Asst Director of Devel, Wharton Center / Development Officer I

Working/Functional Title

Asst Director of Devel, Wharton Center

Position Summary

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

Wharton Center for Performing Arts – Now celebrating our 42nd season, Wharton Center was founded with the mission to enrich the lives of Michigan residents and strengthen the value of the arts by serving as a leading resource for arts entertainment and education programs. Beyond public performances in music, dance, and theatre, Wharton Center offers in-depth arts education opportunities and community engagement activities for K-12 students as well as MSU students. These unique, valuable experiences allow children, young adults, and the community to engage in the arts, celebrate humanity, and grow critical life skills such as acceptance, empathy, and teamwork. It is our goal that participants find that the arts enrich, enhance, and broaden their lives and the greater community.

As the Assistant Director of Development for Wharton Center for Performing Arts, the successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, have demonstrated experience as a collaborator with a track record of fundraising success, and have a passion for the arts. The Assistant Director of Development will focus on significant contact with prospects whose philanthropic capacity is between $10,000 and $100,000 and more, managing a portfolio of approximately 80 major donor prospects. It is expected that the Assistant Director will average 12-15 strategic contacts per month, which will result in greater engagement and movement toward a major gift solicitation at a rate of 2 to 3 solicitations per month, with all solicitation efforts cleared and coordinated with Wharton Center and University Advancement at Michigan State University. The Assistant Director will report directly to the Director of Development at Wharton Center for Performing Arts.

With input from the Wharton Center Executive Director and collaboration with the Development Team, the Assistant Director will optimize a combination of local and in-state travel and conferencing technology to best utilize time and resources in meeting with donors and prospects.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Cultivation & Solicitation

• Implement yearly strategic fundraising plan for the center in collaboration with the development team to meet established dollar/donor goals for gifts ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 or more to support the center’s funding priorities.
• Build strong, engaged relationships with major gift prospects to determine and merge prospect passions/interests/needs with MSU/Wharton Center areas of funding priority and opportunity.
• Carry a portfolio of approximately 80 prospects to create and carry out fundraising strategies and solicitation of gifts of $10,000 and more.
• Engage 12-15 major prospects through personal visits which result in strategic “moves” toward closure of special and major gifts each month ($10,000 to $100,000).
• Interpret needs/priorities of Wharton Center, verbally and in writing, to engender a level of understanding that is conducive to giving.
• Build working relationships with internal colleagues to enhance cross collaboration amongst departments at Wharton Center as well as colleges/units across the university.
• Utilize Salesforce Ascend alum and donor database to coordinate with other development colleagues, record contact activities, update donor information, record strategic moves management steps and gift documentation as appropriate. Maintain accurate donor/prospect records in the Ascend system, planning and documenting significant strategic prospect “moves” toward closure of major gifts.

Discovery of New Prospects

• Qualify new prospects through a focused effort on discovery to build the future pipeline of Wharton Center supporters and major/planned gift donors.
• Utilize Salesforce Ascend database as well as Paciolan ticketing database for accessing prospect information and pulling segmented lists of ticket buyers for discovery.

Program Support

• Assist with the development and writing of materials that clearly identify funding priorities and articulate the case of support for the center. Materials may include solicitation appeals, proposals, and other materials for engagement, cultivation, and solicitation, as well as marketing and communication materials targeted to donors and ticket buyers.
• Assist with the coordination of and participation in donor engagement events, prospecting, recognition, and stewardship events, as appropriate. The nature of our industry requires working some nights and weekends throughout the performance season.
• Serve as a liaison between the donor/prospect and the university/center to ensure that information and service that may be desired are provided to the full extent permitted by university policy, rules, and regulations

RELATED DUTIES

• Prepare annual personal fundraising goals and analyze/report goal accomplishment for University Advancement and Executive Director of Wharton Center.
• Attend appropriate workshops and seminars to enhance professional development.
• Act as a public goodwill ambassador for Michigan State University and Wharton Center for Performing Arts.

COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Interacts with:

• Wharton Center donors, ticket buyers, and friends – in order to solicit as potential donors and manage donor requests.
• Wharton Center staff - to seek their input on funding needs, collaborate on donor engagement, and partner in providing the optimal guest and donor experience.
• Peers throughout University Advancement – in order to coordinate the cultivation and solicitation of donor prospects; coordinate on fluid stewardship efforts to provide seamless donor relationship with university.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Supervision is received from Wharton Center’s Director of Development.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing and/or Business; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in professional fund raising, public relations, marketing, higher education fund raising or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Must have a valid driver’s license. 

Desired Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, business, communications, public relations, marketing, or some other related field is desirable.
• Five to seven years of experience in professional fundraising, public relations, marketing or related field
• Professional fundraising experience in higher education and/or the arts sector
• Available to manage some travel (10% of time)
• Available to work some nights and weekends as the performance schedule and donor engagement events dictate
• Proven ability to work autonomously, collaboratively and within a team structure.
• Demonstrated track record of financial development and/or productivity in a complex work environment Knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Positive Attitude and strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to multi-task and manage time effectively in a fast-moving environment.
• Collaborative team-oriented style
• Experience with “Moves Management” or related strategic relationship development
• Travel required

If you review this job description and have done many of the responsibilities or have transferable skills, we want to hear from you and welcome your application! We are seeking successful, ambitious fundraisers who wish to become part of our team and help us in our ambitious campaign! 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume and cover letter 

Special Instructions

HOW TO APPLY

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Patricia Karam, Director of Recruitment, at karampat@msu.edu. 

Screening of applicants will continue until the position is filled.

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Work Hours

8 am - 5 pm with some evenings and weekends

Website

Advancement.msu.edu

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Bidding eligibility ends December 17, 2024 at 11:55 P.M.