Associate Director, Development​/Alumni Relations, School of Law

Months Per Year: 12 Work Model:
Hybrid Work

Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability.

Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

• Effective Team
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives.
• Emotionally Intelligent Communication:
  Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally.
• Ethics and Integrity:
  Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions.
• Flexibility and Innovation:
  Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making a positive impact.
• Mindful Inclusion:
  Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness.
• Outcomes-Driven Orientation:
  Sets clear objectives, pursues excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.

PURPOSE The Associate Director of Development is responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumni, donors, and prospective donors in support of the Seattle University School of Law. The Associate Director manages a portfolio spanning leadership annual giving and major gift prospects, with an emphasis on building the donor pipeline, increasing philanthropic support, and strategically transitioning donors toward greater levels of engagement and investment.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strategic alignment, collaboration, and institutional knowledge by building strong relationships across the School of Law and Seattle University and connecting donor interests with institutional priorities and the University’s Jesuit Catholic mission.

Build, manage, and actively engage a portfolio of assigned prospects and donors, developing individualized strategies that move donors from qualification and cultivation through solicitation and stewardship. Annually solicit a portfolio of 150+ assigned prospects, securing leadership annual gifts generally in the $1,000–$25,000 range while identifying and advancing donors with capacity and inclination for major gifts. Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects in support of School of Law and University priorities, in close collaboration with the Assistant Dean, Dean, and University Advancement colleagues.

Maintain an active pipeline of prospective major gift donors, including a Top 25 pool of prospects positioned for solicitation within the next 12–18 months. Complete qualification and discovery visits beyond the assigned portfolio to identify new philanthropic prospects and expand the School of Law donor pipeline. Develop and submit 12–25 major gift proposals annually and steward prospects through the proposal and solicitation process in accordance with University prospect management protocols.

Use a strategic mix of in-person and virtual meetings and multi-channel communications—including email, video, social media, texting, and other appropriate tools—to deepen donor engagement and increase philanthropic support. Establish annual fundraising, activity, and pipeline goals in consultation with University Advancement leadership; develop annual work plans and regularly assess and report progress toward established goals. Promote philanthropic opportunities across the School of Law and University, including academic and programmatic priorities, endowed funds, scholarships, Seattle U…