Assistant Director, Leadership Annual Giving (4 Openings), University Alumni Association at The Ohio State University

Assistant Director, Leadership Annual Giving (4 Openings), University Alumni Association at The Ohio State University

Job Type
Full-time
Posting Date
September 11, 2018
Location of Position

Columbus, OH

Company Summary

For 144 years, The Ohio State University's campus in Columbus has been the stage for academic achievement and a laboratory for innovation. It's where friendships are forged. It's where rivalries and revelry are born.

The university's main campus is one of America's largest and most comprehensive. As Ohio's best and one of the nation's top-20 public universities, Ohio State is further recognized by a top-rated academic medical center and a premier cancer hospital and research center. As a land-grant university, Ohio State has a physical presence throughout the state, with campuses and research centers located around Ohio.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership Annual Giving aims to broaden the community of donor support for the university by establishing relationships with donors, alumni and volunteers, soliciting leadership-level annual gifts targeting $3,000-$50,000, and identifying future major gift donors to the university.

The Assistant Director will meet with and solicit a high volume of undiscovered prospects and be responsible for proactively managing a large portfolio of donors. This role requires frequent travel including approximately two overnight trips per month plus regular in-state travel and is responsible for managing an allocated budget. This position will utilize reporting and analysis tools to determine direct fundraising effectiveness, activities and strategies and will be measured on established metrics to include meetings, dollars and major gift referrals.

The Assistant Director reports to the Director of Leadership Annual Giving and operates with a high degree of independence, decision-making capabilities and judgment.  Excellent written/oral communication and interpersonal skills (including tact, diplomacy, and discretion) and the ability to maintain confidentiality, negotiate and be organized and analytical are a must.  The successful candidate will be flexible and have the ability to adapt to shifting priorities and demands.

They are expected to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills when interacting with donors, alumni and volunteers and will create and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues from a variety of disciplines across Advancement and the university.  All members of Advancement are part of creating an inclusive culture that inspires an exceptionally diverse and talented team and are measured on their adherence to the following core competencies:  leadership, continuous improvement, teamwork and collaboration, and communication/interpersonal effectiveness  Frequent workweek travel and occasional evening and weekend work will occur.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • 90% Fundraising Performance:  meets activity and revenue goals by planning, managing, and maintaining an aggressive travel schedule; raises unrestricted leadership annual gifts to fund core university priorities, particularly for the colleges and units; effectively communicates progress of cultivation efforts and results of visits to appropriate personnel
  • Prospect Management: efficiently manages a large portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects; qualifies prospects for potential major gift capacity and interest; provides appropriate background on prospects to be assigned to Major Gift portfolios
  • Prospect Solicitation: proactively cultivates and solicits Ohio State donors, alumni and volunteers capable of making leadership annual gifts to the university with a target of approximately 240 meetings per year
  • Stewardship: conducts appropriate stewardship activities to further enhance the relationship between assigned donors and The Ohio State University; initiates and maintains contact to promote positive donor relations
  • 5% Collaboration – creates and maintains working relationships with colleagues from a variety of disciplines across Advancement and the university; works in tandem with annual giving program teammates to provide a central service to other colleges/units; acts as a liaison between a prospective major gift donor and appropriate officer
  • 5% Miscellaneous – contributes to Advancement by fostering and exhibiting teamwork; participates on internal committees/workgroups as appropriate; performs other duties as assigned
Position Requirements

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education/experience
  • At least one year of professional fundraising experience or professional transferable experience (i.e. managing relationships with required measurable output, making calls, conducting face-to-face appointments, creating and presenting proposals, and other fundamental elements of client relationship or sales-related activities)

Preferred Qualifications:

  • At least one year of professional fundraising experience raising the highest level of philanthropic gifts at an organization (preferably five or six figures and above)
  • At least one year of professional fundraising experience in higher education or a hospital/health care environment
  • Experience in a variety of advancement functions such as donor relations and stewardship, donor communications and/or alumni relations

In accordance with the Disaster Preparedness and University State of Emergency Policy 6.17 this position has been designated as a standby position.

Required Experience
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The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, national origin, disability status, or protected veteran status.