Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations

About the role

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for University Advancement (AVP), the Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations is responsible for annual giving, scholarship stewardship, and alumni relations for MBKU and all three programs (Southern California College of Optometry, School of Physician Assistant Studies, and the College of Pharmacy). This position manages annual fundraising from individuals and organizations at the $24,999 level and below through annual giving appeals and individual portfolio outreach. The Associate Director works closely with the AVP for University Advancement to develop fundraising priorities and execute annual fundraising plans. This role actively manages a prospect portfolio of 75-125 individuals, identifies and qualifies new prospects, and oversees annual solicitations and stewardship for scholarship donors. Additionally, the Associate Director collaborates with the Alumni Council, affiliated program-based alumni societies, and the AVP to develop programs that engage alumni and build relationships to secure private support and foster alumni pride.

Responsibilities

• Articulate the case for support, communicating the priorities, goals, and mission of the university and the value of gifts to MBKU and its programs.
• Manage and actively engage a portfolio of approximately 75-125 alumni and organizational prospects, conducting strategic outreach to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors.
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to advance prospects through the major gift pipeline, consistently achieving monthly, quarterly, and annual metrics (e.g., outreach attempts, donor visits, substantive conversations, gift solicitations).
• Develop proposals and written collateral to secure private support for annual campus and program priorities, including scholarships, sponsorships, and programmatic needs.
• Write, develop, and manage the execution of annual giving appeals.
• Increase donor and prospect involvement through best practices in cultivation and stewardship, using regular correspondence and contacts (in-person, phone, mail, email).
• Assist with annual giving, scholarship, Alumni Council, and club engagement activities and events.
• Support the AVP in developing programs to increase alumni engagement, including alumni awards, regional receptions, giving clubs, and volunteer opportunities aligned with institutional and program-based priorities.
• Contribute to the strategic plan for University Advancement, focusing on alumni relations, scholarship fundraising, donor stewardship, and annual fund outreach.
• Assist with Alumni Council meetings by preparing agendas, scheduling meetings, and recording minutes.
• Participate in professional conference alumni receptions and programs.
• Field phone calls and inquiries from alumni and donors, directing them to the appropriate UA representative.
• Utilize the Raiser’s Edge database to record donor interactions, solicitations, opportunities, and other significant fundraising/stewardship actions, complying with UA Prospect Management expectations.
• Collect data and generate reports for assigned prospects and scholarship/annual fund programs as needed.
• Engage in campus and community activities and functions as assigned.
• Collaborate with the UA team to develop donor stewardship reports for assigned prospects and scholarship donors.
• Serve as an active and collaborative team member in University Advancement and across campus to accomplish goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training at a similar institution or nonprofit.
• 2+ years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, annual fundraising, and/or alumni relations.
• Strong writing skills with experience developing annual fund solicitations, gift agreements, and stewardship reports.
• 2+ years of event planning experience.
• Demonstrated experience working with campus partners and volunteers.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple complex projects, meet deadlines, and maintain high productivity.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of annual fundraising experience, preferably in higher education, or an equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Thorough working knowledge of annual fundraising, donor relations, and alumni relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.
• Direct solicitation fundraising experience, both orally and in writing.
• Strong knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills, including creative decision-making and problem-solving.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work independently with institutional goals in mind.
• Team-oriented strategist capable of managing complex situations involving multiple constituencies.
• Persuasive communication skills, both orally and in writing, about private philanthropy as it applies to MBKU.
• Preferred: Working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge or comparable donor/prospect database systems.
• Preferred: Understanding of academic and educational functions and operating principles of a university.
• Preferred: Working knowledge of the higher education and/or healthcare environment.
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office, Excel, and donor databases.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, and non-verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to work weekends and evenings as needed.

About the University

Located on a beautiful, seven-acre campus in Fullerton, California, MBKU is an independent, private, non-profit, accredited educational institution. MBKU is home to the Southern California College of Optometry, the School of PA Studies, College of Pharmacy, and the Doctor of Medical Science Program (DMSc). MBKU owns and operates three healthcare centers at its clinical teaching facility, Ketchum Health, providing a vision center and PA medical clinic in Orange County and a second vision center in Los Angeles.

Founded in 1904, MBKU has a tradition of excellence, evolving from the Los Angeles School of Ophthalmology and Optometry to its current status as a multidisciplinary university. MBKU is at the forefront of interprofessional healthcare education, offering learning and advancement opportunities in a culture that values work-life balance and employee appreciation. The university’s mission is to educate caring, inspired healthcare professionals prepared to deliver collaborative, patient-centric care in an interprofessional environment.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and life insurance.
• Free vision exams.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Generous paid time off plans.
• University-sponsored retirement plan.