Asst Director of Development, COL​/Development Officer

Working/Functional Title

Asst Director of Development, COL

As the Assistant Director of Development for the College of Law (COL ), the successful candidate will be part of a collaborative team that plans and directs the organization and operation of an Advancement program for the college including the management of fundraising efforts in specific instate and outstate geographic areas. The ability to think and act strategically will be critical to the success of this position.

The Assistant Director of Development will focus efforts on face‑to‑face contact with prospects whose philanthropic capacity is $100,000 or more, managing a portfolio of 75 major donor prospects. It is expected that the Assistant Director will average 16-17 strategic visits which result in "moves" toward major gifts, and 2 to 3 major gift solicitations per month. The Assistant Director will assist in prospect identification and volunteer recruitment and training as needed.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the Assistant Director’s primary work location will be in East Lansing, Michigan at the College of Law. Providing support as needed and directed, it is expected that the Assistant Director will also provide fundraising support to the college across the state optimizing a combination of in-state travel and conferencing technology to best utilize time and resources.

Regular travel is required involving automobile; additional travel involving air transportation.

• Implement yearly strategic fundraising plan for the college, in collaboration with the development team, to meet established dollar/donor goals for the college’s major gift program of $100,000 and above to support the colleges endowment, expendable, and capital priorities.
• Build strong, engaged relationships with major gift prospects to determine and merge prospect passions/interests/needs with MSU/COL areas of funding priority and opportunity. Carry a portfolio of 75 prospects to create and carry out fundraising strategies and solicitation of gifts of $100,000 and more.
• Engage 16-17 major prospects through personal visits which result in strategic "moves" toward closure of major gifts each month ($100,000 and above).
• Interpret needs/priorities of COL units, verbally and in writing, to engender a level of understanding that is conducive to giving.
• Build working relationships with internal constituents to enhance information exchange between COL units as well as other MSU units, including advising faculty and administrators of appropriate fundraising strategies.
• Recruit, train, and manage volunteers who assist with planning and carrying out development objectives.

• Assist with the development and writing of materials that clearly identify funding priorities, articulate the case for the support of the college, and engender an insight conducive to giving in order t o advance the college’s campaign fundraising goals. Materia ls may include solicitation appeals, proposals, and other materials for engagement, cultivation, and solicitation, as well as marketing and communication materials targeted to alumni and donors.
• Assist with the coordination of and participation in college alumni and donor engagement, prospecting, recognition, and stewardship events as appropriate.
• Serve as a liaison between the donor/prospect and the university/college to ensure that information and services that may be desired are provided to the full extent permitted by university policy, rules, and regulations.
• Utilize the alumni and donor database to coordinate with other development colleagues, record contact activities , update donor information, record strategic moves management steps, and gift documentation as appropriate. Maintain accurate donor/prospect records in the database, planning and documenting significant strategic prospect "moves" toward closure of major gifts.

• Prepare personal fundraising goals and analyze/report goal accomplishments for Dean, University Advancement, volunteers, and other related groups.
• Serve as a fundraising consultant and…