Working/Functional Title

Asst Director of Devel, Spartan Fund

Position Summary

POSITION SUMMARY

The Assistant Director of Development will carry a portfolio of donors/prospects and be responsible for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of gifts and pledges with a primary focus on promoting Honorary Coaches, Directors Level, and Scholarship Level gifts. This role will consist of fundraising, program support, and additional responsibilities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

FUNDRAISING - 

• Develop and manage a portfolio of 100-150+ current and prospective donors focusing on discovery, identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Solicitations from $10,000 - $100,000, Leadership Annual Giving, and Major Gifts.
• Have a minimum of 200 significant personal contacts (SPCs) per year and 40-50 discovery visits with a focus on the west and mid-Michigan territories.
• Provide consistent and appropriate contact, facilitate or make solicitations, and deliver effective stewardship.

Working/Functional Title

Asst Director of Devel, Spartan Fund

Position Summary

POSITION SUMMARY

The Assistant Director of Development will carry a portfolio of donors/prospects and be responsible for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of gifts and pledges with a primary focus on promoting Honorary Coaches, Directors Level, and Scholarship Level gifts. This role will consist of fundraising, program support, and additional responsibilities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

FUNDRAISING - 

• Develop and manage a portfolio of 100-150+ current and prospective donors focusing on discovery, identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Solicitations from $10,000 - $100,000, Leadership Annual Giving, and Major Gifts.
• Have a minimum of 200 significant personal contacts (SPCs) per year and 40-50 discovery visits with a focus on the west and mid-Michigan territories.
• Provide consistent and appropriate contact, facilitate or make solicitations, and deliver effective stewardship.
• Gather data, assess prospects, and develop strategies designed to realize the current and lifetime giving potential of individual prospects.
• Partner with the Athletics Development and University Development colleagues to develop, plan, and execute a successful comprehensive donor strategy.
• Expectation to document $750K-$1.5M annually.
• Leverage demand for premium seating to identify both annual and major gift prospects.

PROGRAM SUPPORT - 

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with academic and other unit colleagues on campus by demonstrating leadership in the development community.
• In alignment with other Spartan Fund development officers, serve as primary or secondary support for sport liaison.
• Through collegial consultation and cooperation, demonstrate and be a model of collaboration in the MSU development community, while representing the Athletics Department’s values and its unique role at Michigan State University.
• Coordinate and facilitate activities that will directly result in prospect identification, engagement, and successful solicitation, including advising executive officers, Deans, and development colleagues on the culture, expectations, and needs of the University’s constituents.
• Have a comprehensive understanding of Michigan State Athletics priorities and make a persuasive verbal and written case for supporting key programs and projects, effectively matching the interests of prospects to specific Athletics Department needs.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES - 

• Serve as Spartan Fund Liaison
• Participate in Athletic Development events as appropriate. This includes, but is not limited to, home and away football game activities, on and off-campus donor activities, other athletic events, etc.
• Use donor database and other tools to coordinate and track strategies, record activities, maintain updated prospect information, and manage gift documentation. Assist with the coordination and participation of alumni, donor engagement, prospecting, recognition, and stewardship events, as appropriate.
• Prepare annual personal fundraising goals and analyze/report goal accomplishment.
• All other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing and/or Business; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in professional fund raising, public relations, marketing, higher education fund raising or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Exceptional organizational, customer service, and time management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, Salesforce, and Paciolan.
• Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Sport Management, Communications, Marketing, and/or Business.
• One to three years, or related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in an athletic department, fundraising, public relations, higher education, or a related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact with multiple patrons in a positive and productive manner while maintaining integrity and adhering to the compliance rules of the NCAA, Big Ten, and Michigan State University.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
• Experience with CRM databases (Paciolan and Salesforce preferred).
• Strong commitment to the student athlete experience.
• Travel required. Ability to work nights, weekends, and possible holidays required.
• Work closely with University Advancement, Spartan Ticket Office, MSU Sports Properties, and Taymar Sales colleagues.

If you have experience with the responsibilities outlined in this job description or possess transferable skills, we encourage you to apply! We seek driven, successful fundraisers to join our team and contribute to our ambitious campaign.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume and cover letter 

Special Instructions

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Patricia Karam, Director of Talent Acquisition, at karampat@msu.edu. 

Screening of applicants will continue until the position is filled.

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Work Hours

8 am - 5 pm with possible evenings and weekends

Website

Advancement.msu.edu

Bidding eligibility ends July 29, 2025 at 11:55 P.M.

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