Assistant Director of Development

South Dakota Board of Regents; Alabama; On-site; USD 52,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Short-term disability

Hospital indemnity insurance

Flexible spending account

Health savings account

Health reimbursement account

Reduced tuition

Professional liability coverage

Paid family leave

Job summary

Dakota State University seeks a passionate relationship builder to serve as its next Assistant Director of Development. This role identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards alumni, parents, and friends capable of making gifts of $5,000 or more, helping create philanthropic partnerships fueling the university’s vision.

Advertised Salary NFE Pay Grade 6S: $52,000 - $60,000 DOQE. This position requires 40 hours per week, with evenings and weekends as needed, located in Madison, SD.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Marketing, Education, Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 1–3 years in fundraising, especially major gifts or leadership giving.
• Experience in higher education preferred.
• Ability to build relationships and cultivate donor loyalty.
• Ability to analyze donor data and fundraising trends.
• Public speaking and presenting to groups.
• Strong analytical, creative, and organizational skills; attention to detail.
• Proficiency with database management systems.
• Commitment to confidentiality of philanthropic partners.
• Excellent MS Office skills (Excel and Word).
• Effective written, oral, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify and qualify potential donors through research, interviews, and other engagement methods.
• Develop personalized strategies to cultivate relationships with prospects.
• Solicit gifts aligned with the University’s needs.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with existing donors through communications and recognition.
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date records in Raiser’s Edge.
• Collaborate with University leadership to translate funding priorities into donor opportunities.
• Partner with colleagues across the University to identify prospects and create engagement plans.
• Plan and attend events to engage with donors, representing the University’s mission.

Skills

Relationship building

Donor cultivation

Public speaking

Analytical skills

Excellent communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

Dakota State University seeks a passionate relationship builder to serve as its next Assistant Director of Development. This role is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumni, parents, and friends of the university capable of making gifts of $5,000 or more, helping to create philanthropic partnerships that fuel the university’s vision and strengthen its future.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree is required in Marketing, Education, Accounting, Finance, or other related field.
• 1-3 years or experience in fundraising, particularly in major gifts or leadership giving.
  • Experience in a higher education setting is preferred.
• Strong ability to build relationships, listen to donor needs, and cultivate donor loyalty.
• Ability to analyze donor data and fundraising trends to develop strategies.
• Comfortable with public speaking and presenting to groups of various sizes.
• Strong combination of creative, analytical and organizational skills; attention to detail.
• Proficiency with database management systems.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality of philanthropic partners
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and Word.
• Effective written, oral, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify and qualify potential donors through research, interviews, and other engagement methods.
• Develop and implement personalized strategies to cultivate relationships with prospects.
• Solicit gifts that align with the strategic needs of the University.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with existing donors through consistent communication and recognition efforts.
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date records of all interactions, proposals, and contributions in Raiser’s Edge.
• Work closely with University leadership to understand funding priorities and translate these needs into compelling donor opportunities.
• Partner with colleagues across the University to identify potential prospects and create comprehensive donor engagement plans.
• Plan and attend events to engage with potential and existing donors, representing the University’s mission and goals.
• Flexible benefits package – health, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, hospital indemnity insurance, flexible spending account, health savings account, health reimbursement account.
• South Dakota Retirement System. Employees receive 6% fully matched contributions from SDRS and are vested after three years of service.
• Paid time off – full time 12-month employees earn 15 days per year of annual leave and 14 days of sick leave per year. In addition, employees receive 11 federal paid holidays.
• Reduced tuition for education.
• Professional liability coverage
• Paid family leave

Advertised Salary NFE Pay Grade 6S: $52,000 - $60,000 DOQE

For questions concerning the position, contact Alicia Entringer at [e-mail] .

Duration of the Term

Duration of the Term 12 months

Appointment Percent

Appointment Percent 100

Work Hours

8:00 am to 5:00 PM 40 hrs. per week minimum (including evenings and weekends)

Typical Hours Worked Per Week

Appointment Type

Appointment Type Regular

Faculty Status

Faculty Status No

Scope of Search

Scope of Search External (includes Internal)

If internal, define scope of search

This position requires

If other, please indicate

Department Description and Cultural Expectations

In addition to the exciting professional opportunities at Dakota State University, employees will have the privilege of enjoying the benefits of Madison, South Dakota. Nestled in the heart of the state, Madison offers a unique blend of small-town charm and modern amenities, creating an ideal environment for work-life balance.
The city boasts a range of recreational activities, from picturesque parks to outdoor events, fostering a sense of community engagement and well-being. Madison’s scenic landscapes and proximity to nearby lakes provide ample opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, whether it be fishing, hiking, or simply enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors.
Madison’s location within South Dakota provides easy access to larger cities, cultural events, and regional attractions. Madison is only a short 50 minute drive from South Dakota’s largest city, Sioux Falls. Currently: DSU is located in Madison, South Dakota in the southern lakes region of the state. The region boasts a wealth of outdoor sports and a life-style possible only in smaller towns and rural communities. Madison is just a 50-minute drive from Sioux Falls, the largest city in South Dakota.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

DSU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration and DSU prohibits unlawful discrimination of all legally protected classes in the offering of all educational programs and employment. Arrangements for accommodations required by disabilities can be made by emailing DSU [e-mail]

E-Verify, EOE .

Contact Information

Working Conditions

Cognitive Requirements

Please check the appropriate response that describe the cognitive requirements for this position.

Protective Clothing/Equipment

Please check the appropriate response for this position's use of the following protective clothing or equipment.

If other protection is used please identify

Physical Requirements

Please designate the physical requirements of this position

Please designate the physical requirements of this position Driving, Fine Finger Manipulation (keyboarding, pipefitting, bench work, etc), Sitting for sustained periods of time

Describe any of the conditions selected

Sensory Requirements

Please check the appropriate response that describe the sensory requirements for this position.

Please check the appropriate response that describe the sensory requirements for this position. Hearing, Speaking, Vision (With and without corrective lenses)

Working Conditions & Exposures

Working Conditions or Exposures (or potential exposures) that this position may encounter during the course of the work day.

Please describe, in more detail, any of the conditions checked above

Check the appropriate box(es) that best describes the environment in which the primary function of the position is performed.

Check the appropriate box(es) that best describes the environment in which the primary function of the position is performed. Athletic/Wellness Facilities, Office Environment, Classroom Environment

If you have indicated Other Environment, if work tasks involve one or more of the above, or if further explanation is necessary, please use the space