Careers @ MSU

Working/Functional Title

Program Director, Principal Gifts

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Principal Gifts, the Program Director plays a key role on the Principal Gifts team, managing the daily and strategic operational functions for the Principal Gift team through high level strategy, execution, briefings, and organization of the full principal gift portfolio. 

The Program Director, working in close collaboration with the Associate Vice President of Principal Gifts, also convenes campus partners and advises the team on the development of coordinated strategies aimed to maximize the life-time engagement and support of a portfolio of high-net-worth households. They assemble key university members together with prospects around cross-cutting strategic funding priorities and help facilitate strategy conversations in partnership with prospect development. They work closely with prospects teams to gain insights on timing of next moves or a strategy and then pull together monthly updates on prospects identified by the Principal Gift program and report on strategy and next steps.

Strategy Development, Planning, and Project Execution:

• Works in active partnership with the Associate VP of Principal Gifts and Principal Gift Officers to plan, implement, manage, and evaluate strategies, initiatives, and projects designed to enhance and advance principal gift donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship and successfully move projects and relationships forward.
• Assists in the execution of prospect/donor strategies for cultivation, proposal development, solicitation, and stewardship, and serve as strategic thought partner for gift officers and team leadership.
• Assists in directing Principal Gift Program workflow to ensure timely completion of assignments.
• Maintains and tracks the full principal gift portfolio strategies and next steps. Reporting monthly on updates, moves, and needed assistance. 
• Helps support and implement strategic engagement opportunities for VIP donors.
• Helps to research programs and connect with unit-based teams to gather information to help in proposal development for top prospects.
• Recommends and implements consistent standards of practice and procedures that provide professional and experienced customer service to VIP donors.
• Works closely with Prospect Development and the Engagement team to ensure that strategies and research are developed and accurate.
• Interacts with donors in person, by phone, and/or written communication.

Unit Administration:

• As a key member of the Principal Gifts team, the Program Director provides key analytic, project management, and strategic writing support when needed.
• A central liaison to UA partner teams with staff who support work around president and provost interaction, VPUA team, donor relations, prospect development, stewardship, and marketing communications.  
• The Program Director operates independently and as an integral member of a team, while taking on a variety of assigned tasks and projects as a partner in building and advancing donors’ relationships.
• Prepares and develops the agenda and reports for monthly Principal Gifts team meetings and monthly Presidential meetings with the Vice President of Advancement.
• Utilizes expert writing skills with a commitment to accuracy and attention to detail.
• Creates agendas, constituent data management, action item follow-up, reports creation, and more for the monthly principal gift pipeline meetings.
• Strategically manages the coordination with the VPUA office to secure meetings for top donors and prospects with university leadership.
• Communicates at a high level with top donors and prospects.
• Works with the Principal Gift Officers, helps provide logistics support for principal gift donors and prospective donor visits.
• Serves as the primary staff member working with the Engagement and Marketing & Communications team on content and dissemination for all pre- and post-event guest electronic communications.
• Travels as necessary to meet with donors/prospects and execute strategic moves or aid in hosting marquee events.
• Provides staff assistance to President, Deans, and other University leadership in direct solicitations and interactions with top donor prospects.
• Advises key University officers on opportunities for their involvement with specific fundraising and engagement events and initiatives with top prospects.

Prospect Data Management and Tracking:

• Coordinates and tracks principal gift Master List and Presidential Prospect Lists.
• Works in partnership with research and prospect development to provide logistical support on principal gifts rated projects/proposals/prospects.
• Collaborates with Research and Prospect development to generate Principal Gift prospect reports and track data.
• Works closely with Executive Director of Principal Gifts to develop reports that will assist in workflow management of Principal Gift activity.

RELATED DUTIES

• To attend workshops and professional clinics

• To develop proposals and other supportive material for solicitation and stewardship purposes

• To plan and host campus visits of donors or potential donors or their representatives

Interacts with:

• Supervising Administrator - to receive direction and exchange information regarding unit activities and operations.
• University Advancement Administrators - to assist in unit planning and advise on proposed prospect strategies and activities.
• University Advancement team members to coordinate prospect strategies and moves management.
• Advancement Engagement team to coordinate communications and marketing efforts targeted at top prospects and donors.
• Major Donors - to plan, organize, and coordinate visits; provide information; and cultivate and enhance donor relationships with MSU.
• University Administrators, Deans, Directors, Faculty and Staff - to exchange information, provide guidance, and coordinate donor visits.

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.

Desired Qualifications

• Four years of development experience, either as a fundraiser or supporting fundraising activity in a complex, decentralized, comprehensive university environment is preferred.
• Experience with high-net-worth individuals, planned giving, or wealth management, work in CFR.
• A deep understanding of and commitment to an integrated advancement program; and experience in a complex major research university environment.
• Keen understanding of the natural tension that exists when working with a multitude of colleges, departments, and programs with varying priorities.
• Experience working to sustain strong working relationships with staff, donors, faculty, volunteers, and academic leadership.
• Keen sense of requirements necessary to foster a team-centric culture and environment.
• Creative desire and thinking to help develop and implement solicitation strategies for transformational philanthropic gifts in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.
• Superior interpersonal and listening skills and exceptional negotiation skills and proven ability to make independent decisions.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills and an ability to think strategically about donor engagement at the highest level.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and an ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• An ability to write clear, concise, and compelling content in both long and short forms.
• A high degree of organization and attention to detail.
• An ability to prioritize and manage multiple, varied, and on-going projects simultaneously.
• An ability to conduct research and analysis through databases/online information systems.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and fundraising database/software, preferably a CRM database.
• Proficiency in analytics or willingness to learn.
• Professional integrity, intellectual curiosity, and an ability to collaborate across teams.
• Clear and effective written and oral communication and presentation skills, including both individual and large groups.
• Willingness to help on other projects needed to best support the Principal Gift activity at MSU.

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

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 possible 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 March 24, 2026, at 11:55 PM