Working/Functional Title
Assistant Director of Devel, CANR
Position Summary
Basic Function and Responsibility
Are you passionate about building relationships and securing major gifts for interdisciplinary research that tackles pressing global challenges? The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University is the largest STEM academic unit. It is a dynamic interdisciplinary powerhouse focused on solving global challenges that reach far beyond traditional agriculture. The college, along with MSU Extension and AgBio Research, serves as an epicenter of innovation that tackles pressing global issues such as: climate science, sustainability, urban planning, food security, and public health.
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University is seeking a talented and ambitious individual to join our collaborative development team as the Assistant Director of Development.
In this results-oriented position, you’ll play a critical role in shaping the future of STEM education and research. You’ll leverage your strategic thinking and interpersonal skills to cultivate relationships with alumni and friends, securing vital resources that fuel innovation and opportunity in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
What will you do?
- Become a champion for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Michigan State University by raising support for cutting-edge research with a real-world impact across multiple fields: You’ll manage a portfolio of 75 - 100 prospects, fostering long-term relationships that elevate the College’s reputation and fuel its success.
- Uncover hidden potential: Employ your keen eye for discovery to identify new alumni and donors, building a robust pipeline for future giving.
- Leverage your strategic planning experience: Develop and execute personalized cultivation and stewardship strategies, averaging 12-15 strategic face-to-face visits and 2-4 solicitations per month.
- Collaborate for collective success: Partner with faculty, college leadership, and internal stakeholders to deepen relationships and maximize your impact.
- Be a part of and learn from a team dedicated to building a cohesive culture: Work alongside a high-performing development team, sharing best practices and celebrating collective achievements.
Why You’ll Love Working Here:
- Make a tangible difference: Your efforts will directly translate into increased resources that empower students, faculty, research, and programs in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, AgBio Research, and MSU Extension.
- Join a collaborative environment: We foster a supportive and team-oriented atmosphere where you’ll be empowered to grow and excel.
- Be part of a prestigious institution: You’ll have the privilege of donning Spartan green and white, while representing the land grant mission to provide high-quality education, conduct research, and engage with the public to advance knowledge and improve lives.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Discovery, Cultivation, and Solicitation:
- Maintain an active pool of 75-100 prospects under strategic management.
- Achieve fundraising goals through an active and consistent program of prospect/donor outreach, including 200 significant personal contacts annually. Extensive out-of-state travel is required.
- Conduct research to identify and meetings to qualify major gift prospects through discovery visits, commensurate with portfolio composition.
- Engage donors and potential donors through personal visits, online meetings, phone calls, email, mail, social media, or other strategies as appropriate.
- Determine prospects’ passions/interests/needs and meld them with College funding priorities and opportunities.
- Serve as a liaison officer between the College 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.
- Develop proposals, appeal letters, and other materials for engagement, cultivation, and solicitation purposes.
- Plan and host campus visits of donors, potential donors, or their representatives.
Stewardship:
- Continue to engage, communicate impact, and build trust to steward supporters' commitment to MSU and CANR to move to additional gift conversations.
Strategy & Coordination:
- In collaboration with Regional, Gift Planning, and MSU Alumni Office colleagues, develop and execute engagement plans for prospective and current donors within your portfolio to identify and cultivate major gift prospects.
- Prepare annual personal fundraising goals and analyze/report goal accomplishment.
- Participate in professional development and career-building activities with colleagues, demonstrating an eagerness to learn and a desire to excel in the fundraising profession.
- Serve as subject matter expert to build strategies with faculty, leadership, and other internal stakeholders that help lead to transformational gifts.
Minimum Requirements
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing one or two years of graduate study beyond a Bachelor's degree, such as a Masters in Social Work; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in counseling in a health/mental health environment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and State certification as a Social Worker. ACSW may be required in order to provide primary supervision of social work students.
Desired Qualifications
- Three 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; possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license.
- Experience working in a higher education or fundraising workplace.
- Experience managing multiple fundraising priorities in a fast-paced setting.
- 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.
- Travel involving automobile, airline, and rail.
- Experience building a business trip for in and out of state business travel focused on building relationships and maximizing engagement and philanthropic opportunities.
- Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
- Experience in public speaking.
- Collaborative team-oriented style.
- Working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving.
- An entrepreneurial spirit: You thrive in a results-oriented environment, taking initiative and driving results and success through strategic relationship management.
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 want 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.
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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 January 7, 2025 at 11:55 P.M.
