Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for University Advancement (AVP), the Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations is responsible for annual giving, scholarship stewardship, and alumni relations for MBKU and all three programs (Southern California College of Optometry, School of Physician Assistant Studies, and the College of Pharmacy). This position is responsible for annual fundraising from individuals and organizations at the $24,999 level and below, through annual giving appeals and individual portfolio outreach.

The Associate Director works closely with the AVP for University Advancement to develop fundraising priorities and execute annual fundraising plans for MBKU and the three programs. This position actively manages a prospect portfolio of 75-125 individuals, identifies and qualifies new prospects, and oversees the annual solicitations and stewardship for scholarship donors. Additionally, the Associate Director works closely with the Alumni Council and affiliated program-based alumni societies and the AVP, to develop programs to engage alumni and build relationships to secure private support and build alumni pride.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Articulate the case for support with effectiveness; communicate the priorities, goals and mission of the university.
• Articulate the value of gifts to MBKU and the three programs to meet programmatic fundraising priorities and goals.
• Manage and actively engage a portfolio of approximately 75-125 alumni and organizational prospects. Conduct strategic outreach to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors.
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies designed to advance prospects through the major gift pipeline. Performance expectations include consistently achieving monthly, quarterly, and annual metrics including but not limited to outreach attempts, number of meaningful donor visits, substantive donor conversations, gift solicitations, and other key metrics as defined by UA leadership.
• Develop proposals and other necessary written collateral to secure private support for annual campus and program priorities including scholarships, sponsor ships, programmatic needs and other college based and MBKU programmatic fundraising priorities.
• Write, develop, and manage the execution of annual giving appeals.
• Responsible for developing increasing levels of involvement and support among donors and prospects utilizing best practices for cultivation and stewardship through regular correspondence and contacts in person, by phone, mail and email.
• Assist with annual giving, scholarship, Alumni Council and Club engagement activities and events. Assist the AVP in developing programs to increase engagement activities for alumni, including alumni awards programming, regional receptions, alumni giving clubs and other volunteer opportunities that align with institutional and program-based priorities.
• Contribute to the overall strategic plan for the office of University Advancement as it relates to Alumni Relations, scholarship fundraising, stewardship of donors, and annual fund outreach.
• Assist with Alumni Council meetings by preparing agendas, scheduling meetings and working with the AVP to record minutes and provide other resources needed.
• Participate in professional conference alumni receptions and programs.
• Field phone calls and inquiries from alumni and donors and assist or direct them to the proper UA representative.
• Utilize the Raiser’s Edge database to record donor interactions, solicitations, opportunities, and other significant fundraising/stewardship information and actions on behalf of MBKU, complying with expectations as outlined for UA Prospect Management.
• Collect data and generate reports for assigned prospects as well as the scholarship and annual fund programs as needed.
• Engage in campus and community activities and functions as assigned.
• In collaboration with the UA team, develop donor stewardship reports for assigned prospects and scholarship donors
• Be an active and collaborative team member in University Advancement and with colleagues across the campus to accomplish goals.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 2-5 years of annual fundraising experience, preferably at a higher education institution; or equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Thorough working knowledge of annual fundraising, donor relations, alumni relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.
• Direct solicitation fundraising experience both orally and in written format.
• Strong knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc.
• Strong organizational,…