Position Summary

A premier program of Michigan State University, the Honors College is a community of approximately 3,200 bright, academically talented undergraduate students who wish to pursue and achieve academic excellence through active, innovative learning. Promoting the intimacy of a small college atmosphere on the campus of one of the world’s leading research universities, the Honors College attracts the highest caliber students from across the country to MSU and produces highly successful graduates. More than 17,500 graduates, in fact, who are leaders in their fields and are making meaningful contributions within their communities and around the world.  

Under the leadership of a dynamic and energetic new dean, the college seeks a confident, creative, collaborative, enthusiastic, and results-oriented major gift officer who understands and has appreciation for academic excellence, to build upon the foundation of its advancement program. As part of Michigan State University’s $4 billion Uncommon Will. Far Better World. comprehensive campaign, the Honors College has set an ambitious goal of $45 million. The director will be instrumental in helping the college achieve this 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 selected 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 leading dynamic development programs. Experience leading comprehensive/capital campaigns in higher education is a plus.   

Serving as the college’s chief development officer, the director will maintain a personal prospect portfolio of major donor prospects as well as employ a strategic moves management program to ensure constant positive progression along the donor continuum and engage new audiences to build the pipeline.  Leading by example, the director will oversee an assistant director of development and work in partnership with the Honors College deans and unit directors to drive the college’s campaign strategy forward. The director will work closely with the dean, senior administrators, and volunteer leadership to ensure that the Honors College reaches its full philanthropic potential.   

As MSU strategically progresses through its third billion-dollar plus campaign, the 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 engagement strategies to best position successful proposal delivery, and actively soliciting philanthropic investments with a focus on gifts of $100,000 and greater.  

 

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Fundraising: 

• Plans and implements methods of prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation to maximize fundraising support, and match donor's interest with the needs of the College. The director will manage a portfolio of approximately 60-75 major gift prospects, strive to conduct 15-20 significant contacts (visits/virtual) per month, which will include discovery visits to qualify new prospects, and deliver 2-3 proposals per month. 
• Plans and implements the major and planned gifts strategy for the College as well as funding from other sources, including corporations and foundations. 
• Assists donors regarding tax laws, policies and procedures and resolves problems to maintain a positive image of the University. 

 

Personnel Management: 

• Supervises, directs, motivates, and evaluates staff to assure consistency in quantity and quality of work performed. 
• Sets clear direction and priorities for staff of professionals and administrative support personnel. Promotes excellence through well-defined and measurable goals; inspires and motivates staff through the free flow of information placing staff members’ work within the context of the College’s strategic priorities as well as within the mission of Michigan State University.   
• Leads by example and fosters a work environment that recognizes and rewards cross functional collaboration and team-based efforts. Celebrates current achievements and sets clear expectations for future success.   
• Actively mentors and trains staff, providing frequent opportunities for professional learning and growth; emphasizes retention as a means of increasing capacity and expertise of the team. Fully leverages human and financial resources and promotes greater efficiency.  
• Provides the structure and guidance necessary to promote a high-performance culture that meets the needs and expectations of a successful and diverse alumni and donor community.  
• Recruits, trains, motivates, and evaluates volunteers to accomplish college goals and objectives. 

 

Programmatic Management: 

• Supervises and/or coordinates with external relations staff, including development, alumni, public relations, and communications, to ensure coordination of information to alumni and friends of the College.  
• Audits internal operations to develop standardized procedures and to ensure conformity with established policy. 
• Assists in setting both long- and short-term goals/plans to determine resources required. 
• Plans, hosts, and communicates at meetings of the public and University personnel to provide information on the College and/or University.  
• Assists in budget preparation to ensure efficiency and consistency with departmental goals. 
• Coordinates the composing, editing, and publishing of College literature to provide staff and volunteers with campaign progress reports. 

 

COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS  

• Michigan State University Alumni/Individuals/Major Corporations/Businesses/Employees and Corporate Leadership - to solicit as potential donors, handle their donor requests and to cultivate and train them as potential volunteers. 
• Faculty and College Leadership - to determine college/department priorities and involve them on campaign direction, to seek advice on needs, to answer funding questions, and advise them on fundraising strategy. 
• Staff - to train/guide their work, establish goals and priorities, and ensure cohesive execution of college strategies by the team. 
• Department Heads/Michigan State University Executive Management - to consult and coordinate work within University structure to aid in the identification of potential donors and gain support of special projects. 
• Michigan State University Vice President and Associate Vice President of University Advancement - to advise on the progress of specific college campaigns and goals. 
• Michigan State University campaign leadership - to seek their advice on the cultivation and solicitation of major donors and to assist them in soliciting donors. 
• Michigan State University Trustees - to seek advice and obtain assistance for solicitation, when appropriate. 
• Peers/Professional Organizations - to obtain advice and counsel on options being considered for programs. 
• Government Agencies/Foundations - to assess current funding priorities and particular donor procedures. 

 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED 

Direction is received from the Senior Executive Director of Constituency Programs and from the Dean of the Honors College. 

 

SUPERVISION EXERCISED 

Supervision over the Assistant Director of Development for the Honors College and collaboration/coordination of work priorities regarding shared administrative assistance. 

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing and/or Business; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in public relations, volunteer administration, professional and higher education fund raising, marketing or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Travel is required. A valid vehicle operator’s license is required.  

Desired Qualifications

• Five to seven years of successful fundraising experience (preferably in higher education), including several years at a director or manager level. Experience in related fields such as public relations or marketing may be taken into consideration. 
• Demonstrated organizational, interpersonal, and written/oral communications. 
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating major gifts through planned giving instruments. 
• Working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving. 

 

If you have experience with the responsibilities outlined in this job description or possess transferable skills, we encourage you to apply! We seek driven, successful fundraisers to join our team and contribute to our ambitious campaign.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume and cover letter 

Special Instructions

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Patricia Karam, Director of Talent Acquisition, atkarampat@msu.edu.