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Working/Functional Title

Associate Director of Development, MSU Student Success

Position Summary

Michigan State University’s MSU Student Success development team is responsible for raising funds for crucial initiatives dedicated to the undergraduate student experience. This expansive Unit raises critical support for several divisions across campus, all of which directly impact the experience and success of undergraduate students. 

The MSU Student Success development team is seeking an enthusiastic, energetic, and results-oriented individual to join its dynamic fundraising team as the Associate Director of Development, focused on MSU Student Success priorities. The Associate Director will be instrumental in helping the Unit achieve aggressive goals by identifying, cultivating, and soliciting individuals for significant 6- and 7-figure support, as well as for periodic special-purpose appeals and programs with key constituencies, corporations, and foundations.    

This individual will focus their portfolio on campus-wide presidential initiatives but will also function as a team member in an office dedicated to student success as a whole. The Associate Director of Development is expected to be an accomplished, responsive, and collaborative member of the MSU Student Success development team who executes an aggressive donor activity schedule to ensure a continuous pipeline of private support for the university. The Associate Director will report directly to the Senior Director of Development for the MSU Student Success development team and will work closely with senior-level executive administration at the university. 

The Associate Director of Development will manage a portfolio of approximately 75 major donor prospects, focusing on prospects with philanthropic capacity of $100,000 or more to maximize fundraising potential on behalf of Michigan State University. The Associate Director will average 12-15 face-to-face strategic visits per month, resulting in greater engagement and movement toward a major gift solicitation at a rate of 2 to 4 solicitations per month, with all solicitation efforts cleared and coordinated with University Advancement at Michigan State University. The Associate Director will travel as needed to facilitate donor engagement and close major gift solicitations.   

The duties of the Associate Director of Development for MSU Student Success include, but are not limited to, the following:  

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

Fundraising: 

• Engage in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, professional groups, and key constituencies in support of Student Success initiatives at Michigan State University, resulting in a standard metric of $3M raised annually. 

• Collaborate and coordinate with University Advancement and the administrators and faculty of the divisions that MSU Student Success covers to create and carry out fundraising strategies and solicitation of gifts of $100,000 and more. 

• Identify and maintain an active pool of 75 prospects under strategic management. 

• Achieve individual and unit fundraising goals through an active and consistent practice of prospect/donor outreach that includes 180 significant contacts annually.  

• Utilize phone calls, email, mail, social media, and other strategies to identify, connect with, and engage alums to solicit financial support. 

• Identify, qualify, and work to build strong, engaged relationships with major gift prospects to determine and merge prospect passions/interests/needs with MSU Student Success areas of funding priority and opportunity. 

• Schedule prospect/donor visits with members of the Unit leadership, faculty, or other Development colleagues, when appropriate. 

• Serve as a liaison officer between the Unit and donors/potential donors to ensure that such information and service, as may be desired, is provided to the full extent permitted by University policy, rules, and regulations. 

• Serve as a consultant to donors on the tax advantage of various types of gifts. 

• Plan and host campus visits for donors, potential donors, or their representatives. 

• Assist in planning and implementing special-purpose appeals as necessary. 

Strategy & Coordination:

• Interpret needs/priorities of MSU Student Success unit partners, verbally and in writing, to engender a level of understanding that is conducive to giving. 

• Participate as part of the MSU Student Success development team on strategic planning and initiatives, budgeting, reporting, and special events. 

• Assist the Senior Director of Development in executing the plan for the Uncommon Will. Far Better World. campaign. This includes developing funding priorities, identifying and cultivating leadership gifts, recruiting volunteers, and crafting the support case. 

• Build working relationships with internal constituents to enhance information exchange between MSU Student Success units, including faculty and administrators, on appropriate fundraising strategies. 

Data Management & Planning:

• Prepare annual personal fundraising goals and analyze/report goal accomplishment. 

• Assist in planning and implementing special-purpose appeals as necessary. 

• Attend appropriate workshops and seminars to enhance professional development. 

• Act as a public goodwill ambassador for Michigan State University and all the units contained within the MSU Student Success divisions. 

• Ensure best practices in office systems, practices, files, and record keeping; ensure effective use of strategic tools and resources such as contact reports, prospect management, research, analysis, and the Advance database.   

COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Interacts with:

• Michigan State University alumni, individuals/Corporations/Businesses/Employees and corporate leadership – to solicit potential donors, manage donor requests, and cultivate and train them as potential volunteers. 

• Faculty and Department Chairs, Program Directors, and other University leaders – to assist in the understanding and implementation of fundraising procedures, to seek their advice on funding needs, to answer development questions, to advise them on development strategy, and to solicit them as potential donors. 
• Peers – to obtain advice and counsel on options being considered for programs and coordinate the cultivation and solicitation of donor prospects. 

If you review this job description and have completed many of the responsibilities or possess transferable skills, we want to hear from you and welcome your application! 

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing and/or Business; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in public relations, volunteer administration, professional and higher education fund raising, marketing or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive experience in professional fundraising, public relations, marketing, or a related field; working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.  
• Excellent interpersonal skills. 
• Experience in public speaking. 
• Collaborative team-oriented style. 
• Experience with “Moves Management” or related strategic relationship development.   
• Ability to “close” gifts or business deals with demonstrative experiences closing gifts of $50,000 or more. 
• Travel involving automobile, airline, and rail.  
• Possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license at the time of hire.  

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume and cover letter

Special Instructions

Interested in joining the team at Michigan State University? If you have any questions, please contact Patricia Karam, Director of Talent Acquisition, at karampat@msu.edu. To apply, submit your application, resume, and cover letter at careers.msu.edu and reference position number 1120887.

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Work Hours

8:00 - 5:00 pm; possible evening and weekends with donor-centered functions

Website

https://advancement.msu.edu/

Bidding eligibility ends on April 14, 2026, at 11:55 PM

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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