Assistant Director of Development (Leadership Annual Giving) (Multiple Vacancies)

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Job Title :

Assistant Director of Development (Leadership Annual Giving) (Multiple Vacancies)

Department :

Advancement Development General

Position Overview

The Ohio State University’s Connections Team is hiring multiple new Assistant Directors of Development to focus on leadership annual giving.

Assistant Directors broaden the community of donor support for the university and its Wexner Medical Center by establishing relationships with donors, alumni and volunteers, soliciting leadership-level annual gifts targeting $3,000-$99,999, and identifying future major gift donors to the university.

The Assistant Directors will meet with and solicit a high volume of undiscovered prospective donors and be responsible for proactively building and managing a large portfolio of active donors.

This role requires frequent travel including approximately two overnight trips per month plus regular in-state travel and is responsible for managing an allocated budget.

This position will utilize reporting and analysis tools to determine direct fundraising effectiveness, activities and strategies and will be measured on established metrics to include meetings, dollars, solicitations, and commitments.

Reporting to a Senior Director of Development (Leadership Annual Giving), these positions operate with a high degree of independence, decision-making capabilities, and judgment.

The ability to maintain confidentiality, negotiate and be organized, and analytical are a must. Assistant Directors of Development are expected to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills (including tact, diplomacy, and discretion) when interacting with donors, alumni and volunteers and create and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues from a variety of disciplines across Advancement and the university.

Successful candidates will be excellent verbal and written communicators who have the ability to adapt to shifting priorities and demands.

All members of Advancement are part of creating an inclusive culture that inspires an exceptionally diverse and talented team and are measured on their adherence to the following core competencies : leadership, continuous improvement, teamwork and collaboration, and communication / interpersonal effectiveness.

All members are also expected to exhibit The Ohio State University’s which include Excellence and Impact, Diversity and Innovation, Inclusion and Equity, Care and Compassion, and Integrity and Respect.

About the Leadership Annual Giving Cohort

Team members begin their professional journey as part of a close-knit cohort of peers, where they will take part in a comprehensive 4-week onboarding and training experience.

During this time period, the cohort will be introduced to all aspects of higher education and health care philanthropy, and develop a thorough understanding of its important role in creating a more equitable and inclusive future.

Duties and Responsibilities

90% Fundraising

• Meets activity and revenue goals by planning, managing, and maintaining an aggressive travel schedule; raises unrestricted leadership annual gifts to fund core university priorities, particularly for the colleges and units;
• effectively communicates progress of cultivation efforts and results of visits to appropriate personnel. Efficiently manages a large portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects;

qualifies prospects for potential major gift capacity and interest; provides appropriate background on prospects to be assigned to major gift portfolios.

Proactively cultivates and solicits Ohio State donors, alumni, volunteers and grateful patients capable of making leadership annual gifts to the university with a target of approximately 150 meetings per year.

Conducts appropriate stewardship activities to further enhance the relationship between assigned donors and The Ohio State University;

initiates and maintains contact to promote positive donor relations.

5% Collaboration

• Creates and maintains working relationships with colleagues from a variety of disciplines across Advancement, the university and Wexner Medical Center;
• works in tandem with Connections teammates to provide a central service to other colleges / units and healthcare service lines;

acts as a liaison between a prospective major gift donor and appropriate officer.

5% Miscellaneous

Contributes to Advancement by fostering and exhibiting teamwork; participates on internal committees / workgroups as appropriate;

performs other duties as assigned.

Performance Objectives

First 3 months

Begin onboarding program with cohort of peers and get to know colleagues.

Learn about advancement’s structure, resources, priorities, and core values.

Build relationships with partners across advancement and in assigned colleges / units.

Hit the road and begin to meet prospects, donors.

Begin discovery work to build the pipeline of qualified prospective donors.

First 3-6 months

Establish solicitation strategies for qualified prospects, engaging partners as necessary.

Incorporate best practice solicitation strategies for portfolio assignments.

First 6-12 months

Continue building a portfolio of qualified prospects.

Move the prospects through the donor engagement process.

Continue working towards meeting team and individual performance goals / metrics by soliciting and closing gifts.

Metrics and Collaboration

The annual performance of all fundraisers at Ohio State is measured by the number of qualifications, cultivations, solicitations, commitments, and dollars raised the individual accrues over each fiscal year.

Each fundraiser may have different expectations regarding these figures based upon, but not limited to, their experience level, unit size, prospect portfolio, past performance, etc.

Goal setting is done with the individual’s manager prior to each fiscal year to assure transparency, consistency, and alignment.

All fundraisers at Ohio State are encouraged and expected to collaborate with their colleagues across the institution and can be counted as Secondary’ on a gift in the solicitation, commitment and dollars raised phases of the development cycle.

A secondary fundraiser can be considered when a team is working on a multi-unit gift, the fundraiser is a subject matter expert in an area critical to the solicitation or a fundraiser has a pre-existing, meaningful relationship with the donor and their participation helps move the gift forward.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Two (2) years of professional fundraising experience or professional transferable experience (i.e., managing relationships with required measurable output, making calls, conducting face-to-face appointments, creating and presenting proposals, and other fundamental elements of client relationship or sales-related activities)

Desired Qualifications

Four (4) years of professional fundraising experience raising the highest level of philanthropic gifts at an organization (preferably five or six figures and above)

Four (4) years of professional fundraising experience in higher education or a hospital / health care environment

Experience working in other advancement departments such as donor relations and stewardship, donor communications and / or alumni relations

Familiarity with the development function at Ohio State and knowledge of Ohio State’s donor database (TAS)

The Office of Advancement is committed to providing tools and resources for you to learn our business, proprietary databases, university-specific processes, and advancement practices.

Commitment to Inclusion

The Office of Advancement is committed to active allyship in addressing and dismantling the inequities created by systemic racism and implicit, long-held bias.

We pledge to act with kindness, respect, and integrity at all times; trust ourselves and our colleagues and empower their whole identities;

and hear and see our colleagues’ ideas, voices, and perspectives, acknowledging that we are better together.

You Need to Know

Aside from the unparalleled benefits of working for The Ohio State University and working in the diverse, smart, enjoyable, and growing city of Columbus, Ohio, this opportunity will provide exceptional rewards that arise from working for an institution doing worldwide life-changing teaching and research. Learn more here : .

In accordance with the Disaster Preparedness and University State of Emergency Policy 6.17 this position has been designated as a standby position.

Explore our extensive benefits

Work-life : Flexible and remote work arrangement opportunities where applicable, childcare program, and access to educational, athletic and cultural events.

Retirement : State pension and alternative options with competitive employer contributions, as well as optional supplemental plans.

Health : Medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, life insurance, flexible spending accounts and wellness programming.

Time off : Paid vacation and sick time, parental and medical leave plus 11 paid holidays. Short and long-term disability options also available.

Financial : Tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, adoption assistance and discounts with preferred vendors and university partners.

Wellness : Lifestyle spending account, employee assistance program, health reimbursement account, and employee wellness program.