Working/Functional Title
Assoc Director of Devel, Student Success
Position Summary
Michigan State University’s MSU Student Success development team is responsible for raising funds for crucial initiatives dedicated to the undergraduate student experience. This expansive unit raises critical support for the Office of the Provost, the Division of Student Affairs, and the Executive Vice President for Administration’s portfolio, all of which directly impact the experience and success of MSU students, staff, and faculty.
The MSU Student Success Development team is seeking an enthusiastic, energetic, and results-oriented individual to join its dynamic fundraising team as the Associate Director of Development focused on the priorities of MSU Student Success. The Associate Director will be instrumental in helping the unit achieve aggressive goals by identifying, cultivating, and soliciting individuals for significant 6- and 7-figure support as well as periodic special purpose appeals and programs with key constituencies, corporations, and foundations.
The Associate Director of Development is expected to be an accomplished, responsive, and collaborative member of the MSU Student Success development team who executes an aggressive schedule of donor activity to ensure a continuous pipeline of private support for the university. The Associate Director will report directly to the Director of Development for the MSU Student Success Development team and work closely with the Student Affairs, Administration, and Provost teams.
The Associate Director of Development will manage a portfolio of approximately 75 major donor prospects, focusing efforts on prospects whose philanthropic capacity is $100,000 or more to maximize the fundraising potential on behalf of Michigan State University. The Associate Director will average 12-15 face-to-face strategic visits per month, which will result in greater engagement and movement toward a major gift solicitation at a rate of 2 to 4 solicitations per month, with all solicitation efforts cleared and coordinated with University Advancement at Michigan State University. The Associate Director will travel as needed to facilitate donor engagement and close major gift solicitations.
The duties of the Associate Director of Development for MSU Student Success include, but are not limited to, the following:
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:
Fundraising:
- Engage in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, professional groups, and key constituencies in support of Student Success initiatives at Michigan State University.
- Collaborate and coordinate with University Advancement and the administrators and faculty of the divisions that MSU Student Success covers to create and carry out fundraising strategies and solicitation of gifts of $100,000 and more.
- Identify and maintain an active pool of 75 prospects under strategic management.
- Achieve the Unit fundraising goals through an active and consistent program of prospect/donor outreach that includes 180 significant contacts annually.
- Utilize phone calls, email, mail, social media, and other strategies to identify, connect with, and engage alumni with the goal of soliciting financial support.
- Identify, qualify, and work to build strong, engaged relationships with major gift prospects to determine and merge prospect passions/interests/needs with MSU Student Success areas of funding priority and opportunity.
- Schedule prospect/donor visits with members of the unit leadership, faculty, or other Development colleagues, when appropriate.
- Serve as a liaison officer between the units, 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.
- Plan and host campus visits for donors, potential donors, or their representatives.
- Prepare annual personal fundraising goals and analyze/report goal accomplishment.
- Assist in planning and implementing special purpose appeals as necessary.
Strategy & Coordination:
- Interpret needs/priorities of the Student Success unit partners, verbally and in writing, to engender a level of understanding that is conducive to giving.
- Participate as part of the MSU Student Success development team on strategic planning and initiatives, budgeting, reporting, and special events.
- Assist the Director of Development in executing the plan for the 2030 comprehensive campaign, Uncommon Will. Far Better World. This includes the development of funding priorities, the identification and cultivation of leadership gifts, recruitment of volunteers, and development of the case for support.
- Build working relationships with internal constituents to enhance information exchange between MSU Student Success units, including faculty and administrators, of appropriate fundraising strategies.
Data Management & Planning:
- Prepare annual personal fundraising goals and analyze/report goal accomplishment.
- Assist in planning and implementing special purpose appeals as necessary.
- Attend appropriate workshops and seminars to enhance professional development.
- Act as a public goodwill ambassador for Michigan State University and all the units contained within the MSU Student Success divisions.
- Ensure best practices in office systems, practices, files and record keeping; ensure effective use of strategic tools and resources such as contact reports, prospect management, research, and analysis, and the Ascend (Salesforce) database.
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Interacts with:
- Michigan State University alumni/individuals/corporations/businesses/employees and corporate leadership – to solicit potential donors, manage donor requests, and cultivate and train them as potential volunteers.
- Faculty and department chairs, program directors, and other university leaders – 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 – to obtain advice and counsel on options being considered for programs and coordinate the cultivation and solicitation of donor prospects.
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 fundraising, marketing or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Desired Qualifications
- Master's degree preferred.
- Five 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.
- Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
- Experience in public speaking.
- Collaborative team-oriented style.
- Experience with “Moves Management” or related strategic relationship development.
- Ability to “close” gifts or business deals with demonstrative experiences, closing gifts of $100,000 or more.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Working knowledge of tax laws affects charitable giving.
- Travel involving automobiles, airlines, and rail.
- Possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license.
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!
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? For questions, 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 on September 29, 2026, at 11:55 PM
