Director of Advancement - College of Arts and Science

The University of Missouri Office of Advancement is hiring a Director of Advancement to work as a member of the fundraising team for the College of Arts and Science. This position will work under the supervision and guidance of the Executive Director of Advancement and in close collaboration with the Dean, other advancement team members, and unit staff. This position will have the opportunity to:

• Raise funds to support students, faculty, staff, research, and programs in the College of Arts and Science
• Develop and initiate appropriate cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies. 
• Ask for gifts of at least $50,000 from alumni, friends, and corporations
• Establish and maintain authentic relationships that match donor interest with organizational need and lead to impactful philanthropic gifts.
• Research and ask potential donors thoughtful questions to gain insight into needs, beliefs, interest, and donation habits to understand how best to engage them with the college.
• Regularly thank donors by proving impact reports explaining how their donations made a difference.
• Under the direction of the Executive Director of Advancement, partner with various A&S departmental leaders and faculty members to provide direction in the development and implementation of advancement goals and to assure alignment with organizational and system-wide goals, strategic plans, mission, vision, and values.
• Collaborate with other teams in the advancement community to build partnerships and enhance fundraising activities.
• Assist in brainstorming and creating new methods to raise funds for the college.
• Travel inside and outside of Missouri. 
• Actively participate in internal and external college and alumni functions and meetings.
• Maintain complete and orderly records of contacts with donors.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license and wireless service to carry out the responsibilities associated with the position.
• Assist with other development related projects as needed.

Ideal Competencies of a Successful Candidate:

• Works, formally and informally, within one’s team and across the organization as a collaborator.
• Deeply cares and contributes to team success by openly sharing ideas and information, actively listening, responding thoughtfully, and offering support for others’ ideas and proposals.
• Communicates ideas, thoughts, and facts orally and in writing effectively and can actively listen and respond appropriately and eff
• Identifies what needs to be done and acts before being asked or the situation requires it and works independently to achieve individual goals.
• Manages time efficiently with the ability to prioritize and coordinate tasks with attention to deadlines, concurrent management of projects and ability to create and follow a set strategy to goals and objectives.
• Analyzes and evaluates information to make appropriate decisions - even in difficult or ambiguous situations when time is critical.
• Learns and understands organizational relationships and dynamics and use them to achieve objectives and goals.
• Is confident of own ability to ask for money and close philanthropic gifts
• Willingness to travel in the US and work occasional evening or weekend hours as needed. 

Yearly Goals & Metrics

Success will be measured through the tracking of individually based goals for proposals delivered and closed, number of substantive personal contacts and visits, and dollars raised.

• $1 Million Dollars Raised
• 15-18 Major Gift Proposals Presented ($50K and above)
• 7-15 Major Gifts Closed ($50K and above)
• 125-200 Substantive Written Communications (Email, Letter, or Text)
• 100 – 150 Substantive Visits (Phone, Virtual, or In-Person)
• 20-50 Evaluation Visits

Compensation for this position starts at $62,000.

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

• A bachelor’s degree

• Three to five years with progressively responsible fundraising and/or alumni and volunteer relations management is preferred, preferable in a development office setting.
• The successful candidate will be able to document successful solicitation of major and principal   gifts and present a history of supporting the building of an advancement program and fundraising performance.
• Large university advancement experience will be highly valued.
• Candidates must display a sophisticated understanding of the stages in the donor life cycle (cultivation/solicitation/closing/stewardship).  Campaign planning/execution and major gift solicitation experience is preferred. 

•          This person must be capable of flourishing in a fast-paced, collaborative and fluid work environment focused on performance and outcomes.

•          Other important characteristics include a strong work ethic, personal integrity, emotional intelligence, excellent communication and organizational skills, strategic thinking and planning skills, and a commitment to the mission and values of the University of Missouri.

•          Strong organizational skills are required, exemplary interpersonal and written communication skills are essential, as is the ability to favorably affect sophisticated volunteers and donors. 

•          Evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning and professional growth is also required.

About Mizzou:
Founded in 1839, the University of Missouri is the oldest public university west of the Mississippi River. MU provides all the benefits of two universities in one: It is a major land-grant institution with a statewide mission of service to citizens, as well as Missouri's largest public research university. Considered one of the nation's top-tier institutions, Mizzou is one of only 34 public universities, and the only public institution in Missouri, to be selected for membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities.

Mizzou Advancement emphasizes talent acquisition and professional development in service to our overall mission of enhancing private support of the University of Missouri. As a result, the division continues to attract top talent from around the country. Comprising 180 staff members with a presence across the United States and around the world, Mizzou Advancement announced the $1.3 billion Mizzou: Our Time to Lead campaign in October 2015. At its conclusion in 2020, it was the most successful philanthropic campaign in the University's history, at over $1.4 billion.

At Mizzou Advancement, we celebrate our diverse community of donors, alumni, staff, and friends. We are committed to taking bold steps to create an inclusive culture where everyone is seen, heard, and valued. Our team is continually learning and growing on our journey to embed diversity and inclusion in everything we do. We believe that diversity of views, informed by a breadth of life experiences, help us to understand our humanity more deeply and improve our service to mankind. Our efforts to be inclusive must be intentional and thoughtful, so that we might realize the full benefit of the diversity we seek to build within Advancement.  Together we are stronger. Together we are better. Together we are Mizzou Advancement.