Working/Functional Title
Assistant Director of Development, CAL
Position Summary
Ranked #32 in the world for Best Global Universities in Arts & Humanities by U.S. News & World Report, the Michigan State University College of Arts & Letters is home to some of the most engaged, forward-thinking faculty, researchers, and scholars in the world. We educate actors, artists, designers, filmmakers, linguists, philosophers, poets, teachers, translators, writers, and more in a creative, collaborative, and nurturing environment, where students are met with diverse opportunities to explore, grow, and find their passion. Beyond the classroom, our college fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, deep community engagement, and a shared conviction that the arts and humanities are the threads that weave together our cultures and hold the power to address the world's most pressing challenges.
As part of MSU’s $4B comprehensive capital campaign, the College of Arts + Letters is pacing toward our ambitious unit goal to raise $55M by 2032 in support of priorities including establishment of a four-year, embedded career development model that integrates internships, experiential learning, and skill-based transcripts - ensuring all students graduate with the skills, networks, and experiences to thrive professionally, and creation of a dynamic center for interdisciplinary arts and humanities research, creative practice, and public engagement -amplifying faculty scholarship and connecting communities to the impact of humanities work.
Reporting to the Senior Director of Development for the College of Arts & Letters, the successful candidate will join a collaborative team responsible for planning and executing the college's comprehensive development program, including fundraising efforts across designated in-state and out-of-state geographic regions. The Assistant Director of Development will maintain a portfolio of approximately 70 major gift prospects, focusing engagement on individuals with a philanthropic capacity of $50,000 or more. In this role, the Assistant Director is expected to conduct 12–15 strategic visits per month, advancing relationships and moving prospects through the gift cycle toward solicitation. These efforts should yield 2–4 solicitations per month, with all solicitation activity coordinated and cleared through the college and University Advancement at Michigan State University.
Regular in-state travel is required involving an automobile; additional travel out-of-state involving air transportation can be expected quarterly.
CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Solicitation, Cultivation & Discovery -
- Build and sustain meaningful relationships with major gift prospects, aligning their philanthropic interests and passions with the college's funding priorities and opportunities.
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 70 prospects, engaging each in tailored fundraising strategies and solicitations of $50,000 or more.
- Independently identify prospects ready to engage, secure exploratory meetings to assess philanthropic capacity, and qualify or disqualify individuals as major gift candidates.
- In collaboration with the development team, implement an annual strategic fundraising plan designed to meet the college's established dollar and donor goals, with focused attention on prospects at the $50,000+ capacity level.
- Conduct 12–15 personal visits per month with major prospects, advancing strategic moves toward the closure of special and major gifts.
- Communicate the needs and priorities of College of Arts & Letters units - both verbally and in writing - in ways that build understanding and inspire philanthropic investment.
- Cultivate productive working relationships with internal constituents to facilitate information exchange across college and university units and advise faculty and administrators on appropriate fundraising strategies.
Program Support -
- Contribute to the development and writing of fundraising materials that clearly articulate the college's funding priorities and make a compelling case for support, including solicitation appeals, gift proposals, cultivation and engagement pieces, and marketing and communications materials targeted to alumni and donors.
- Assist with the coordination of and participation in alumni and donor engagement, prospecting, recognition, and stewardship events as appropriate.
- Serve as a liaison between donors and prospects and the university and college, ensuring that requested information and services are provided in full accordance with university policies, rules, and regulations.
- Utilize the Ascend alumni and donor database to coordinate with development colleagues, document contact activities, update donor records, record moves management steps, and maintain accurate and current prospect information in support of major gift closure strategies.
Related Duties -
- Prepare annual personal fundraising goals and provide analysis and progress reports to the dean, University Advancement, volunteers, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Serve as a fundraising consultant and advisor to department heads and faculty as needed.
- Assist in planning and executing special-purpose fundraising appeals as needed.
- Pursue ongoing professional development through relevant workshops, seminars, and training opportunities.
- Represent Michigan State University and the College of Arts & Letters as an enthusiastic public ambassador and advocate.
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Interacts with:
- Michigan State University alums and friends – in order to solicit potential donors, manage donor requests, and cultivate and train them as potential volunteers
- CAL administrators, faculty, and department chairs – 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
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Supervision is received from the CAL Senior Director of Development.
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; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in professional fund raising, public relations, marketing, higher education fund raising or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must have a valid driver’s license; travel required
Desired Qualifications
- Three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in sales, public relations, volunteer administration, professional and higher education or medical fundraising, marketing, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Previous professional fundraising experience, ability to manage travel up to 50% of the time, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, when needed.
- Proven ability to work autonomously, collaboratively, and within a team structure.
- Demonstrated track record of financial development and/or productivity in a complex work environment.
- Knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to multi-task and manage time effectively in a fast-moving environment.
- Demonstrated ability to work within a campus culture that includes a diverse array of personalities.
- Some knowledge of the Land Grant University.
- Collaborative team-oriented style.
- Experience with “Moves Management” or related strategic relationship development.
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
Interested in joining the team at Michigan State University? If you have any questions, please contact Patricia Karam, Director of Talent Acquisition, 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 May 26, 2026, at 11:55 PM
