A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and describe how your skills and experience fit the goals of this position. (Your salary will be determined by your qualifications and experience.)

The mission of Student Publications is to provide a top-quality educational experience for U-M students in multimedia communications and business leadership, and to provide effective channels for communication to our University, local, and national audiences.

Student Publications is an autonomous, self-sustaining operation located in the middle of the vibrant University of Michigan campus. Each publication: The Michigan Daily, Michiganensian yearbook, Gargoyle and SHEI magazine, is run by U-M students, and supported by four professional staff members, one of which is the Development Generalist.

The quality and content of the student publications is determined by the student staff. Students also contribute directly to the business side of Student Publications.

The Development Generalist is a strong relationship builder. As part of a small campus unit, you will directly engage with various stakeholders including current students, Student Publications alumni, donors, and the broader University of Michigan development community.   

As part of the interview process, Development Generalist candidates may be asked to demonstrate proficiency in required areas. 

This position’s key responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Annual Giving coordination and outreach
  • Be the liaison to U-M's Annual Giving, Stewardship, and Reporting Information Analysis teams
  • Increase student awareness and participation in philanthropy by planning activities such as Giving BlueDay and Hail Yeah!
  • Data mine gift reports to analyze and evaluate fundraising results and inform future strategy.
  • Identify giving trends of annual fund donors and attempt to upgrade to leadership annual level gifts in the range of $1K-$5K through segmented and more personalized efforts.
  • Develop a strategic messaging calendar for Student Publications communication efforts that integrates with U-M’s Annual Giving Non-degree Unit Solicitation Plan.
  • Write and design annual appeals for email, direct mail, and social media, campaigns
  • Enter prospect and donor interactions in DART (Donor & Alumni Relationship Tool) in a timely manner to monitor monthly progress towards activity metrics goals.
  • Enter current student data in DART in a timely manner
• Donor stewardship
  • Create and send acknowledgement letters to donors
  • Create impact reports for key donors 
  • Update stewardship and other interactions in DART 
  • Work with regional and major gift officers to ensure they have up-to-date materials for meetings with prospects and donors
• Alumni communication
  • Manage Student Publications’ social media channels
  • Produce newsletters for individual publications and the Office of Student Publications
• Alumni engagement
  • Work closely with students in identifying alumni for visits and speaking opportunities
  • Plan annual scholarship and awards event
  • Plan spring graduation open house for students and their families
  • With alumni, student, and professional staff assistance, coordinate the Michigan Daily’s reunion weekend. The typical reunion weekend cadence is once every two or three years.
  • Plan and host annual all-publications tailgate event
  • Plan and/or participate in regional activities as opportunities arise
• General support for Student Publications team and students
• Other tasks as assigned

This position reports directly to the General Manager and indirectly to the Board for Student Publications. The Development Generalist is expected to attend and participate in Board meetings, usually four to six times during the academic year.

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; an ability to conceive and write creatively for multiple audiences; including detailed editing and proofreading
• Strong organization, planning, and problem-solving skills
• Experience with database management and reporting
• Detail-oriented; a self-starter who takes initiative with excellent follow-through
• Strong collaborator who seeks and welcomes opportunities to integrate new ideas and best practices into their work
• Familiarity with basic principles and practices of non-profit philanthropy / development

The successful candidate might also possess:

• 3+ years of professional experience in fundraising, marketing, public relations, communications, or a related field
• Familiarity with DART

Hours/Week: 40 hours Monday through Friday; some evenings and weekends will be required at different times throughout the year for board meetings and special events. 

Given the level of in-person interaction with visitors, students, and professional staff both within and beyond Student Publications, this position is expected to be on-site for the majority of their work hours. Depending on job performance and related factors, the position might become eligible for a percentage of remote or flexible work at the discretion of the General Manager.  Flexible work agreements are signed documents that are reviewed at least annually, and are subject to change based on the business needs of Student Publications and individual factors.

This position comes with many great benefits, including standard UM Employee benefits and resources (see hr.umich.edu), parking right next to our building, meaningful opportunities to advance the mission of a student-serving organization, a chance to deeply influence the lives and futures of college students, varied and interesting work in a world-class university environment, and more.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.