivated fundraiser to plan, implement, and evaluate comprehensive major gift fundraising activities for individuals in Michigan. This position provides leadership to regional major gift officers based in Michigan, and together as a team, they manage the regional fundraising efforts for Michigan. As the Senior Director of Regional Development for Michigan, this role focuses efforts on donors and prospects whose philanthropic capacity is $100,000 or more, managing a portfolio of approximately 120 identified major gift prospects for discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. The Senior Director averages 10 to 12 face-to-face meetings per month which results in significant progress toward major gifts or the qualification and rating of new prospects, and 2 to 4 major gift solicitations per month that garner capital, endowed, annual, and deferred financial support. The Senior Director will work from a home office located within the region and will travel to Michigan State University regularly. Already a very experienced fundraiser, communicator, and collaborator who understands the unique nature of the region, they will become knowledgeable about MSU colleges and constituency units, representing them to alumni and friends in Michigan and soliciting them on behalf of colleagues on campus and/or the university. Whether working independently, with their regional fundraising colleagues, or as part of a team, the Senior Director juggles day-to-day fundraising with the multiple demands of working with donors/prospects, hosting events, and arranging individual appointments for University leadership, building networks of volunteers who take active roles in the current capital campaign, and documenting activity on University Advancement’s database.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Prospect Management and Fundraising:

• Research and develop plans and strategies for solicitation of major gifts, with a focus on gifts and pledges of $100,000 or more across your region(s) of responsibility. Maintain and actively work a portfolio of 120 major and planned gift prospects, with a focus on prospects within your individual region of responsibility. 
• Ensure that all development staff with major gift fundraising responsibilities develop and maintain a well–balanced prospect portfolio of 75 prospects and that they communicate and coordinate appropriately with their colleagues on prospect strategy.
• 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. 
• Maintain records and resource materials which will assist in the identification of major gift prospects interested in support of university programs and activities.
• Assist constituency-based development officers, faculty, and administrators in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift prospects likely to support specific university programs and activities. The central development staff may be called upon to work with the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, and other university leadership when traveling to the region.
• 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.
• 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.
• Plan and host campus visits for major gift prospects with faculty and University leadership as part of a strategic cultivation plan when required.
• Work with the AVP for Development, Principal Gifts, and the VPUA office to develop strategies for engaging University leadership in their region for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts.
• Travel to work with prospects, colleagues, University leadership, and key volunteers as appropriate.
• 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 your personal portfolio as well as that of your team.  
• Develop promotional materials, transmittal letters, and other supportive material required for discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Provides assistance to donors regarding tax laws, policies, and procedures and resolves problems in order to maintain a positive image of the University.
• Utilize donor information systems and related databases and reporting tools. Utilize personal computer, smart phone, and similar tools to access information both in and out of the office. Have a working knowledge of Word, Excel, and Power Point for purposes of self-sufficiency.

Development and Implementation of a University Advancement Strategy in the Region:

• Work in partnership with MSU Alumni Office and UA Engagement teams to execute strategic engagement opportunities in the region. Represent the University at fundraising meetings and other appropriate occasions, speak to professional organizations and other appropriate groups as program needs dictate and host development-related functions.
• Organize, train, and utilize volunteers to assist in accomplishing specific program goals and objectives.

Personnel Management and Talent Development:

• Oversee hiring and personnel decisions for the Regional Directors within your team, and mentor and coach them to be successful in their roles. Establish performance goals and objectives, conduct annual evaluations, regular portfolio reviews, and provide ongoing feedback. Expedite the professional development and training of the staff to maintain a high level of productivity, collaboration with their colleagues and job satisfaction.

RELATED DUTIES

• Perform analyses of fundraising activities and prepare reports for the Associate Vice President of Development, University Advancement, University leadership, volunteers, and other related groups and stakeholders.
• Serve as fundraising consultant and advisor to university leadership as necessary.
• Duties associated with this position involve working on a display terminal at least 10% of the time.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Direction received from the Associate Vice President of Development.

COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS 

• Michigan State University alumni/friends/corporations/businesses/employees and corporate leadership - in order to solicit as potential donors, handle their donor requests and to cultivate and train them as potential volunteers.
• Regional major and gift planning colleagues, and constituency-based development colleagues - in order to coordinate cultivation and solicitation strategies for major gift prospects in an effort to maximize the campaign gift potential.
• Michigan State University executive management - in order to consult and coordinate work within University structure to aid in the discovery of potential donors and gain support of special projects.
• Michigan State University Vice President of University Advancement and Associate Vice President of University Development - in order to advise on the progress of specific campaign/regional goals.
• Michigan State University campaign leadership - in order to seek their advice on the cultivation and solicitation of major donors and to assist them in soliciting donors.

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; five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in professional and higher education fundraising, public relations, marketing, development of budgets, preparation and presentation of case statements and analysis of operations; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

Desired:

• A bachelor’s degree in any rigorous academic field, preferably Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Business, or related field. 
• Five to seven years of experience in professional major gift fundraising working with individual donors on gifts of six/seven figures or more. Experience in higher education, health care, or similarly complex, decentralized environments strongly preferred. 
• An advanced degree and/or professional fundraising certification is preferred.
• Seven to ten years of progressively more responsible or expansive experience in professional major gift fundraising working with individual donor gifts of six/seven figures or more, or related experience. 
• Substantial experience in hiring, coaching, supervising, and developing professional staff in a collaborative, but demanding environment is essential.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are a must, including strong public speaking and writing skills.
• Collaborative team-oriented style.
• Experience with “Moves Management” or related strategic relationship development. 
• Working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving.
• Travel is required. Possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license is required.

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 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. 

Screening of applicants will continue until the position is filled.

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Work Hours

Typically 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 January 14, 2025 at 11:55 P.M.