The Alumni Association of the University of Michigan (AAUM) is seeking a Director of Development to be a part of our team. The Director of Development will be responsible for securing major gifts for AAUM. They will spend most of their time identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors and prospects who demonstrate an interest in supporting various AAUM priorities, with a primary focus on the LEAD Scholars program and Camp Michigania. Some of their time will be spent on development strategy and team leadership including supervising the development team. The Director of Development will build and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects with the capacity to give $50K or more. They will work closely with Alumni Association staff and leaders while also partnering with university-wide development colleagues in order to promote a donor-centered, collaborative environment.
In addition to the responsibilities and qualifications listed and most importantly, candidates must share and hold to the highest regard, the same values that are uniquely inherent to AAUM:
ALL IN
You believe in our mission.
You are trustworthy and loyal to AAUM and to each other.
You are passionate about what we're doing and proud to be a part of it.
You are an employee who goes above and beyond the call of duty.
You are committed to building a culture that keeps DEIJ at the heart of everything we do and recognizes and embraces the myriad of identities, experiences, and backgrounds of all staff, volunteers, and alumni.
SERVING HEART
You are open and willing to listen to others and help in whatever way possible.
You are dedicated to selflessly following the Platinum Rule: treat others the way they want to be treated.
You are passionate about fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture.
You are willing to put the needs of alumni and staff colleagues ahead of your own if that is what is best for AAUM.
SOLUTION SEEKER
You are a creative problem solver.
You are never satisfied with the status quo.
You find a way to say "yes."
You embrace new ideas and approaches from different perspectives.
You are collaborative, flexible, and adaptive.
You incorporate DEIJ into every part of your work's equation to boost relevance and value over time with evolving world views and demographics.
Demonstrate a deep commitment to social justice philanthropy.
Identify, assess, analyze, and design appropriate strategies for approaching prospects and donors and making the vitally important match between donors' philanthropic interests and Alumni Association (AAUM) priorities.
Proactively manage a portfolio of individual major gift prospects, with an emphasis on giving capacity over $50K. Identify and plan personalized outreach for each individual in the portfolio in order to effectively qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward them on behalf of AAUM.
Collaborate with Major Gift Officers across campus to provide donor-centered giving opportunities while supporting the overall Alumni Association fundraising goals.
Participate in professional development opportunities to remain current with trends in fundraising.
Initiate regular reports, analyze data, and maintain accurate and current records including contact /interaction reports and individual development plans in the University's donor database.
Strategically focus 75% of time on direct fundraising efforts in order to meet or exceed annual gift officer dollars-raised goals.
Meet or exceed Office of University Development standards for gift officer metrics by conducting over 100 visits and approximately 20-30 solicitations with prospects and donors per year (metrics subject to change based on Office of University Development standards).
Have a comprehensive understanding of Alumni Association priorities and make a persuasive verbal and written case for supporting key programs and projects, effectively matching the interests of prospects to specific Alumni Association needs.
Complete specific follow-up with individual donor prospects from events and meetings.
Actively participate in regular training sessions, workshops, seminars that further advance the DEIJ mission statement of AAUM.
Serve as a social justice philanthropic ambassador on behalf of AAUM when working with both internal and external constituents.
Oversee a budget and be financially responsible (e.g., managing monthly spending, forecasting, and stewarding) for the Alumni Association's resources by aligning programs with organizational goals.
Effectively lead, manage and supervise the team communicating expectations, setting work schedules and priorities, providing opportunities for personal and professional growth through regular performance reviews, guidance, and encouraging training while presenting new techniques, and recruiting/hiring staff as needed.
General Duties:
Provide organizational leadership by demonstrating AAUM core values: All In, Serving Heart and Solution Seeker, and helping other staff members demonstrate those values.
Value and embrace different identities and diversity of thought recognizing that everyone has unique and different experiences that contribute to the best solution seeking and success for AAUM.
Work with AAUM staff members to gain a clear and consistent understanding of the details of the strategic plan and feel equal ownership of every piece of it, including pieces for which there is no direct responsibility.
Be inclusive and collaborative with every other member of the staff and every other team. Operate as a critical contributing member of the staff to complete objectives in many different areas in order to move the whole organization toward the strategic plan.
Support University Relations efforts by demonstrating AAUM value to campus units/partners (i.e., schools/colleges, campuses).
Continually build digital skill sets in order to implement into work.
Staff and participate in team meetings, Alumni Association events that may be during evenings or weekends, and staff retreats including offsite, overnight staff retreats at Camp Michigania.
Coordinate special projects as assigned or required.
Participate in Alumni Association and other University committees as required.
Share knowledge through internal communication.
Support the Alumni Association's vision of creating a place of belonging for all alumni.
Remain current with respect to technology and the University's educational resources.
Supervision Received:
Direct supervision is received from the Chief Development Officer.
Supervision Exercised:
Supervision is exercised over the Campaign Coordinator, Associate Director of Development and the Assistant Director of Development.
A Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of professional experience in philanthropy including direct fundraising, alumni relations, sales, or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to exercise a high degree of strategic thinking, sound judgment, and diplomacy, with a commitment to confidentiality.
Must have the ability to work comfortably and professionally with broad and diverse constituencies such as students, staff, volunteers, and high net-worth individuals.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written), strong organizational abilities, and attention to detail.
Demonstrated track record of financial development and/or sales productivity in a complex work environment.
A proven ability to handle conflicts and reach consensus.
A proven ability to generate creative, innovative solutions to issues with a can-do attitude and results-driven mindset.
Demonstrated commitment to doing whatever it takes to make positive contributions to the larger organizational mission.
Experience and comfort with software programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and database management. Ability to effectively present and communicate data.
AAUM welcomes applications from people of all abilities. This particular position requires the occasional moving of 10 lbs or less.
AAUM is currently working in a hybrid or remote work setting based on job duties. This position works a hybrid schedule with regular in office time, frequent travel and some remote work.
This position will require evening and weekend work as well as frequent travel.
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
A great university is made so by its faculty and staff, and Michigan is recognized as one of the best universities to work for in the country. The Michigan culture is known for engaging faculty and staff in all facets of the university to create a workplace that is vibrant and stimulating.For two consecutive years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has placed U-M in its "Great Colleges to Work For" survey. In particular, the university earns high marks for strong relations between faculty and administrators, a collaborative system of governance, strong pay and benefits, and a healthy work/life balance.