Associate Director of Development, Academic and Student Affairs

VISION: Transform the university through the power of generosity.

MISSION: Unite donor passions with university priorities to elevate the impact of Oklahoma State University.

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE: Raise private philanthropic support for Oklahoma State University.

PRIMARY PURPOSE: Under the direction of the Senior Director of Development and Team Lead, the individual in this position will solicit private support from alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations for Oklahoma State University, specifically focused on Academic Affairs, and will coordinate these initiatives with other OSU Foundation fundraising activities.

Serve as fundraising lead and content expert for Edmon Low Library, Honors College, School of Global Studies and Partnerships, Graduate College, University College, Center for Sovereign Nations, OSU Museum of Art, and other priorities as assigned.

The Associate Director of Development supports the core business of securing and stewarding private gifts for OSU by expanding major and planned gift work throughout the organization.

KEY AREAS OF FOCUS:

Major Gift Fundraising-

• Responsible for independently performing identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of prospects with an emphasis on prospects capable of giving in the $25,000 range.
• Facilitate relationships between potential and current donors and the OSU Foundation Development team on behalf of Oklahoma State University, and actively engage faculty and administrators in fundraising opportunities.
• Maintain an active schedule of contacts, solicitations and stewardship activities for a body of key prospects, including corporations, foundations, and individual prospects
• Conduct a minimum of 150 personal visits with donors, prospective donors, and their advisors to solicit planned gifts and major gifts, manage a portfolio of 100-120 active donors and prospects, creating individual cultivation strategies.
• Travel locally, regionally, and nationally as appropriate for donor management.
• Collaborate with other Major Gift officers to identify Academic Affairs and Leadership interests within all managed prospects.
• Report and track fundraising progress through the use of contact reports, prospect management and other communication tools to ensure efficient and effective communication.
• Successfully solicits 18-24 major gifts annually.

Campus Partnership and Engagement-

• Manage relationships with key academic faculty, understanding and articulating areas of fundraising priorities, focused on Academic Affairs.
• Representing areas of philanthropic priorities to volunteer groups, advisory boards and donors at large.
• Serve as liaison between OSUF and respective units served, articulating fundraising priorities, engagement opportunities and points of collaboration.

Donor Engagement and Stewardship-

• Develop and engage volunteers, donors and colleagues in productive long term relationships.
• Partner with colleagues in donor relations, corporate and foundation relations, annual giving, planned giving and regional programs to engage constituency base in each area, including Student Affairs, Hargis Leadership Institute, and Parent donors.
• Develop and execute engagement and stewardship plans for specific assigned prospects.

Other duties as assigned.

JOB COMPETENCIES AND EXPERIENCE:

Education & Certifications-

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in business, marketing, or related field required. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience-

• 4-5 years in major gifts or related experience required. Experience in a higher education setting preferred.
• Proven sense of humor and ability to have fun

Organizational Competencies-

• Effective Communication: Proactively ensures effective communication throughout the organization; makes relevant contributions to discussions and meetings, giving clear and concise explanations and sticking to the point; chooses language and communication method to suit the audience, reframes and articulates to help others understand; asks questions to check understanding when disseminating information
• Execution & Initiative: Motivates self and others to achieve the best results, displaying energy, drive and a desire to succeed; enlists the support of others as necessary to overcome resistance; supervises cross-functional project team execution on tasks to meet stated objectives; helps other employees’ gain the skills and experience they need to contribute; pro-actively outlines milestones, outcomes and deliverables and effectively communicates them to internal and external stakeholders
• Teamwork/Interpersonal Skills: Develops and nurtures formal & informal relationships with a wide circle of people beyond those involved in current activities, including potential donors, stakeholders, and information links; encourages collaboration among colleagues, departments and entire organization to achieve results; compromises, handles conflicts, seeks common ground, articulates own and others goals; stays focused on positive win-win outcomes; seeks input on how to leverage existing processes to improve the donor experience; translates ideas into action
• Problem Solving/Judgment: Gains understanding of how to apply approved policies and procedures; when and why escalation of issues is needed and to whom and communicates decisions and desired outcomes to others; anticipates the outcome of a single decision; recognizes problems in advance, systematically gathers information to define the root cause, breaks down complex information into component parts, develops alternatives, seeks input from others, selects and recommends the best solution
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Embraces complex or first time problems as opportunities to learn and incorporate new skills; flexes style based on immediate needs; accepts responsibility for implementing change; evaluates and manages resources needed to implement change; personally supports (in words and actions) organizational direction and change agenda
• Courage & Conviction: Takes responsibility for individual & project outcomes regardless of success and learns from all results; encourages candid responses, feedback, new ideas and conflicting opinions
• Donor Centered: Takes time to actively learn about the stated needs by asking questions, exploring how to unite the donors and university’s passions and priorities; anticipates customer needs and proactively makes recommendations

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must use a computer terminal and view a computer screen for extended periods of time. Must talk in person or by phone (frequently and sometimes for extended periods) to people on campus and across the country. Must constantly use visual acuity to check printed and designed materials of various types. Must be able to navigate within the OSU Foundation. Typical office working conditions. Ability to travel regionally and nationally.