Director for Charitable Giving

Michigan Technological University; Houghton (MI); On-site; USD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan Technological University seeks a Director for Charitable Giving to secure gifts of $25,000+ and to serve as the liaison for colleges and campus units. The role uses a moves management system to identify, strategize, and document gifts while collaborating with the fundraising team to meet yearly metrics and advance donor portfolios.

The Director will travel to interact with alumni and friends of the university and professionally represent the mission and vision of Michigan Tech.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Valid driver's license required.
• Three years of major gifts fundraising experience or equivalent in related fields.

Responsibilities

• Advance the University's mission in collaboration with the Executive Director for Charitable Giving, advancement colleagues, and unit leaders.
• Identify, secure appointments, and develop relationships with alumni and friends of Michigan Tech.
• Ask alumni and friends of the University for gifts of $25,000 or more.
• Be an excellent listener and exhibit a modest, professional demeanor when meeting with donors.
• Collaborate with administration and unit partners to accurately communicate impact‑giving opportunities to donors.
• Participate in quarterly strategy meetings on campus to assess metric goals, plan travel, and review proposals for giving.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Donor relationship building

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Data analysis

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.

The area's waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.

Summary

The Director for Charitable Giving at Michigan Technological University is responsible for securing gifts of $25,000 and greater to support the university's programs, priorities, and initiatives. This position will act as the liaison for colleges and campus units as assigned by the Executive Director for Charitable Giving. The Director will utilize a moves management system to identify, strategize, and document all gifts. Through collaborative efforts with the fundraising team and strategic actions to advance donor portfolios, their focus is meeting and exceeding yearly metrics to attain campaign goals. The Director will travel to interact with alumni and friends of the university and professionally represent the mission and vision of Michigan Tech. Ideal candidates will possess excellent written and oral communication skills to support collaborative efforts between university partners to advance the impact‑giving donor pipeline for Michigan Tech.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

1. Advance the University's mission, vision, and short and long-term goals in collaboration with the Executive Director for Charitable Giving, advancement colleagues, and unit leaders.
2. Identify, secure appointments, and develop relationships with alumni and friends of Michigan Tech.
3. Ask alumni and friends of the University for gifts of $25,000 or more.
4. Be an excellent listener and exhibit a modest, professional demeanor when meeting with donors.
5. Collaborate with administration and unit partners to accurately communicate impact‑giving opportunities to donors.
6. Participate in quarterly strategy meetings on campus to assess metric goals, plan travel, and review proposals for individual, corporate, and foundation giving in collaboration with the advancement team.
7. Attend and participate in regularly scheduled weekly departmental meetings in person or via Zoom.
8. Work with the Office of Charitable Gift Planning to develop proposals.
9. Submit timely contact reports for all donor communication with accurate, concise content and a clear follow‑up action plan.
10. Continually assess and manage a portfolio of donors, creating strategic plans for the best potential outcome.
11. Exercise travel and calendar "best practices" for University fundraising to maximize travel resources and communication with other fundraising colleagues.
12. Perform all work to the outlined guidelines and expectations to drive the success of individual members and the team.
13. Provide weekly communication of progress to the supervisor for administrative reporting and to ensure information sharing.
14. Collaborate with alumni engagement, admissions department, career services, and other administrative university units as necessary.
15. Coordinate with unit Directors, deans, faculty, and staff.
16. Commit to learning and applying continuous improvement strategies to everyday work. Actively engage in continuous improvement.
17. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
18. Apply safety‑related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• Bachelor's degree.
• Possess a valid driver's license.

Required Experience

Three years of successful experience in major gifts fundraising or experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired such as university development or advancement, university admissions, banking, management or sales.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Experience working in higher education.
• Fundraising training or certification.
• Experience with Michigan Tech.
• Alumni of Michigan Tech.
• Advanced degree.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Willingness for frequent travel that may range between 25% and 75% of the position on any given month.
• Demonstrated exceptional interpersonal, oral, written skills with a strong customer/alumni service orientation.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, coordinate, prioritize and direct multiple projects and activities with varied deadlines while multi‑tasking in a fast paced travel environment.
• Demonstrated ability to be a strategic and innovative thinker and effective in moving projects/assignments along.
• A self‑starter with strong organizational abilities, integrity and confidence.
• Team player with the ability to work in a cooperative/dynamic environment (e.g. with administrators, staff, faculty, and students) and external community (e.g. with business leaders, donors and volunteers) environment.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data and make strategic business decisions.
• Demonstrated high standard of professional ethics, honesty and the ability to work with the confidential nature of donor information and university matters.
• Must be highly proficient with the Microsoft software suite, including Word, Excel and Power Point.
• Demonstrated time management and organizational skills with the ability to manage and meet multiple deadlines.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Knowledge of fundraising in a university advancement environment.
• Understanding of donor stewardship and alumni engagement.
• Knowledge of major and planned giving.
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons with a wide variety of backgrounds and viewpoints.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

• Employee Safety Overview
• Annual Data Security Training
• Anti‑Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Additional training will be required by the department on a periodic basis.

Background Check: Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Full‑Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)

1

FLSA Status

Exempt

Appointment Term

12 months

Pay Rate/Salary

The minimum salary for this position is $75,000. Thefinal salary will depend on experience and qualifications.

Title of Position Supervisor

Executive Director for Charitable Gift Planning

Posting Type

Internal & External

Dependent on Funding

No

Other Conditions of Employment

We note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on‑campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. Michigan Tech will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the Michigan Tech Public Safety.

In compliance with the federal Drug‑Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and its implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 86), Michigan Tech is committed to maintaining a drugfree campus environment and actively promoting the health and safety of its community. Find our notice that outlines the University's policies, legal sanctions, health risks, and available support resources related to the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech's hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or [e-mail].