Development Associate

The development associate is part of the Discovery Team and with primary responsibility for a high volume of prospect discovery, qualification, and solicitation across the United States. The Discovery team's work is focused on the priority of building Case Western Reserve University's pipeline for the next comprehensive campaign and to increase immediate funding while identifying prospects for longer-term cultivation efforts toward a major gift commitment.

Eighty five percent of the development associate's time will be focused on discovery, qualification, and solicitation of prospects with major gift capacity. This position involves regular travel and extensive frontline fundraising activity.

As a generalist, the development associate is comfortable representing multiple schools/units and discussing priorities across the university. The incumbent is an excellent collaborator and works closely with school-based and central development and alumni relations colleagues.

• Conduct a high volume of discovery visits to qualify prospects for capacity and affinity to provide philanthropic support to Case Western Reserve University. Travel 2 to 3 times per month within a designated portfolio of regions within the United States. Independently assess prospect capacity to determine appropriate response to guide conversation toward philanthropic support. Participate in creative strategic planning and recommend short and long-term goals for the development of fundraising activities.
  
  Define and evaluate strategic alternatives and provide recommendations on areas of focus and courses of action. Research and identify prospects with the ability to make a major, leadership, principal, or planned gift to CWRU and hand off active referrals to school/unit or central fundraisers. Develop engagement strategies for particular regions in collaboration with alumni engagement and national development officers. Evaluate their success in making contacts and securing visits, make adjustments as needed utilizing various outreach strategies and tools.
  
  Prioritize outreach utilizing software platforms. (55%)
• Conduct visits to solicit new commitments of $25,000 or more. Solicit all prospects for annual gifts of $1,000 on first visit as a method of qualification and partner with Leadership Annual Giving Officers for upgrade strategies. Raise funds for all schools and units and priorities with a donor-centric approach. (30%)
• Work closely with Advancement Services to update and maintain donor and prospect biographical information, wealth indicators, and communication preferences in the CRM and track all outreach and activity per Prospect Management Policies. (15%)

Perform other duties as assigned. (