Director of Development

Administrator:   Senior Director of Development

Preferred Experience:   2+ years’ demonstrated success in major and principal gift fundraising, preferably within a university setting

Education Required:   Baccalaureate Degree or higher and relevant experience

Overtime Status:   Exempt; not eligible for overtime

FTE and Benefits:  1.0 FTE; eligible for full employment benefits

Location/Hybrid Work Environment:  This position is located in Bozeman, MT.  The MSU Alumni Foundation may offer a hybrid work environment (2-4 days/week) following an employee's successful first three months in the office

Preferred Start Date:  March 1, 2025

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Development at the Montana State University Alumni Foundation (“Alumni Foundation”) is responsible for securing financial gifts from individuals, private foundations, and other philanthropic entities to benefit Montana State University (“MSU”).  Development staff have the important responsibility of establishing relationships with donors, working to ensure that donor intent is honored, and serving as trustees to ensure donor intent is clearly communicated and honored.  Directors of Development can adapt language and behavior based on audience, are intellectually curious, know how to identify and communicate relevant information, and have the confidence to guide prospective donors towards a significant contribution.  The Director of Development brings experience in securing Major Gifts (greater than $25,000) and Planned Gifts (Bequests, Trusts, Real Estate). 

Directors of Development are expected to manage a portfolio of approximately 100-125 MSU Alumni, friends, and prospects through active identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.  The Director of Development plans and conducts strategic face to face meetings followed by contact documentation and follow-up to secure and steward support for MSU.

The Director of Development reports to the Senior Director of Development, must understand and appreciate the importance of higher education, be highly organized, a strong communicator, collaborative, and possess the ability to motivate volunteers, peers, and prospects.  A Director of Development is a self-starter, takes initiative to meet goals, must possess a high level of personal and professional integrity, is willing to travel and able to confidently lead a successful fundraising program including strategic planning, goal setting, implementation, and evaluation to meet performance metrics. 

DUTIES

Focusing on donor solicitation, the Director of Development works closely with Alumni Foundation leadership as well as experienced academic and administrative leaders in one or more assigned areas.  For each area, the Director of Development is expected to establish and work a gift pipeline and portfolio.  Key responsibilities may include: 

Academic Unit Leadership

• Become the academic unit expert (including Athletics, Honors College, ect.) and serve as liaison between the academic unit and the Alumni Foundation. Establish competency and be able to communicate on academic unit departments, degrees, key faculty, areas of research, programs, awards and recognition, cultivation opportunities, needs, funding initiatives, and other areas as appropriate;


• Create and implement a comprehensive development plan for the academic unit;


• Meet regularly with the Dean and appropriate academic unit leadership to review monthly reports by unit, and to discuss key prospect strategies, faculty development assignments, prospect identification, and progress to goal; and


• Educate Alumni Foundation peers and other groups as appropriate about the academic unit.

Regional Leadership

• Cultivate philanthropic relationships with individuals and entities interested in the success of MSU by travelling in-state, regionally, and nationally to solicit prospects; and


• Achieve competency in Alumni Foundation history and purpose as well as an understanding of MSU’s strategic plans and priorities, academic units, funding priorities, and general needs.

Development Specialty, Initiative or other Priority Leadership

• Become the expert in development specialty, initiatives, or other MSU priorities as assigned;


• As directed, create teams, establish goals and report on progress to meet fundraising targets; and


• Develop and implement fundraising plans and associated strategic prospect plans.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and manage volunteer teams as appropriate to leverage gift success;


• Draft formal correspondence, proposals, and other written materials for assigned prospects;


• Collaborate with other Alumni Foundation departments and team members to ensure development success;


• Affect and maintain a professional, proactive, positive, highly collaborative, and performance-centric work environment; and


• Complete all other duties as assigned by supervisor. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Proficiency in computer software applications; and


• Valid Montana driver’s license or eligible.

ABOUT MSU AND THE ALUMNI FOUNDATION:

The Montana State University Alumni Foundation exists to serve one mission, to "cultivate lifelong relationships and secure private support to advance Montana State University."  In addition to raising private support for the university, the MSU Alumni Foundation also manages the endowment, a $178 million pool of more than 1,200 investment funds that provide perpetual support to the university. Growing the endowment is the best way to ensure that Montana State University remains healthy, strong, competitive and able to fulfill its land-grant mission into the future.

BENEFITS:

The MSU Alumni Foundation offers a comprehensive benefit package which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance (all of which are 90-100% employer-paid for employee-only coverage), 403(b) retirement plan with 7% employer contribution, up to 5 weeks’ paid time-off, 11 paid holidays, tuition assistance and more. 

APPLICATIONS AND RECRUITMENT:

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, a resume, and three professional references online. Recruitment will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The MSU Alumni Foundation is an equal employment opportunity employer who believes that diversity, equity and inclusion allow us to better serve our students and communities and are critical to supporting the mission of Montana State University as a land grant institution.