Manager of Institutional Advancement - Office of Development and Alumni Relations

The Manager of Institutional Advancement will support the Midwestern University Glendale campus Office of Development & Alumni Relations and will report to the Director of Institutional Advancement.  This individual will be responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewardship of a portfolio of individual and major corporate/foundation donors to support University events, scholarships, philanthropic projects and community partnerships. They will be responsible for researching, writing, editing and submitting grant proposals, letters of inquiry, thank you correspondence, stewardship letters, requests to sponsors as well as individual donors. 

Essential Responsibilities

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of individual and corporate/foundation donors annually.
• Research and identify new corporate and foundation donors for potential grant opportunities.
• Collaborate with Director to write and manage foundation and corporate grant proposals and reports. 
• Organize grants submitted and submit monthly grant management reports; complete regular interaction in JX system.
• Oversee annual fund and other college/program specific appeals to increase alumni giving.   
• Support the MWU Proud employee giving campaign. 
• Utilize data and alumni analysis information to assist in facilitating individualized cultivation activities to increase fundraising.
• Utilize detailed data analysis to assess performance and ensure annual goals are met.
• Work in collaboration to develop and implement a comprehensive stewardship program that includes scheduled written acknowledgement of donors, donor impact pieces and appropriate stewardship events/engagement opportunities, such as an annual scholarship breakfast or dean’s dinner(s).
• Successfully secure auction or raffle items for events, coordinating sponsorship and VIP appeals for events, implementing college or program specific alumni appeals, donor recognition projects, and stewardship correspondence.
• Assist with professional development and best practices for the Midwestern community as it relates to annual giving fundraising
• Provide record management support. 
• Prepare stewardship activity reports for endowed scholarship donors which include completed visits, completed letters of impact and special communications.
• Research and implement new solicitation strategies as possible. 
• Miscellaneous duties as assigned.
• 15%-20% travel will be required to make prospect visits and attend alumni conferences. 

Supervisory Responsibilities                                               

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must be able to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner and have regular, predictable, in-person attendance.  Candidate must have very strong written and verbal communication skills.  The requirements listed below 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.

Education and/or Experience                                             

Bachelor’s degree in business, education or the liberal arts; master’s degree and/or specialized professional training preferred. Minimum of six+ years’ experience in Development/Fundraising, Public Relations, Corporate Relations, or Alumni Relations.  Demonstrated experience, success, and progressive responsibility in fundraising.  Prior experience in grant writing in nonprofit, higher education or healthcare care is required.  Ability to set goals strategically and oversee execution.  High level of discretion and ethical approach to fundraising.  Proven ability to interact and influence philanthropic leaders.  Other requirements include: Sophisticated understanding of principles of fundraising and alumni relations programming; Public relations and community relations abilities; Professionalism in interacting with internal and external stakeholders; Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral; Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with a variety of constituents. Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of higher education development and fundraising with an understanding of individual giving programs and detailed understanding of annual fundraising campaigns.  Knowledge of regional corporate/foundation donors a plus. The ability to think and act strategically will be critical to the success of this position.

Must have comprehensive knowledge of the field’s concepts and principles with the ability to perform complex tasks.  

Computer Skills                                           

Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Language Skills                                            

High skills:  Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations.  Ability to write appeals, proposals, reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information to top management and to potential donors. 

Reasoning Ability

Intermediate skills:  Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Mathematical Ability

Basic skills:  Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to interpret bar graphs.  

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee is regularly required to walk; reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to sit, Use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk and hear. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision.

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 moderate.

Midwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not discriminate against an employee or applicant based upon race; color; religion; creed; national origin or ancestry; ethnicity; sex (including pregnancy); gender (including gender expressions, gender identity; and sexual orientation); marital status; age; disability; citizenship; past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services; genetic information; or any other protected class, in accord with all federal, state and local laws, including 41 C.F.R. 60-1.4(a), 250.5(a), 300.5(a) and 741.5(a). Midwestern University complies with the Smoke-Free Arizona Act (A.R.S. 36-601.01) and the Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/).  Midwestern University complies with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 and Arizona Equal Pay Acts.