Assistant Director of Development, College of Business

Illinois State University; Normal (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance benefits

Retirement options

Tuition waiver

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

Illinois State University in Normal, IL seeks an Assistant Director of Development for the College of Business to lead major gift fundraising activities and build relationships with donors and prospects. The role offers hands-on learning through mentorship and collaboration with experienced development professionals in higher education.

The position emphasizes relationship management, fundraising strategy, and collaboration to support the College’s philanthropic priorities, with interactions

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Capacity to become a successful major gifts fundraiser through internships, employment or projects.
• Ability to build relationships and influence donors.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects for the College of Business.
• Collaborate with senior development leadership to craft fundraising strategy.
• Engage with diverse stakeholders to advance philanthropic priorities of the College of Business.

Skills

Relationship building

Public relations

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Title:Assistant Director of Development, College of Business
Division Name: University Advancement
Department: Development-Fundraising
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

The Assistant Director of Development for the College of Business, in collaboration with the Sr. Managing Director of Development for the College of Business, is responsible for major gift fundraising activities including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewarding of major gift prospects for the College. Designed for an individual early in their professional career, this position provides an opportunity to learn and grow in the field of higher education development. Through hands‑on experience, mentorship, and collaboration with experienced development professionals, the successful candidate will gain hands‑on experience in higher education development. This position will offer an excellent opportunity for an emerging development professional to learn skills such as relationship management and fund‑raising strategy while working collaboratively with experienced colleagues to support the philanthropic priorities of the College of Business.
This position will interact with a great deal of people who are very important to the University. The effectiveness of this work contributes to an enhanced institutional image, improved internal and external relationships, development of a philanthropic culture on campus, and the ability to generate private funds for the University.

University Benefit Highlights

• - Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
• - Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
• - Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
• - Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
• - Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$55k - $60k

Required Qualifications

1. 1. Bachelor's degree
2. 2. This position is designed for an individual beginning a career in higher education development. Relevant experience that would demonstrate the capacity to become a successful major gifts fundraiser ($25,000 or more) gained through internships, employment, academic projects, or extracurricular involvement is welcomed.
3. 3. Ability to build relationships and influence others with regard to major gift support through regular interaction and engagement with assigned donors and prospects.
4. 4. Ability to work under broad policy guidance and exercise sound judgment when making critical decisions under varying degrees of pressure
5. 5. Excellent interpersonal skills, tact, and diplomacy
6. 6. Ability to facilitate personal interactions in formal and informal social settings
7. 7. Ability to work in a goals‑oriented environment
8. 8. Excellent public relations skills
9. 9. High level of motivational skills and assertiveness
10. 10. Excellent organizational skills and ability to complete work under deadlines
11. 11. Knowledge of higher education environment
12. 12. Ability to work within a team‑oriented environment
13. 13. Excellent written and oral communication skills
14. 14. Ability to work with diverse constituencies from all disciplines including donors, faculty, staff, students, and select corporations and foundations
15. 15. Willingness and availability to work evenings and weekends and to travel both in‑state and out‑of‑state.
16. 16. Valid driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications

1. 1. Transferable skills, such as leadership, persuasiveness, relationship‑building, time management, ability to build rapport, and strong communication both verbal and written.
2. 2. Career experience in customer‑facing roles such as sales, customer service, special events, recruitment, etc. OR
3. 3. Higher education experiences such as completing internships, working in customer‑facing roles, participation in student / work leadership positions, event planning, etc.
4. 4. Interest in higher education philanthropy

Work Hours

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:

• 1. Remain at a workstation for extended periods
• 2. Move about in various locations on and off campus as needed to complete day‑to‑day work
• 3. Effectively communicate on a daily basis

Proposed Starting Date

Target start date of January 2027, with an earlier start possible.

Required Applicant Documents

1. 1. Resume
2. 2. Cover Letter
3. 3. Reference List

Special Instructions for Applicants

Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for Illinois State University in the United States. Illinois State University will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Illinois State University is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Illinois State University.

Contact Information for Applicants

Liz Adams,
[e-mail]

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at [phone]. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at [phone].