Executive Director of Advancement, West Coast

Who we want:

Executive Director of Advancement, West Coast

The ASU Foundation has retained Lindauer, an executive search firm, to assist in this search. Consideration of candidates will continue until the position is filled.

Candidates should submit, in confidence, a resume and cover letter. Communications, nominations, applications, and inquiries concerning this search should be directed to Maureen Huminik, Vice President, mhuminik@LindauerGlobal.com and Raegan Harvey, Consultant, rharvey@LindauerGlobal.com.

The ASU Foundation, one of five nonprofit entities that make up ASU Enterprise Partners, is seeking a Executive Director of Advancement, West Coast.

The Executive Director of Advancement, West Coast is a senior professional who works collaboratively as a leader at Arizona State University Foundation (ASUF) and partners across Arizona State University (ASU).  The Executive Director builds and directs ASUF’s overall presence on the West Coast, specifically throughout California, in support of ASU’s Charter.  The Executive Director will grow and lead a team responsible for all aspects of advancement in this key market, including alumni and community cultivation, development and stewardship, campaign creation, direction, and engagement, while proactively managing a major gift portfolio. The successful candidate will lead ASUF’s ongoing effort to generate financial support in the California market enabling ASU to exceed its goals. The Executive Director reports to the Chief Global Advancement Officer of the ASU Foundation.

What you'll do:

• Creative, professional, and entrepreneurial spirit; strong intellectual curiosity
• Professional credibility, intellectual depth, maturity, wisdom and collaborative skills to garner the trust and confidence of ASU leadership, faculty, students and other key constituents
• Design and lead a comprehensive development program and team committed to advancing the initiatives of the expanding West Coast portfolio
• Develop a seamless and collaborative approach linking the ASU Foundation, ASU Alumni Association, Sun Devil Athletics, and all other ASU units across the West Coast region
• Identify, cultivate and solicit high net worth individuals in California, managing a significant portfolio of gift prospects, with responsibility to develop, coordinate and execute strategies leading to a solicitation for each
• Strengthen and grow the network of high-profile individuals within the Northern California market
• Utilize key areas of strength for the university and promote priority programs of particular relevance or interest in the region (eg Poitier Film School, Cronkite School, Thunderbird School, Global Futures Laboratory, and ASU as a Hispanic Serving Institution)
• Work effectively in the Foundation’s prospect management and tracking system, following all protocols for visits and solicitations
• Guided by the direction and scope of each prospect’s interest, pro-actively collaborate across the university enterprise and with constituent and central development officers and colleagues to leverage the maximum philanthropic potential of each donor
• Ensure that fundraising priorities and opportunities are integrated with broader university initiatives and strategy
• Furnish timely reports on progress toward assigned goals and solicitation results
• Other duties as assigned

What you'll need:

• Demonstrated success in raising donor sights, articulating aspirational goals and ideas, setting priorities, presenting philanthropic opportunities, and closing six, seven, and eight figure gifts
• Demonstrated skills on advancing large scale ideas within an institute, college or research laboratory
• Proven competence to design and implement effective cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
• Demonstrated ability to foster, maintain, and leverage professional relationships with individuals
• Highly flexible nature, sophisticated and professional demeanor, and the ability to think quickly and react effectively to unanticipated circumstances, opportunities, and complex situations
• Collaborative style, combined with the ability and desire to work in a team-based environment 
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to Foundation and University business and confidential prospect information
• Strong and collegial interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to lead and work as part of a team
• Able to secure personal appointments and qualify new prospects 
• Problem solver who takes initiative and sets priorities while remaining sufficiently nimble to embrace unanticipated opportunities
• Team-oriented strategist able to effectively manage complex situations involving numerous and sometimes competing constituencies and interests
• Ability to represent the institution well and to enthusiastically serve as an emissary for ASU
• An advocate’s belief in the vision of ASU as a New American University
• Ability to prepare complex and detailed proposals and related materials
• Attention to detail and thoroughness in completing assignments and activities
• Highly organized and able to successfully juggle multiple complex projects
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce, or similar donor/prospect database systems
• Documented success in personally implementing sophisticated, multi-year cultivation strategies that use a relationship-building and moves management approach leading to successful gift closure
• Adept at navigating complex environments with evolving priorities and communication plans 
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing stewardship plans that lead to additional investments
• High degree of self-motivation, personal discipline, and integrity
• Ability and willingness to travel, both by air and by personal automobile
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule when required

Relevant Experience:

Bachelor’s degree. Advanced degree preferred. Ten years of successful professional development and/or fundraising related experience, preferably in higher education and/or conservation: OR, any equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skill and abilities have been achieved.

Mental demands:

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

Working conditions:

This position is located in California.  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 you to be in California with frequent in person visits across the West Coast region and to Arizona, with the ability to travel to accommodate meetings and events.

ASUEP follows federal guidance which requires employees of federal contractors to be fully vaccinated ​for COVID-19, except in limited circumstances in which an employee is legally entitled to an accommodation for medical or religious reasons.

Working equipment:

This position will require a laptop, telephone, a mobile communication device ($30 bi-weekly payroll 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

ASU Enterprise Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer