Careers @ MSU

Position Summary

The Assistant Director of Donor Experience and Strategic Engagement for the College of Natural Science serves as a collaborative strategist and facilitator by developing and implementing a college-wide stewardship program.  The Assistant Director of Donor Experience and Strategic Engagement will conceptualize and execute a cohesive and comprehensive communications, stewardship and donor recognition program for alumni, donors, friends and supporters of the College of Natural Science.

The Assistant Director will develop the strategies, programs and materials necessary to ensure that the donors and alums of the College of Natural Science receive high-level stewardship and communication based on best practices.

Management of Endowments:

• Develop an intimate knowledge of current endowments residing in the College of Natural Science and identify the ways they are being used or reinvested.    
• Annually prepare Endowment Activity Reports and accompanying letters and electronic support materials to be sent to donors and those notified of endowment activity.
• Obtain all information from department chairs and program directors regarding endowment administration and award information.
• Audit endowment agreements and ensure distributions are being spent correctly.  Work with departments and programs to annually review college endowment agreements to ensure that donor intention is being followed.
• Manage the processes for acknowledgement and recognition, including on-going communications with donors.

Stewardship, Communications and Donor Recognition: 

• Develop a coordinated strategy of communication, solicitation and stewardship strategies for Development and Alumni Relations, including partnering with the college communications team on print communications, electronic materials, and constituent outreach.
• Facilitate publicity of major gifts and donors with college communications, university communications office and University Advancement.
• Provide support for development officers in developing proposals, writing and production.
• Work with departments and programs to annually review college scholarship agreements to ensure that donor intention is being followed.
• Work with College of Natural Science development team in identifying creative opportunities to engage and steward donors and their gifts.
• Work with Development and Alumni Relations to identify stewardship strategies for top alumni and donors and identify VIP donors to receive impact/stewardship reports annually.
• Collaborate with College of Natural Science Alumni Relations on materials to support active engagement of alumni and donors.
• Serve as an advocate for donors, alumni and friends.

Gift Acknowledgement:

• Manage the distribution of all gift letters to donors.
• Review all letters for accuracy.
• Oversee and ensure appropriate and accurate recording, acknowledgement, recognition, and allocation of gifts.

Proposals: 

• Edit current drafted content for proposals and enter into design template
• Utilizing existing information and compiling for donor presentations

Additional Duties:

• Identify best practices at other organizations for stewardship planning and operation.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Natural Science, Fundraising or related field; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in the planning and production of institutional and/or fundraising events; contractor and vendor contract negotiations, and developing event budget reports; experience in a customer-service environment; and experience in database, spreadsheet, word processing and presentation software; Knowledge of principles and techniques relevant to major gift fundraising; ability to manage, analyze and report data; ability to implement programming and strategic initiatives;  or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Collaborative team-oriented style
• Excellent interpersonal and customer relations skills; ability to work with a wide variety of personality types
• Excellent writing skills
• Understanding of database segmentation, and prospect identification
• Creativity, curiosity, sense of humor, high energy level, and enthusiasm for meeting and working with a wide range of individuals
• Self-starter, with demonstrated ability to take initiative
• Good decision-making skills, tactful, strong listening skills, willingness to search out answers, ability to recognize when others need to be involved in activities or decisions
• Three years related, and progressively more responsible or expansive, work experience in professional fundraising, alumni/donor relations, public relations, marketing or related field.

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.

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

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 July 15, 2025 at 11:55 P.M.