Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Thunderbird

Who we want:

Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Thunderbird

ASU Foundation, one of five nonprofit entities that make up ASU Enterprise Partners, is seeking a Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations to join the team at the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

The Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for Thunderbird is a seasoned development professional with responsibility for engaging a portfolio of individuals, corporations and foundations, working collaboratively with the ASU Foundation (ASUF) and Thunderbird’s executive and academic leadership to engage alumni and other stakeholders philanthropically with the School. This portfolio focuses on alumni who hold senior corporate positions and can help advance Thunderbird’s corporate relationships. In addition, the Director works with the Director General and the Dean and colleagues in the Office of Engagement team to help manage and expand Thunderbird’s portfolio of foundation support.

The Director works closely with ASUF colleagues, specifically the central Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations team and leadership as well as other staff 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 Director’s effectiveness will be evaluated on the ability to achieve financial goals and contact metrics consistent with the programs and prospects assigned. The 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 and stewarding philanthropic investments.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding university business and confidential prospect information related to Thunderbird and 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 as the global home for leadership and management education for the Fourth Industrial Revolution 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, preferably Salesforce.

Relevant qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and 7-10 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. International experience a plus.

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 ($60 monthly reimbursement), 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.

ASU Enterprise Partners and its subsidiaries is an equal opportunity employer that is firmly committed to promoting justice, equity, diversity and inclusion within our organization and throughout our sphere of influence. Because we embrace a spirit of innovation and achievement, we will endeavor to maximize the talent and potential of all employees, directors, and volunteers through bold and strategic action aimed at building success and a sense of belonging. All employees are expected to act in good faith to support these actions and to not impede the efforts of others to build a just, equitable, diverse and inclusive organization.