• A cover letter and resume are required for consideration for this position. The cover letter should be included in the same document as your resume and should specifically address your interest in this position and highlight related skills and experience.
• The Ford School is committed to providing a positive and inclusive work environment. This includes providing employees with flexible work opportunities. This position will generally be expected to work in the office 3 days per week during the academic year, with opportunities for flexibility during the summer months.

The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy is looking for an Associate Director, Development. Your primary responsibility will be to identify, cultivate and solicit prospects capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more in support of the Ford School. As the Associate Director, Development, you will work closely with the Chief Development Officer and the Dean to develop fundraising strategies and collaborate with internal and external constituents to advance the Ford School's fundraising priorities. You will report to the Chief Development Officer.

The Ford School is one of the nation's foremost policy schools, housed at one of the world's great public universities. We are a community dedicated to the public good. We inspire and prepare leaders grounded in service, conduct transformational research, and collaborate on evidence-based policymaking to take on our communities' and our world's most pressing challenges. To learn more about the Ford School, read About Us.
 

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Paid parental leave

• Manage and implement a comprehensive multi-year major gift plan, including:
  • Identify, assess, analyze, and design appropriate strategies for approaching prospects and donors and making the vitally important match between donors' philanthropic interests and the school's programmatic and student needs. 
  • Proactively manage a portfolio of individual major gift prospects and donors, with an emphasis on gifts of $100,000 and more. 
  • Assist the Chief Development Officer with developing, planning, and directing the solicitation of school prospects by the dean, faculty directors, provost, vice president for development and president.
  • Assist the Chief Development Officer in providing support to the dean related to fundraising activities, including strategically and proactively planning for the dean's fundraising travel; providing briefing materials for meetings and visits; and drafting correspondence. 
  • Assist with identifying corporate and foundation prospects that are a good match for the school and hold promise of funding programs, projects, research, and outreach activities through gifts, in-kind contributions, or grants. 
  • In collaboration with our Leadership Annual Giving Officer, serve as the department co-lead on Planned Giving, including creating and implementing a planned giving calendar of strategic initiatives to further the Ford School's planned giving pipeline. 
  • Plan and implement effective outreach and cultivation activities to enhance prospect identification and move solicitation and stewardship processes forward.
  • Actively participate in Ford School events, especially those involving Ford School donors and our bi-annual meetings with the Dean's advisory board, The Ford School Committee, and the Ford School Alumni Board. Participation includes attendance, event preparation as needed, and hosting of donors and guests.
  • Role may include supervisory responsibilities for the Leadership Annual Giving Officer, dependent on candidate's experience
• Initiate regular reports, analyze data, and maintain accurate and current records including contact reports and individual development and stewardship plans in the University's donor database.
• Collaborate with Ford School leadership, faculty, staff, students and alumni to create a well-rounded understanding of the school's programs and resources to aid in donor cultivation, donor engagement and major giving.  
• Serve as an active member of the University Development community, working closely and collaboratively with the Office of University Development's regional gift officers and planned giving team, and major gift officers across campus.
• Serve on school-wide staff committees to foster staff and community development. 
• Represent the school and the University at designated functions, as required.

NOTE: This position requires frequent domestic travel, and may include occasional international travel as needed.

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5+ years of of major gift fundraising experience or relevant experience in sales and marketing, or other related fields
• Proven ability to exercise initiative, independent judgment, diplomacy, confidentiality and a high level of discretion when dealing with highly sensitive information. 
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, including the ability and commitment to working with a diverse community of students, faculty, staff, and visitors of the Ford School and the University of Michigan. 
• Excellent written and verbal interpersonal communication skills. Demonstrated editing, proof-reading, writing and minute taking experience.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

This position may be filled at the intermediate level (Assistant Director), with a salary range of $80,000 to $100,000, depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.