Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving

Marquette University Clg-Nurse; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Marquette University is seeking an Assistant Director of Development for Leadership Annual Giving to manage a portfolio of up to 75 prospects and donors. You will develop strategies to increase unrestricted giving and secure commitments across the donor cycle.

The role involves collaboration with colleagues, travel, and participation in events, with a hybrid work arrangement balancing on-campus and remote activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum 3 years of nonprofit development experience with external constituencies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work in a team.
• Ability to travel.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of up to 75 prospects and donors through the full donor cycle.
• Identify alumni and community supporters using CRM data, Power BI, and digital tools.
• Develop and execute an annual fundraising plan with qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Maintain knowledge of university fundraising priorities, focusing on current use funds.
• Pursue ongoing professional fundraising development through internal and external resources.
• Attend events and meetings, often evenings/weekends, representing the university.
• Collaborate with internal teams to engage regional or affinity groups.

Skills

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Ability to travel

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving

Position Title Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving

State

State WI

Employment Status

Employment Status Full Time

Position Status

Position Status Regular

If Limited Term (End Date of Assignment, Project, or Grant)

Position Type

Position Type Staff

Job Family

Job Family Advancement

Position Overview

Responsible for securing philanthropic support for university priorities by establishing and developing relationships with supporters through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship in particular geographic regions and/or affinity-based groups. (S)he demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of university priorities and develops and implements fundraising strategies to build and maintain a portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects. This position has the opportunity to work in a hybrid work environment, with time worked both on campus as well as remotely.

Duties and Responsibilities

• 1. Build, manage, and maintain a portfolio of up to 75 prospects and donors, serving as a philanthropic advisor and developing relationships throughout the full donor cycle. Develop and execute strategies to increase unrestricted giving through the acquisition, renewal, and upgrade of annual donors, securing annual gifts, multi-year commitments, and/or planned gifts in support of university priorities. Make 40+ solicitations, secure 20+ commitments, and conduct 120+ personal visits annually, with a particular focus on growing unrestricted giving, strengthening donor retention and engagement, and building a robust pipeline of future major gift prospects.
• 2. Builds a portfolio of prospective donors through strategic qualification, leveraging CRM data, digital prospecting platforms, Power BI tools, social media, and other technology to identify alumni, families, and community members with the inclination and capacity to make a gift. Utilize digital engagement strategies, including personalized email, virtual meetings, and targeted outreach, to initiate and strengthen relationships and advance prospects through the donor pipeline in addition to in person meetings.
• 3. Develops and executes an annual fundraising business plan with strategic qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship steps for prospects. Meets regularly and collaborates with manager to assess and divide fundraising priorities, review strategies and track progress toward meeting fundraising performance benchmarks.
• 4. Maintains comprehensive knowledge of university wide fundraising priorities, with a particular focus on current use funds.
• 5. Proactively develops professional fundraising skills using internal and external sources.
• 6.Attends university and university-sponsored events and volunteer meetings, often during the evenings and weekends; represents the university to external constituents. Participates in Advancement monthly staff meetings/prospect tracking meetings/committee meetings, etc.
• 7. Collaborates with internal colleagues to engage regional or affinity-based groups through promoting their attendance as guests at events, identifying volunteer leaders, nominating award winners, etc.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum of 3 years of development experience in a non-profit environment or related field (e.g. sales, recruitment, etc.) working directly with external constituencies
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work with colleagues in a team environment
• Ability to travel

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Previous fundraising experience making personal solicitations

Department

Department University Advancement

Posting Date

Posting Date 09/15/2026

Closing Date

Closing Date

EOE Statement

It is the policy of Marquette University to provide equal employment opportunities ( EEO ) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable federal or state-protected classification.

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter/Letter of Application

Optional Documents

Optional Documents

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).