"Director of Major Gifts, West, Mid & Northern Michigan Region"

Director of Major Gifts, West, Mid & Northern Michigan Region

Posted: 15-Jan-26

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Categories: Staff/Administrative

Internal Number: 272153

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and must be attached as the first page of your resume.

This is a hybrid role. Regular travel and participation in evening and weekend activities are required.

To be considered you must be eligible to work in the United States without requiring university sponsorship for continued employment.

The Office of University Development maximizes private support for the University of Michigan.

Job Summary

You will direct the major gift program in that region with a primary focus on West, Mid- and Northern Michigan and represent the breadth of the University of Michigan in that territory. You will develop and execute long and short-term strategies to secure major gifts and planned gifts ($100,000 or more) in collaboration with our senior academic leaders and our development colleagues in a decentralized development environment. You will implement your primary responsibilities through regular and frequent visits with U-M constituents throughout the assigned region. You will focus on 'fieldwork' with established donors and an intense focus on the discovery of new prospective donors.

Reports to: Senior Director of Major Gifts, Midwestern States

Supervises: Functional Supervision of Shared Development Assistant

Prospect Management and Solicitation (70%)

• Develop and execute long and short-range strategies and plans to identify prospects capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more in the region. These strategies and plans should cultivate and solicit these prospects with an ongoing effort to diversify the donor and volunteer base.
• You will develop, and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, giving emphasis to those prospects who require a university-wide lens (multiple degrees and/or demonstrated interest in multiple schools or programs).
• Lead the major and planned gift solicitation process in the region by focusing on prospects under personal management and by supporting and facilitating solicitations directed by other staff. Cultivate and solicit prospects capable of major gifts. Identify and formally qualify new major and planned gift prospects.
• Maintain a pace of 120 visits, make 15-25+ asks, and close 10-20 gifts per year.

Partnership with Campus Colleagues (15%)

• Develop and maintain relationships with our academic and other unit colleagues on campus.
• Attend quarterly retreats with our National Major Gifts Team and retreats with the Major Gifts Programs in the Office of University Development.
• Coordinate and facilitate activity in the region to directly result in prospect identification, engagement, and successful solicitations. This includes advising executive officers, deans, and our development colleagues on the culture, expectations, and needs of the University's constituents in that region.

Development of U-M Strategy and Prospects in Region (10%)

• Collaborate with our Senior Director of Major Gifts, Midwestern States. Together, plan and lead the major and planned gift solicitation process in the region. You will focus on prospects under personal management and supporting and facilitating solicitations directed by other U-M development staff.
• Develop a strategic engagement pipeline and events plan for the region.
• Advise our senior leadership (development and administrative) on donor strategy and trip planning.

Volunteer Management (5%)

• Recruit and sustain a volunteer network and committee structure in the region to multiply efforts in prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation.
• Continue the recruitment and staffing of our West Michigan Campaign Council during the public phase of institutional fundraising campaigns.

Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

For the full and detailed job description, please click here.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent education and experience.
• 5+ years of development experience in major gifts or other related fields like marketing, banking, or sales experience.
• Sound knowledge of laws, practices, and philosophy of charitable giving.
• Experience with financial development or sales productivity
• Experience working with and/or managing volunteers in some (preferably professional) capacity.

Exciting News: We're Moving!
Join our team at our brand-new location, Michigan House, starting in March! You'll find us at 2301 Commonwealth Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.

For additional information about this position and to review other current openings in Development, please visit our website at: https://giving.umich.edu/um/careers

Although the Posting End Date may indicate otherwise, this job may be filled and closed any time after a posting duration of seven calendar days.