Associate Director of Development, Strategic Initiatives

Marquette University Clg-Nurse; Milwaukee (WI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Marquette University seeks an Associate Director of Development, Strategic Initiatives to advance high-priority fundraising initiatives and manage relationships with major gift donors. The role collaborates with university leaders and volunteers to develop and execute fundraising strategies, focusing on priorities such as the Lovell Scholars Program.

The successful candidate will handle a portfolio of about 40 major gift prospects and participate in Leadership Council recruitment and engagement,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required and a minimum of three years of fundraising experience in higher education.
• Proven track record of managing a personal portfolio and securing gifts at the $125,000+ level.
• Strong oral and written communication abilities are essential.

Responsibilities

• Actively manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and travel for face-to-face visits.
• Create and execute fundraising plans using qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship best practices.
• Identify and qualify prospects, develop donor strategies, proposals, and solicitation plans.

Skills

Fundraising

Portfolio management

Communication skills

Evenings/weekends availability

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Associate Director of Development, Strategic Initiatives

State

State WI

Employment Status

Employment Status Full Time

Position Status

Position Status Regular

Position Type

Position Type Staff

Job Family

Job Family Advancement

Position Overview

The Associate Director of Development, Strategic Initiatives advances the university’s highest-priority fundraising initiatives and manages relationships with major gift donors and prospects. The position works with development leadership, academic and non-academic university leaders, and volunteer leaders to develop and execute fundraising strategies, with a focus on priorities including the Lovell Scholars Program. The Associate Director manages a portfolio of approximately 40 major gift prospects and donors and partners on Leadership Council recruitment, engagement, and solicitation. This position has the opportunity to work in a hybrid work arrangement with time worked both on campus as well as remotely.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Actively manage a portfolio of prospects for the purpose of “moving” constituents through the major-gift pipeline. This includes travel for face-to-face visits as well as effective digital engagement.
• Create and execute fundraising plans that utilize best practices in qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift prospects for strategic initiatives.
• Identify and qualify prospective donors whose interests and capacity align with university priorities and develop donor strategies, proposals, briefing materials, and solicitation plans.
• Secure gifts in collaboration with university leaders and campus partners.
• Maintain accurate portfolio activity, strategies, and relationship documentation in the advancement database.

2. Strategic University Partnership and Collaboration

• Partner with development leadership to develop and execute fundraising strategies for the university’s highest priority initiatives, including the Lovel Scholars Program, developing donor-centered cases for support.
• Partner with academic and non-academic leaders to identify funding opportunities, engage donors, and advance major gift opportunities. This includes developing briefing materials, talking points, proposals and engagement strategies for leaders.
• Monitor fundraising progress and recommend strategies to advance priority initiatives.
• Serve as a liaison with non-academic university leadership to understand priorities and develop fundraising strategies.
• Collaborate with major gifts, principal gifts, annual giving, advancement services, communications and other teams.
• Lead or support special projects that advance university priorities.

3. Lead on Leadership Council

• Partner with advancement leadership and university stakeholders on Leadership Council recruitment, engagement and solicitation.
• Identify and cultivate prospective Leadership Council members.
• Develop individualized engagement and solicitation strategies for Leadership Council members and prospects.
• Prepare university and volunteer leaders for recruitment

4. Meeting Attendance and UA Representation

• Attend relevant meetings and university events, representing the university to external constituents.
• Participate in all UA and other required team or staff meetings.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Bachelor’s degree
A minimum of three years of fundraising experience in higher education, including a successful track record of personal portfolio management and securing gifts at the $125,000 or above level is required; relevant sales experience may also be considered.
Strong communication skills, both oral and written, and an ability to effectively communicate are critical to this role.
Ability to work some evenings and weekends

Department

University Advancement

Posting Date

Posting Date 10/23/2026

Special Instructions to Applicants

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

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).