Assistant Director of Development and Affinity Engagement

The Ohio State University; Columbus (OH); Hybride; USD 54 000 - 65 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

The Ohio State University seeks an Assistant Director of Development and Affinity Engagement to advance fundraising priorities by managing leadership annual giving relationships and engaging alumni and affinity networks. This hybrid role focuses on gifts from $3,000 to $99,999, cultivating donors and stewarding relationships to support university Advancement priorities.

Based in Columbus, the role collaborates with OSUAA, Buckeye Connected Communities, and campus partners to identify prospects,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent.
• Two years professional fundraising or related relationship experience.

Responsabilités

• Manage a portfolio of leadership annual gifts from $3,000 to $99,999, including identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Plan and execute in-person and virtual engagements with a target of ~150 meetings per year.
• Develop and coordinate engagement strategies for OSUAA affinity groups and Buckeye Connected Communities to support donor identification and giving.
• Collaborate across Advancement, the university, and affiliated centers to support coordinated fundraising and donor pipeline activity.

Connaissances

Fundraising

Relationship management

Communication skills

Leadership

Formation

Bachelor's degree

Outils

TAS donor database

Description du poste

Job Title: Assistant Director of Development and Affinity Engagement Department: Advancement | Alumni Association

Position Overview

The Assistant Director of Development and Affinity Engagement advances The Ohio State University’s philanthropic priorities by managing leadership annual giving relationships and using alumni and affinity engagement as a strategic pathway for donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and pipeline development. This hybrid position is primarily focused on cultivating and soliciting leadership annual gifts of $3,000 to $99,999, while also strengthening alumni and constituent relationships through engagement strategies that support fundraising outcomes and Advancement priorities. As a member of the Connections team within the Ohio State University Alumni Association (OSUAA), the Assistant Director proactively manages an assigned portfolio of leadership annual giving donors and prospects through in-person visits, virtual outreach, engagement opportunities, and targeted cultivation activity. The role emphasizes discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors, identification and referral of future major gift prospects, and collaboration with volunteers and alumni leaders to advance fundraising and engagement strategies. The primary audiences for the Assistant Director include OSUAA affinity groups and Buckeye Connected Communities, with engagement activity intentionally focused on strengthening donor relationships, identifying prospective philanthropic support, and advancing leadership annual giving outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities

70% Meets established activity, qualification, solicitation, stewardship, and revenue goals by planning, managing, and maintaining a strategic travel and outreach schedule. Manages an assigned portfolio of leadership annual giving donors and prospects, with primary responsibility for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individuals capable of making leadership annual gifts of $3,000 to $99,999 in support of university and Alumni Association priorities, including Buckeye Connected Communities. Conducts in-person visits, virtual meetings, targeted outreach, and donor engagement activities with a target of approximately 150 meetings per year. Evaluates donor readiness, capacity, and philanthropic interest, documents cultivation progress and visit outcomes, and communicates relevant information to appropriate Advancement colleagues. Identifies future major gift prospects and provides background and referral information to support assignment to major gift portfolios. Conducts stewardship activity and maintains ongoing contact with assigned donors to strengthen relationships, promote positive donor relations, and support continued philanthropic engagement with The Ohio State University.

25% Develops and coordinates engagement and cultivation strategies for OSUAA affinity groups and Buckeye Connected Communities that support donor identification, leadership annual giving cultivation, stewardship, and Advancement priorities. Ensures relevant constituent, donor, volunteer, and engagement data is accurately captured in the proprietary database to support relationship management, reporting, and future cultivation strategies.

5% Creates and maintains working relationships with colleagues across Advancement, the university, and Wexner Medical Center to support coordinated fundraising, engagement, stewardship, and donor pipeline activity. Works in tandem with Connections teammates to provide central support to colleges, units, and healthcare service lines by sharing relevant donor, prospect, and engagement information. Serves as a liaison between prospective major gift donors and appropriate development officers to support timely referral and continued cultivation. Contributes to Advancement by fostering teamwork, participating on internal committees or workgroups as appropriate, and performing other duties as assigned.

Metrics and Collaboration

The annual performance of all fundraisers at Ohio State is measured by the number of qualifications, cultivations, solicitations and commitments/dollars raised the individual accrues over each fiscal year. Each fundraiser may have different expectations regarding these figures based upon, but not limited to, their experience level, unit size, prospect portfolio, past performance, etc. Goal setting is done with the individual’s manager prior to each fiscal year to assure transparency, consistency and alignment.

All fundraisers at Ohio State are encouraged and expected to collaborate with their colleagues across the institution and can be counted as 'Secondary' on a gift in the solicitation, commitment and dollars raised phases of the development cycle. A secondary fundraiser can be considered when a team is working on a multi-unit gift, the fundraiser is a subject matter expert in an area critical to the solicitation or a fundraiser has a pre-existing, meaningful relationship with the donor and their participation helps move the gift forward.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two (2) years of professional fundraising experience or professional transferable experience (transferable experience may include but is not limited to, 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 with a focus on strong interpersonal and communication skills)

Desired Qualifications

(We’re committed to building a team that reflects a variety of skills and experiences and encourage you to apply even if your experience does not align perfectly)

• Knowledge of and experience in program planning and event management.
• Two (2) years of customer relations, volunteer management and/or institutional advancement experience.
• Four (4) years of professional fundraising experience raising the highest level of philanthropic gifts at an organization (preferably five or six figures and above)
• Four (4) years of professional fundraising experience in higher education or a hospital/health care environment
• Experience working in other advancement departments such as donor relations and stewardship, donor communications and/or alumni relations
• Familiarity with the development function at Ohio State and knowledge of Ohio State’s donor database (TAS)

You Need to Know

Aside from the unparalleled benefits of working for The Ohio State University and working in the vibrant, smart, enjoyable, and growing city of Columbus, Ohio, this opportunity will provide exceptional rewards that arise from working for an institution doing worldwide life-changing teaching and research. Learn more here: Careers at Ohio State.

Additional Information

To learn more about the Office of External Affairs, please visit Advancement Careers.

The budget for this position is up to $59,500.00. The offer for this position will be based on internal equity and the candidate’s qualifications.

Function: Development and Engagement

Sub-function: Development

Career Band: Individual Contributor – Specialized

Career Level: S2

Location:Longaberger Alumni House (0022)Position Type:RegularScheduled Hours:40Shift:First ShiftFinal candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

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

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.