"Assistant Director for Major Gifts"

Posted

18-Feb-25

Location

Houghton, Michigan

Type

Full-time

Categories

Development
Staff/Administrative

Internal Number

23034

Department

Advancement

Job Description Summary

The Assistant Director for Major Gifts is responsible for securing gifts of $25,000 and greater in support of the university’s programs, priorities, and initiatives. This position will act as the liaison for the College of Engineering. The Assistant Director will utilize a moves management system to identify, strategize, and document all types of major gifts. Through collaborative efforts with the College of Engineering and fundraising team, using strategic actions to advance donor portfolios, their focus is to meet and exceed yearly metrics to attain campaign goals. The Assistant Director will travel to interact with alumni and friends of the university and professionally represent the mission and vision of Michigan Tech. Ideal candidates will possess excellent written and oral communication skills to support collaborative efforts between university partners to advance the impact-giving donor pipeline for Michigan Tech.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (other duties may be assigned)

1. Advance the mission, vision, and short and long-term goals of the University in collaboration with the Executive Director for Major Gifts, advancement colleagues, and unit leaders.
2. Identify, secure appointments, and develop relationships with alumni and friends of Michigan Tech.
3. Ask alumni and friends of the University for gifts of $25,000 or greater.
4. Be an excellent listener and exhibit a modest, professional demeanor when meeting with donors.
5. Collaborate with administration and unit partners to accurately communicate impact-giving opportunities to donors.
6. Participate in quarterly strategy meetings on campus to assess metric goals, plan travel, review proposals for individual, corporate and foundation giving in collaboration with the advancement team.
7. Attend and participate in regularly scheduled weekly departmental meetings in person or via zoom.
8. Work in collaboration with the Office of Gift Planning to develop proposals.
9. Submit timely contact reports for all donor communication with accurate, concise content and a clear follow up action plan.
10. Continually assess and manage a portfolio of donors, creating strategic plans for best potential outcome.
11. Exercise travel and calendar “best practices” for University fundraising to maximize travel resources and communication with other fundraising colleagues.
12. Perform all work to the outlined guidelines and expectations to drive the success of individual members and the team.
13. Provide weekly communication of progress to the supervisor for administrative reporting and to ensure sharing of information.
14. Collaborate with alumni engagement, admissions department, career services and other administrative university units as necessary.
15. Coordinate with their unit Directors or Deans, faculty, and staff.
16. Commit to learning continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
17. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures (minimum requirements)

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in STEM, education, business or related field

Required Experience (minimum requirements)

• Two to five years of experience in advancement administration and/or fundraising operations with a nonprofit organization
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate major gift prospects through direct contact
• Capacity to handle multiple tasks while adhering to deadlines

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Experience with philanthropy in higher education
• Alumni of Michigan Tech University with strong preference for engineering alumni
• Continuous improvement training and implementation

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities (minimum requirements)

• Ability to travel monthly up to 35% within the country
• Demonstrated ability to secure business appointments and work with donors/clients to mutually beneficial outcomes between the donor/client and the institution.
• Demonstrated ability to listen and retain information while working with donors/clients
• Demonstrated strong organizational skills, analytical thinking, and strategic planning practices
• Execute and report on quarterly fundraising goals and proposals in progress
• Ability to professionally represent the University that is consistent with its branding and messaging
• Demonstrated high standard of professional ethics and the ability to protect the confidential nature of donor information and university matters
• Demonstrated time management and organizational skills with the ability to manage and meet multiple deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Exemplary interpersonal skills and creativity
• Demonstrated ability to work in a professional, positive, highly collaborative performance-centric work environment
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and positively across cultures and work harmoniously and respectfully with diverse viewpoints of donors, volunteers, students, faculty and staff
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment
• Able to prioritize multiple tasks with sometimes shifting priorities while achieving a high-level of accuracy

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership in collaborative fundraising with directors, deans, coaches, chairs and faculty and staff members
• Experience interacting with highly successful individuals
• Working knowledge in gift planning and its role in fundraising
• Demonstrated familiarity with prospect management and donor strategy work
• Experience using computers and complex software packages and demonstrated ability to provide technical support to others
• Demonstrated project planning/management skills
• Demonstrated understanding of university organizational structures and operations
• Demonstrated ability to serve as an articulate and enthusiastic advocate for the university and its alumni while displaying a high degree of energy and initiative

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision; depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)

1.00

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Rate/Salary

Negotiable. No less than $65,000.

Title of Position Supervisor

Executive Director for Major Gifts

Posting Type

Internal & External Posting

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

This position has the potential to be filled by a remote employee working in the United States. During the interview process applicants will be able to discuss specific requirements for remote work in this position. Your references should include the contact information for at least three (3) professional references.