Cadence, Career Counseling, Communication Skills, Data Analysis, Driver's License, Establish Priorities, Exceeded Sales Goal, Family Planning, Fundraising, Higher Education, Leadership, Nonprofit, Physical Demands, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Program Planning, Sales Pipeline, Sales Prospecting, Sales Qualification, Stewardship, Strategic Analysis, Strategic Planning, Team Player, Telephone Skills, Willing to Travel, Writing Skills
Reporting to the Executive Director of Leadership Giving and Discovery, the Assistant Director of Development is responsible for discovering, soliciting, and qualifying alumni, parents, and friends who have the capacity to support Syracuse University with a minimum $2,500 leadership annual gift. The Assistant Director will build and maintain a portfolio of at least 150 leadership annual prospects and maintain a sustained cadence of discovery activity. She/He conducts approximately 100 annual discovery visits in the assigned region(s) to strategically to evaluate inclination, capacity, and affinity to grow their portfolio and the pipeline for new donors at the Leadership Annual Giving level. Travel is required for personal solicitation, qualification, and stewardship to advance relationships with donors.
The Division of Advancement & External Affairs expresses a shared mission that is collaborative, trusted, respectful, future-focused and is aligned with the overall University. All current and new employees embrace and demonstrate dedication to promoting shared values in an inclusive work culture to propel the future of advancement operations in their everyday work.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor's Degree required.
- Two or more years of successful fundraising experience or closely related experience in a nonprofit or higher education.
- Demonstrated experience in personal solicitations and building relationships.
- Work in higher education or nonprofit organization is preferred.
- Possession of a valid, enhanced driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle is required.
Skills and Knowledge
- Preference to a candidate with knowledge of leadership annual giving with an emphasis on layered solicitation approaches.
- Ability to strategize donor centric solicitations and execute, including personalized stewardship; Independent and collaborative critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to build a case for support.
- Personal drive to meet and exceed annual goals.
- Flexible and adapts well to change.
Responsibilities
- Qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of approximately 150 leadership annual giving donors in the Mid-Atlantic and Central New York regions, for new gifts, renewals, and upgrades using a variety of techniques such as phone calls, emails, correspondence, and face-to-face visits, including both in-person and virtual. Ultimately, increase the number of donors giving a minimum gift of $2,500 to The Hill Society (the University's leadership annual giving society.) Evaluate ability and inclination of prospects to make a major or planned gift in order to regularly refer donors to other gift officers for movement along the pipeline of giving.
- Actively collaborate with colleagues/units across the division (annual and leadership annual giving, schools/colleges/units, regional programs, gift planning, family giving, alumni engagement, career services) to develop and implement strategies to maximize fundraising effectiveness
- Conduct approximately 100 discovery visits in the Mid-Atlantic and Central New York regions, strategically to evaluate inclination, capacity, and affinity to grow portfolio and the pipeline for new donors at the Leadership Annual Giving level. Document outcomes of qualifications, making sure next steps are identified. Work independently to analyze data, prioritize outreach efforts, and make a set number of qualification contacts, visits and solicitations.
- Support the growth and engagement of The Hill Society by identifying prospective members, facilitating meaningful stewardship, and collaborating on strategies that deepen member involvement and philanthropic impact.
- Utilize database of record (CITRUS) to update strategic plans and opportunities, interactions, outcomes and next steps. Contribute to research and accuracy of alumni records.
- Participate and potentially lead AEA or Leadership Annual Giving initiatives that are identified as special projects.
Physical Requirements
N/A
Tools/Equipment
N/A
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.