Assistant Director of Development; LAG

The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

The Ohio State University's Connections Team is hiring multiple Assistant Directors of Development to focus on leadership annual giving. Assistant Directors broaden the community of donor support for the university and its Wexner Medical Center by establishing and managing relationships with donors, alumni, volunteers, and grateful patients, soliciting leadership-level annual gifts targeting $3,000-$99,999. This position manages a defined leadership annual giving portfolio and is responsible for high-volume donor discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, documentation, and follow-up activity to meet established fundraising goals.

The role requires frequent travel, including approximately two overnight trips per month plus regular in-state travel, and manages assigned travel and prospect engagement expenses within an allocated budget and established university and Advancement guidelines. The position uses reporting and analysis tools to assess portfolio activity, fundraising effectiveness, and prospect-specific cultivation and solicitation strategies, and is measured against established activity and revenue metrics, including meetings, solicitations, commitments, and dollars raised.

Reporting to a Senior Director or Director of Development (Leadership Annual Giving), the Assistant Directors of Development independently manages day-to-day portfolio activity, donor outreach, travel planning, solicitation preparation, and follow-up within established Advancement goals, performance metrics, procedures, and manager guidance. The role requires confidentiality, sound judgment, organization, analytical ability, and the ability to use tact, diplomacy, and discretion in donor and partner interactions.

Assistant Directors of Development are expected to maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues across Advancement, the university, and the Wexner Medical Center to communicate donor interests, qualification outcomes, visit results, solicitation progress, stewardship needs. Successful candidates will be excellent verbal and written communicators who have the ability to adapt to shifting priorities and demands.

All members of External Affairs are part of creating a culture that inspires an exceptionally multifaceted and talented team and are expected to exhibit The Ohio State University's Shared Values. The Office of External Affairs is committed to acting with kindness, respect, and integrity at all times and welcoming our colleagues' ideas, voices, and perspectives, acknowledging that we are better together.

Team members begin their professional journey as part of a close-knit cohort of peers, where they will take part in a comprehensive 4-week onboarding and training experience. During this time period, the cohort will be introduced to all aspects of higher education and health care philanthropy, and develop a thorough understanding of its important role in creating a more fair and welcoming future.

90% Manages assigned portfolio activity to meet established qualifications, meetings, solicitations, commitments, and revenue goals by planning and maintaining an active travel and donor engagement schedule, raises unrestricted leadership annual gifts to fund core university priorities, particularly for colleges and units, and communicates cultivation progress, visit outcomes, solicitation status, and stewardship needs to appropriate Advancement partners. Builds, manages, and documents activity for a large assigned portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects.

Proactively cultivates, solicits, and stewards Ohio State donors, alumni, volunteers, and grateful patients capable of making leadership annual gifts, with a target of approximately 150 donor or prospect meetings per year. Develops and executes prospect-specific cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for assigned leadership annual giving prospects, incorporating established Advancement best practices, donor information, reporting tools, and manager guidance as appropriate.

Uses reporting and analysis tools to monitor portfolio activity, identify opportunities, assess fundraising effectiveness, adjust outreach and solicitation activity within established parameters, and maintain accurate donor/prospect documentation. Manages assigned travel and prospect engagement expenses within an allocated…