Associate Director of Development, Thunderbird

Who we want:

Associate Director of Development, Thunderbird

ASU Foundation, one of five nonprofit entities that make up ASU Enterprise Partners, is seeking an Associate Director of Development to join the team at Thunderbird.

The Associate Director of Development for the Thunderbird School of Global Management is a professional who will work collaboratively with ASU Foundation (ASUF) and with academic leadership at Thunderbird. The principal activity of this professional development officer is to be externally focused, with responsibility for engaging a portfolio of individuals, working with Thunderbird Alumni to engage philanthropically with the School and specifically focusing on those alumni who hold senior corporate positions and are in a position to help advance Thunderbird’s corporate relationships. 

In addition, the Associate Director works with the Director General and the Dean and the larger engagement team to help coordinate Thunderbird’s portfolio of foundation support.  The Associate Director will work closely with ASUF Colleagues, specifically the central Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations team and leadership as well as colleagues across the university to help coordinate Thunderbird’s external relationships, including the university’s Corporate Relations team and the Entrepreneurship & Innovation team, among others.  The Associate Director’s effectiveness will be evaluated on the ability to achieve financial goals and contact metrics consistent with the programs and prospects assigned. The Associate Director reports to Thunderbird’s Chief Engagement Officer.

What you'll do:

• Articulate Thunderbird’s mission, strengths, and priorities to external partners, finding areas of collaboration, and working to articulate the case for support.
• Proactively manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, developing and executing strategies leading to solicitation and investment
• Work with engagement team colleagues, alumni volunteers and academic leaders to identify, cultivate and solicit corporate philanthropic support through Thunderbird’s global network of alumni
• Assist in the development and implementation of strategies for corporate and foundation prospects to engage with the School, working with colleagues in Alumni Engagement, the Career Management Center, and Executive Education to ensure effective coordination of activities
• Liaise closely with ASUF’s Corporate and Foundation Relations team, identifying areas for potential foundation support at Thunderbird and joining or forming multi-unit teams to help drive proposal development and secure investment at Thunderbird and across ASU.
• Achieve core fundraising metrics including identification of new prospects, face-to-face visits, growth in cumulative giving from the portfolio, major gift proposals submitted, and dollars raised
• Develop effective grant materials, proposals, case statements, presentations, conceptual plans, letters of inquiry, acknowledgement letters, budgets, progress and stewardship reports, and other donor communications, working with staff and faculty colleagues
• Work collaboratively with prospect research to identify new potential individual, corporate, and foundation donors and prioritize existing donors and prospects
• Create annual reporting/stewardship plans for each foundation grant and corporate gift, strengthening relationships and facilitating further support
• Maintain documentation of all activity within the ASUF database.
• Travel when necessary to execute strategic development plans for major donor prospects
• Ensure proper stewardship and recognition of donors in portfolio
• Participate, as a member of the Thunderbird Engagement team as well as the ASUF development team, serving as a resource to colleagues
• Work in a fast-paced, results oriented environment with complex and evolving relationships and priorities
• Other duties as assigned

What you’ll need:

• Knowledge of principles and techniques of development/fundraising, preferably in higher education
• Ability to read and develop written correspondence and good oral communication with senior level professionals. Ability to make presentations to individuals and groups.
• Strong and collegial interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively in person, in writing, and electronically
• Self-starter able to secure personal appointments and qualify new prospects
• Demonstrated achievement in securing philanthropic investments
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding university business and confidential prospect information related to Thunderbird and the ASU
• Tenaciously optimistic and goal-oriented, with the ability to remain flexible and develop creative solutions in pursuit of always maintaining forward momentum.
• Strong multi-tasker with the capacity to continually balance competing priorities within a dynamic environment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively on a small team with limited resources, supporting the success of all colleagues and prioritizing the organization’s overall goals above personal achievement.
• Ability to travel regularly in support of the organization and its goals, including travel across the United States and Internationally that may average 25% of time and be prioritized for best impact for attaining goals. Most travel will be flexible in order to accommodate various schedules of availability.
• Problem-solver who can take initiative and set priorities while being flexible
• Ability to represent the institution well
• An advocate’s belief in the vision of Thunderbird’s future and ASU as the New American University
• Attention to detail and thoroughness in completing assigned duties
• Adept at navigating complex environments with evolving priorities and communication plans
• Attention to detail and thoroughness in completing assigned duties
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and comfortable working in donor/prospect computer data base systems, particularly Salesforce

Relevant qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and 5-7 years successful professional development and/or fundraising related experience, preferably in higher education. Experience in strategic partnership roles, communication/project management, and grant writing is also desired. Advanced degree preferred.

Who we are:

ASU Enterprise Partners is a private, nonprofit organization based in Tempe, Arizona, that serves as the resource-raising arm of Arizona State University. We represent a new, innovative and highly efficient model for diversified revenue generation, serving five distinct subsidiaries that provide support for ASU:

• ASU Foundation matches donors with their passions by raising and investing private contributions to ASU programs, faculty and students.
• University Realty LLC cultivates and advances commercial and residential real estate projects to support ASU.
• Skysong Innovations, ASU Enterprise Partners’ technology transfer, creates a pipeline between ASU and Northern Arizona University inventions and the private sector.
• Enterprise Collaboratory at ASU equips faculty, staff and students to launch innovative and impactful initiatives rapidly.
• ASU Research Enterprise conducts applied research and consults for classified and midrange technology-readiness-level (TRL) services for the defense and security industry.

We employ a diverse team engaged in meaningful work, including fundraisers, designers, scholars, financial wizards, filmmakers, inventors, entrepreneurs and volunteers. Each member brings a different perspective to our vision, yet we share a mission to advance the most innovative university in the country.

Advance your career, too. Professional development is highly valued at ASU Enterprise Partners, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization and nurture new areas of interest. Roles often shift as passions are discovered.

Employees and eligible dependents enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance; a 401(k) plan; and significant tuition reductions. Details about our comprehensive benefits are available at https://www.asuenterprisepartners.org/careers/benefits. 

Mental demands:

Clarity of focus while juggling complex projects and/or deadlines.  Ability to meet demanding work schedule expectations.

Working conditions:

Activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding and manipulating a computer mouse; required to stand for varying lengths of time and walk moderate distances to perform work. Frequent bending, reaching, lifting, pushing and pulling up to 25 pounds. Regular activities require ability to quickly change priorities, which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts. Working hours will include some evenings, weekends, and holidays. May be required to perform tasks in the field within and/or across University campuses. Ability to clearly communicate verbally, read, write, see and hear to perform essential functions. This position will require travel to accommodate meetings and events.

Working equipment:

This position will require a laptop computer, telephone, mobile communication device (at $60 level of reimbursement if personal device used), corporate card, university club membership and business cards.

Contact us today.

For more information on ASU Enterprise Partners, visit our web site at www.asuenterprisepartners.org.

If interested in the Associate Director of Development, Thunderbird, please apply online at https://asuep.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/ASUEP.

ASU Enterprise Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer