University of Michigan Health System Looking for Assistant Director of Development at Michigan Full Time

Note: To be considered for this position, candidates must include a cover letter specifying their interest in and qualifications for this position. The cover letter should be the first page of your resume and uploaded as one document.

As a comprehensive performing arts school set in one of the world’s finest public institutions of higher education, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD) is deeply engaged in the creation, practice, scholarship, and pedagogy of music, theatre, and dance. We aim to provide leadership, nationally and internationally, in all three fields. We assert and celebrate the value of the arts to the mission of the University of Michigan. The School of Music, Theatre & Dance situates diversity as a core value and is dedicated to promoting access, equity, and inclusion for all individuals.

Responsibilities*

The Major Gift Officer for the School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD) will identify, cultivate, and solicit individual donor prospects for the school. You will develop and manage a portfolio of prospects and secure major and planned gifts of $100,000 or more to benefit the SMTD. This position is supervised by the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) and will work closely with the SMTD development team, faculty, alumni and University-wide development colleagues to achieve objectives. Frequent travel, including west coast travel, is required as well as regular participation in evening and weekend activities.

• Manage major gift officer associate and annual giving manager
• Manage the growth and development of the SMTD major giving pipeline
• Identify, assess, analyze, and design appropriate strategies for approaching prospects and donors and making the vitally important match between donors’ philanthropic interests and the school’s programmatic and student needs.
• Proactively manage a portfolio of individual major gift prospects and donors, with an emphasis on gifts of $100,000 and above with mature prospects
• Conduct at least 200 strategic moves with prospects and donors per year including at least 100 face-to-face visits and participate in a minimum of 20 solicitations per year, in keeping with the University-wide metrics standards; discovery visits and portfolio building is expected.
• Assist the CAO with developing, planning, and directing the solicitation of school prospects by the dean, faculty directors, provost, vice president for development and president.
• Assist the CAO in providing support to the dean related to fundraising activities, including strategically and proactively planning for the dean’s fundraising travel; providing briefing materials for meetings and visits; and drafting correspondence.
• Assist with identifying corporate and foundation prospects that are a good match for the school and hold promise of funding programs, projects, research, and outreach activities through gifts, in-kind contributions, or grants.
• Plan and implement effective outreach and cultivation activities to enhance prospect identification and move solicitation and stewardship processes forward.
• Actively participate in SMTD development events; participation includes attendance, event preparation as needed, and hosting of donors and guests.
• Initiate regular reports, analyze data, and maintain accurate and current records including contact reports and individual development and stewardship plans in the University’s donor database.
• Collaborate with the school’s leadership, faculty, staff, students and alumni to create a well-rounded understanding of the school’s programs and resources to aid in donor development, donor engagement and major giving.
• Serve as an active member of the University Development community, working closely and collaboratively with the Office of University Development’s regional gift officers and planned giving team, and major gift officers across campus.
• Serve on school-wide staff committees to foster staff and community development.
• Represent the school and the University at designated functions, as required.

Required Qualifications*

• A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5-7 years of major gift fundraising experience.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, demonstrating personal integrity, creativity, flexibility, and accountability.
• Proven experience in working with five and six-figure gifts, including the ability to evaluate, qualify and move prospects through the gift development cycle.
• Demonstrated ability to implement programs and evaluate the success of these initiatives.
• Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment with sophisticated clientele and colleagues.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and work with a high degree of discretion and confidentiality.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in an interdisciplinary and diverse environment.
• An ability and willingness to quickly learn SMTD and University history, mission, demographics, faculty, and current programs, as well as the general culture to be able to persuasively articulate how the school and the University of Michigan distinguishes themselves from peer institutions.
• A demonstrated interest and passion for the performing arts.
• A high level of competence with personal computers and software programs for retrieving, organizing, and researching appropriate donor/prospect information, as well as data gathering, management and analysis.
• Sound knowledge of laws, practices, and philosophy of charitable giving.
• Ability to travel domestically (west coast) and participate in weekend and evening development events.

Desired Qualifications*

• Significant experience and demonstrated success in development and fundraising activities with major gifts, with proven success in gift closure at the six and seven-figure level.
• Prior development experience within an institution of higher education.
• Direct experience planning and managing major campaign activities within a large complex organization.
• Knowledge of university policies, procedures, and culture.

Work Locations

This position will work a hybrid model with the on-campus schedule being determined by the CAO.

Additional Information

Candidates for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Background Screening

A pre-employment background check must be conducted before a candidate may receive a firm offer of employment to a staff position at the University of Michigan.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.