DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT – NATURAL SCIENCES, COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

General Summary:

Representing the natural sciences departments, serve as the liaison between the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and the Advancement Office. An integral member of the Advancement Office team, the Director of Development - Natural Sciences for the College of Arts & Sciences will design and implement major gift, planned gift, and corporate/foundation fundraising strategies to support programs and activities in the sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy, Geography & Geology, Psychology as well as interdisciplinary science programs. The Director of Development will be a close partner for the Dean and the faculty/staff within the College of Arts & Sciences to identify and fulfill the top philanthropic priorities for the college.

Essential Duties:

MAJOR GIFTS (75%):
● Develop and manage a portfolio of at least 75 prospective major gift, planned gift, corporate, and foundation donors

● Cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective major gift donors using a moves management model

● Identify and qualify new prospective donors, with an emphasis on face-to-face discovery meetings

● Create opportunities for high-level engagement of prospects with the CAS Dean

● Add new members to the Heritage Society

● In collaboration with EMU Foundation leadership and the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, determine an annual fundraising goal for the College of Arts & Sciences - Natural Science area

● Make 10-15 moves (“meaningful contacts”) per month

● Submit a minimum of 16 proposals per year

● Partner with the Director of Legacy Giving to identify, cultivate, and solicit planned gifts

● Partner with the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and College/Area faculty and staff to identify, cultivate, and solicit a minimum of 3 corporate or foundation gifts/grants per year

● Partner with the Director of Integrated Marketing to develop annual giving solicitations and strategies

● Conduct 2 peer screening exercises per year

● Actively engage appropriate College leadership, faculty, and/or staff in prospect identification, cultivation strategies, solicitation, and stewardship, including 2 moves involving College personnel per month

● Develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies for the prospects

CONSTITUENT RELATIONS (10%):

● Contribute to a unified development team made up of the CAS Directors of Development, the CAS Dean, and the EMU Foundation Associate Vice President for Advancement

● Understand and convey the strategic vision, priorities, needs, and key plans of the College of Arts & Sciences to supporters and potential donors

● Serve as the liaison between the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and the Advancement Office

● Build/enhance the culture of philanthropy within the College of Arts & Sciences

● Create/enhance opportunities for volunteer engagement (volunteer board, volunteer-hosted events, peer screenings, etc.) with the College

● Facilitate the appointment of new EMU Foundation Board members and develop strategies for their involvement in fundraising

● Identify/expand opportunities for alumni engagement in the College or University activities

● Attend University and College activities, meetings, and events, as appropriate

● In partnership with Foundation leadership and the College of Education Dean determine fundraising priorities and corresponding rationales/statements for support. Seek input as appropriate from the College leadership team, faculty, and staff.

INDIRECT MAJOR GIFT WORK – ADMINISTRATION (10%):

● Works with the Development team and the Dean on setting fundraising goals and activities

● Participate as an active member of the Development team and as a member of the Advancement team, which includes attending regularly scheduled team meetings

● Meet monthly with the Associate Vice President for Advancement

● Meet bi-weekly with the College of Arts & Sciences Dean.

● Provide the CAS Dean with data and reports relevant to development activities for the college/area of responsibility

● Provide thoughtful stewardship to donors, partnering with the Director of Donor Relations and the Dean as appropriate

● Partner with the Director of Integrated Marketing to coordinate the timing of College/Area mailings or electronic outreach, monitor annual giving progress, and assess the potential for the transition of leadership annual giving prospects to major gift prospects

● Meet quarterly (as a minimum) with the Directors of Donor Relations, Prospect Research, Legacy Giving, and Integrated Marketing

● Meet regularly with the Director of Corporate/Foundation Relations, ORDA, and the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences to discuss potential grant opportunities

● Expand and enhance knowledge of College and University priorities and goals

● Participate as a “citizen of the University” by volunteering/attending College of Arts & Sciences and University events and activities

● Use and comprehend, requesting assistance as needed, Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud, and Banner for prospect tracking, strategy, contact reports, etc.

● Submit contact reports regularly and consistently, with each month’s reports due by the first Friday of the subsequent month.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (5%):

● Stay current with major giving, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and other fundraising practices and trends

● Expand and enhance knowledge of major and planned gift fundraising

● Identify other areas for relevant professional growth and determine strategies for fulfilling growth opportunities

Supervision Received:

Associate Vice President for Advancement

Requirements
Qualifications:

● Three or more years of development experience, including successful major gifts experience, preferably in higher education

● Bachelor’s Degree in a related field is preferred

● Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills

● Proven experience in successfully developing and implementing cultivation and solicitation strategies for major gifts, including the preparation of proposals and related materials

● Ability to develop, monitor, and evaluate annual College fundraising plan

● Interest in all aspects of higher education and a dedication to promoting the University’s fundraising priorities both internally and externally

● A commitment to developing and nurturing collaborative relationships with faculty, senior academic leaders, volunteers, and the Foundation team

● Experience in planned giving is highly preferred, but not required

● Must be able to travel around the region and to other areas of the country

● Ability to manage an irregular work schedule including occasional evenings, early mornings, and weekends. Involves use of personal transportation to travel throughout southeastern Michigan.

EMU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and Educator that is strongly committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The University actively encourages applications from women, persons of color, and applicants with disabilities, veterans, and members of other underrepresented groups.

Apply at: https://www.nppn.co/career-opportunities