Digital Gift Officer / Development Officer I

Working/Functional Title

Digital Gift Officer

Position Summary

Michigan State University’s University Advancement seeks a dynamic and innovative Digital Gift Officer to join our team. Reporting to the Director of Development, these officers will play a crucial role in identifying and qualifying potential major gift prospects for colleges and units across the university. These roles are critical to expanding MSU’s major gift pipeline by leveraging digital tools and strategies to engage, qualify, and refer prospects to development officers for assignment.            

Key Responsibilities:

• Prospect Identification & Qualification:
• Proactively engage with potential major gift prospects with a capacity rating of $50k-$249k using digital communication tools, including video conferencing, email, phone calls, texting, videos, and online platforms.
• Working with their supervisor and Advancement Services, use data and analytics to identify and prioritize prospective donors for qualification and eventual transitions to various development officers.
• Execute monthly and quarterly donor touchpoint cadences (averaging 35 per day) to ensure consistent communication and build an engaged portfolio of about 250 prospects per quarter.
• Manage a portfolio of about 800 prospects
• Relationship Building:
• Conduct discovery conversations to assess potential donors’ interests, capacity, and inclination to give.
• Build meaningful connections with alumni, parents, and friends of the university to enhance their affinity for MSU.
• Communicate stories about the impact of philanthropic support with current and potential donors and other stakeholders.
• Serve as a point of contact for advancing relationships between MSU and prospective donors.
• Collaborate with development staff to identify and elevate donors through the pipeline.
• Collaboration with Colleges and Units:
• Partner with development officers and unit-based advancement teams to align qualification efforts with unit priorities and donor strategies.
• Attend meetings with units to learn about priorities across the university.

• • Develop and maintain broad knowledge of the university, such as admissions, athletics, colleges, and continuing education. Develop a network of contacts throughout the university to access additional information. Build out a resource hub of relevant content to share with donors.
  • Collaborate closely with unit colleagues to identify and deliver content related to the impact of philanthropy through video, social media, and digital platforms.
  • Maintain open lines of communication to ensure a smooth transition of qualified prospects to the appropriate development officer.
  • Aid in outreach and follow-up for events and activities on behalf of Alumni Relations and Development.
  • Serve as a team member on some proposals soliciting new gifts to MSU

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• Data Management and Reporting:
  • Record all donor interactions in the university’s CRM system, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information.
  • Provide regular progress reports to leadership and unit development teams on qualification activities and outcomes.
• Strategic Planning:
  • Develop and implement strategies to maximize the use of digital tools for prospect qualification, including creative outreach approaches.

• Attributes:

• • Be self-motivated and positive, with a team-first, optimistic attitude
  • Goal-oriented professional with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
  • Enthusiasm to ask for philanthropic support for priority areas.
  • Willingness to learn and build. Team player who thrives in collaborative environments and is committed to shared success.

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, development, sales, digital communication; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• • • Experience:
    • Bachelor’s degree in communications, Marketing, Business, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
    • At least two one to three years of experience in fundraising, development, sales, marketing, digital communication, preferably within higher education or nonprofit sectors.
    • Skills:
    • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills across various mediums with the ability to build rapport quickly.
    • • Apply creative and entrepreneurial thinking, while applying sound judgment and conducting oneself with integrity
    • Experience in video creation or digital marketing. Strong organizational skills, prioritization, and attention to detail.
    • Proficiency in using digital communication tools (e.g., Zoom, MS Teams) and CRM systems.
    • Openness to developing proficiency in Excel and data management.
    • Provide excellent customer service.
    • Articulate a strong and compelling case for support.
    • Handle confidential material responsibly and interact professionally with a broad spectrum of individuals.
    • Analytical skills to interpret prospect data and determine donor potential.
    Be self-motivated and positive, with a team-first, optimistic attitude
  • Goal-oriented professional with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
  • Enthusiasm to ask for philanthropic support for priority areas.
  • Willingness to learn and build.
  • Team player who thrives in collaborative environments and is committed to shared success.

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

#LI-PK1

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

All candidates must submit an application, resume, and cover letter through the Michigan State University Human Resources web-based system; the URL for this website is careers.msu.edu.  Please indicate the position number 1063628 when submitting your application.

Screening of applicants will continue until the position is filled.

Work Hours

In general they are 8 -5, with the exception of working donor centric events

Website

https://advancement.msu.edu/index.cfm

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 August 19, 2025 at 11:55 P.M.