Working/Functional Title

Senior Director of Development, CAL

Position Summary

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

As a core college with a focus on a broad liberal arts education, the College of Arts and Letters educates actors, artists, designers, filmmakers, linguists, philosophers, poets, teachers, translators, writers, and much more while exposing students to the major cultural issues facing a global society. The College employs engaged, talented and forward-thinking faculty, and scholars to educate our students and bring public focus to the arts and humanities. Arts and humanities education in the College of Arts and Letters fosters creativity, critical thinking and communication skills, the ability to see issues from multiple perspectives, and a solid sense of social responsibility in our graduates.

Under the leadership of a dynamic and energetic dean, the college seeks a confident, creative, collaborative, enthusiastic, and results-oriented major gift officer who has an understanding of and appreciation for the arts and humanities, to build upon the foundation of its advancement program. The College of Arts and Letters has surpassed its second campaign goal of $20 million as part of the $1.5 billion Empower Extraordinary Campaign for MSU and has set an ambitious target for the next 18 months. The Senior Director will be instrumental in helping the college achieve this aggressive new goal by identifying, cultivating, and soliciting individuals for significant 6- and 7-figure support as well as periodic special purpose appeals and programs with business, industry and interested foundations. The chosen candidate must be an exceptional fundraiser, an accomplished motivator and mentor, an effective manager of people, and a visionary change agent who has a proven track record in successfully implementing comprehensive development programs. Capital campaign experience is a plus.

Serving as the college's chief development officer, the Senior Director will maintain a personal prospect portfolio of major donor prospects as well as employ a strategic moves management program to ensure constant positive movement along the development pipeline. Leading by example, the Senior Director will oversee a team of two full-time development officers and one alumni relations professional, and work closely with the Dean, senior administrators, and volunteer leadership to ensure that the College reaches its full philanthropic potential. 

As MSU strategically positions itself through its second billion-dollar-plus campaign, the Senior Director will assume a leadership role in planning and spearheading the campaign effort for the College. This includes recruiting and training volunteers, articulating the case for support, identifying and cultivating prospects, developing and reviewing proposals, and actively soliciting contributions with a focus on gifts of $100,000 and more.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising:

• Plans and implements methods of prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation in order to maximize fundraising support and match donor's interests with the needs of the College. The Senior Director will manage a portfolio of approximately 120 major gift prospects, strive to conduct 15-20 significant personal visits per month, which will include discovery visits to qualify new prospects and deliver 2-4 proposals per month.
• Plans and implements the major and planned gifts program for the College as well as funding from other sources, including corporations and foundations.
• Provides assistance to donors regarding tax laws, policies, and procedures and resolves problems in order to maintain a positive image of the University.

Personnel Management:

Supervises, directs, motivates, and evaluates staff in order to a