School of Arts and Sciences Associate Director

Responsibilities

• Maintain a portfolio of ~125 high level major gift prospects, closing major gifts exceeding $100,000
• Develop and execute long-term cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies aligned with university and campaign priorities
• Advance prospects through a disciplined moves management framework, ensuring coordinated strategy across shared prospects and portfolios
• Identify, qualify, and shape new opportunities in collaboration with Advancement partners to optimize portfolio composition and institutional impact
• Achieve performance metrics with emphasis on qualifications, pipeline growth, proposal volume, and stage progression
• Partner with the Executive Director and Director of Advancement to identify, engage, and advance $1–5M prospects, support pipeline development and management for capital projects and key fundraising initiatives
• Translate institutional and academic priorities into compelling, mission-driven cases for support that resonate with prospects and align with campaign priorities
• Develop and maintain deep knowledge of assigned SAS departments and programs, advancing fundraising priorities across their associated prospect pools and supporting the growth of high-capacity prospects
• Collaborate across central and unit-based Advancement teams to align prospect strategy, coordinate moves management, and advance shared prospects through integrated engagement, cultivation, and stewardship
• Engage regularly with the SAS Dean's Office, Associate Deans, and department chairs to align fundraising strategies with academic priorities and represent advancement in leadership meetings as needed
• Serve as a primary liaison to assigned departments, developing deep knowledge of academic priorities, faculty research, and funding needs to identify and shape philanthropic opportunities aligned with campaign goals
• Advise the Executive Director, Dean and assigned Department Chairs/Program Directors on donor engagement strategy, portfolio positioning, and campaign priorities
• Develop and execute fundraising strategies for priority programs, initiatives, and strategic projects within SAS
• Aid in identifying, recruiting, and engaging high-capacity SAS prospects for volunteer leadership roles, ensuring appropriate SAS representation on Advancement managed committees, within advancement award structures, and through campus partnerships
• Support donor engagement through targeted initiatives, events, and stewardship opportunities
• Collaborate with teams across the organization to engage SAS faculty and leadership in broader event and engagement opportunities to highlight SAS priorities
• Translate prospect strategies into coordinated execution plans, ensuring timely and aligned follow-through across Advancement partner
• Partner across Advancement functions (events, communications, donor relations, regional teams) to deliver integrated donor engagement experiences
• Ensure accurate and strategic use of CRM systems (Ascend, Oasis) to document moves, track progress, and maintain visibility across shared portfolios
• Cook up key donor engagements, including briefings, proposals, and stewardship follow-up, in partnership with leadership
• Contribute to a collaborative, high-performing Advancement culture aligned with campaign goals

Qualifications

• Minimum Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree and 3 years of fundraising/development experience including experience soliciting gifts or closely related experience and clear evidence of a thoughtful decision to move into development work required
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Knowledge, Skills And Abilities: Evidence of ability to work effectively with faculty and distinguished major prospects preferred
• Excellent skills in written and oral communication preferred
• Strong collaborative skills preferred
• Sufficiently well-organized to deal effectively with donor stewardship issues and “moves” to advance donors according to a plan preferred