Director, Advancement, Thunderbird School of Global Management

The Director, Advancement will serve as a key frontline fundraiser as part of an integrated advancement team, influencing strategy development and engagement efforts for Thunderbird’s major gifts program. This role manages an international portfolio and stewards relationships with alumni globally while cultivating a global pipeline of major donors and prospects. The Director will collaborate across the global advancement team, estate and planned giving, and other unit leads, acting as a critical connector for relationships with other teams at Thunderbird. This position also involves managing and mentoring new fundraisers and engaging with staff and faculty interested in philanthropy. The Director will lead fundraising for one or more of Thunderbird’s campaign priorities and aims to grow philanthropic income through grants, trusts, foundations, and corporations.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of major and leadership gift prospects, securing philanthropic investments in support of Thunderbird’s priorities, with a focus on gifts above $100,000.
• Achieve a personal fundraising goal of at least $2 million in accordance with performance metrics.
• Lead at least one key priority for the school, developing a comprehensive prospect list and cultivation strategies, including alumni engagement.
• Develop and submit written proposals, case statements, budgets, and other collateral materials to secure philanthropic investments.
• Contribute to a coordinated program of fundraising and engagement activities to increase the number and level of annual major and principal gift donors.
• Work with the senior director of engagement and other frontline fundraisers to integrate annual giving pipeline development, major gifts, and planned giving.
• Design and execute strategies to involve campus leaders, alumni, friends, and volunteers in identifying and cultivating new prospects and donors.
• Collaborate with the Dean and senior leadership to build trusted internal partnerships and engage alumni across Thunderbird, including executive education, corporate engagement, recruitment, admissions, and student experience.
• Prepare the Dean and senior colleagues with prospect and donor information as needed.
• Ensure a strategy where engagement drives giving and vice versa through a mutually reinforcing approach.
• Manage metrics and dashboards to track engagement and inform ongoing strategy.
• Collaborate with Thunderbird’s global centers and ASU enterprise partners to strengthen relationships with international alumni and corporate partners.
• Align efforts with ASUF colleagues in philanthropy, major gifts, donor relations, marketing, and research.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of key alumni within areas of responsibility.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of all alumni activity in accordance with ASUF policies.
• Serve as a key member of the Thunderbird advancement team and a resource to colleagues within ASUF and ASU; deputize for senior colleagues as necessary.

Requirements

• Demonstrable global mindset and ability to work across cultures with diplomacy and sensitivity.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to build trust with diverse, global stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with persuasive proposal and presentation experience.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and overseas.
• Strong literacy in AI and other digital engagement tools, with an understanding of their integration into global engagement strategies.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of database management.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion in interactions with alumni, donors, prospects, volunteers, and others.
• Ability to foster effective working relationships within a team environment.
• Proficiency with donor management systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Commitment to ASU’s vision and Thunderbird’s mission.
• Flexibility and agility in a fast-paced, global environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Five (5) or more years of successful, incremental professional alumni, donor, or stakeholder engagement experience.
• Documented success in personally implementing sophisticated, tailored engagement strategies in complex organizations.
• Demonstrated ability in securing major gifts and grants from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other private funding sources.
• Experience managing a team.
• Or any equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities have been achieved.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree.
• More than seven (7) years of successful engagement experience in higher education.
• Experience working in campaigns and/or annual giving.
• Prior experience living or working internationally or within globally distributed teams.
• Experience working in Salesforce and Workday.
• Experience working in a fully integrated advancement team.

Preferred Skills

• Ability to navigate the complexities of transnational giving.
• Understanding of philanthropic cultures and practices around the world.
• Multilingual skills.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with matching employer contribution.
• 22 days of vacation time.
• 11 holidays, including your birthday.
• Parental leave.
• Significant tuition reductions.
• Professional development opportunities.
• $30 bi-weekly cell phone reimbursement.