Assistant Director of Development, Watts College

The principal activity of the Assistant Director of Development, Watts College is to set strategy and facilitate efforts for engaging and retaining long-term philanthropic relationships with individuals, corporations, community organizations, and foundations that have a potential affinity with the School of Public Affairs (SPA) and ASU. The Assistant Director’s effectiveness will be evaluated on the ability to build strong donor relationships that inspire continued giving, with success measured by the Assistant Director's ability to achieve financial goals and contact metrics consistent with needs of SPA.  

What you'll do:

• Assists in the development and execution of strategic fundraising and engagement efforts of assigned area(s) by designing, implementing, evaluating and refining development activities to drive donor retention, reactivation, acquisition, and pipeline growth

• Actively engages donors, alumni, faculty, staff, and students managing a personal gift/prospect portfolio in accordance with performance metrics

• Research, develop and present annual development plans for the assigned areas, identifying prospective and current individual donors, corporations, foundations, and other funding sources to be cultivated, solicited, renewed, and closed, including research grants, scholarships, and program sponsorships. Meet monthly with assigned areas to review targets.

• Works with development team and academic leaders to assist and direct the implementation and coordination of special fundraising and engagement opportunities by identifying, cultivating and soliciting annual, major and planned gifts; depending on previous experience, there may be a topical focus with a division

• Guided by the direction and scope of a prospect’s interest, collaborates with various faculty, institute/center directors and staff, and unit-based and foundation-based fundraisers to leverage the maximum philanthropic potential of a prospect which includes finding meaningful ways for donors to engage beyond their financial gift.

• Develops and submits written proposals, budgets, and other collateral materials as needed for securing philanthropic investments

• Depending on area(s) of assignment, collaborates with and coordinates the efforts of various ASU offices and functions to advance prospect and donor strategies (i.e., alumni engagement, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, development, donor relations, estate and gift planning, financial services, research and prospect management, etc.)

• Plans, organizes and conducts specific local/national donor fundraising and/or donor networking events with School events staff.

• Working with the unit development team, helps coordinate  the administrative process of giving  from invoicing donors and tracking pledge payments and issuing timely acknowledgments..

• Ensures proper stewardship and recognition of donors in portfolio

• Proactively manages a major gift/prospect portfolio , develops and executes strategic prospect strategies leading to solicitation and investment based on the opportunities of each special assignment

• Uses the ASUF prospect management and tracking system (i.e., Salesforce,) to record and coordinate contacts and proposals

• Conduct meaningful virtual or in-person visits annually with assigned donors and prospects, advancing relationships through cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.

• Assumes responsibility for core fundraising metrics including face-to-face visits with prospects, identification of new prospects, growth in cumulative giving from the prospect portfolio, major gift proposals submitted, dollars raised

• Participates, as a member of the ASUF development team and serve as a resource to development colleagues regarding fundraising opportunities

• Establishes strong working relationships with deans, chairs, directors, and faculty and staff members of assigned unit(s)

What you'll need:

• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with academic leadership, faculty, prospects, donors, and/or volunteers in a wide range of roles

• Ability to conduct research, gather data, analyze information, and prepare effective, accurate, and timely reports and other documents to support development objectives

• Database management skills

• Ability to exercise good judgment, to demonstrate an understanding of ethics related to development activities, and to use discretion in interactions with donors, prospects, volunteers, and others

• Ability to foster effective working relationships within a team environment

• Community relations skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community

• Program planning and leadership skills

• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present effectively to small and large groups

• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to Foundation and University business and confidential prospect information

• Ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures and backgrounds

• Ability to represent the institution well and possess an advocate’s belief in the vision of ASU as the New American University

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and comfortable working in donor/prospect computer database systems

• If this position is assigned to the Athletics Department, either administratively or functionally, compliance with all NCAA rules and regulations is required

Relevant qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or currently enrolled in bachelor's degree program

• Two (2) to (3) years of successful development experience

• Demonstrated ability in securing major grants and gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other private funding sources

• Demonstrated organizational skills and experience in managing events and other complex activities in support of development objectives

Preferred education and experience:

• Advanced degree

• Two (2) to (3) years of successful development experience in higher education or college athletics for applicable roles

Preferred skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of fundraising techniques including proposal development, prospect identification, fund solicitation, database management, donor tracking, and social networking and marketing tools in higher education

The ASU Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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