Associate Director of Development, Natural Sciences

The ASU Foundation (ASUF) fosters partnerships between ASU and like-minded individuals, corporations, and foundations who believe in ASU’s mission and provide resources for ASU to manifest its charter into meaningful impact.

The principal activity of the Associate Director of Development, Natural Sciences is to be externally focused, with responsibility for engaging a portfolio of individuals, corporations, and foundations that have a potential affinity with ASU. The Associate Director’s effectiveness will be evaluated on the ability to achieve financial goals and contact metrics consistent with the programs and prospects assigned. This position reports to the Director of Development, Natural Sciences within The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The Associate Director will be a proven and forward-looking fundraising professional who understands how to generate philanthropic support and who will contribute substantially to the Natural Sciences Division’s fundraising activities. The Natural Sciences Division includes over half of the students and faculty within The College, including six academic units and 15 research centers. The Associate Director will have the opportunity to manage several units and centers, develop strategic fundraising plans, and engage prospects to support a broad range of scientific projects and student initiatives.

What you'll do:

• Develops and executes strategic fundraising and engagement efforts on behalf of assigned area(s) by designing, implementing, evaluating, and refining development activities to drive donor retention, reactivation, acquisition, and pipeline growth

• Collaborates with development team, unit leaders and academic leaders to assist and direct the implementation and coordination of special fundraising and engagement opportunities by identifying, cultivating, and soliciting annual, major, and planned gifts in cooperation with the objectives and strategies of ASUF and the University Development Office

• Proactively manage a portfolio of major gift ($50,000+) prospects, developing and executing strategies leading to solicitation and investment that leverage the donor’s interests and connect them to ASU’s opportunities

• Guided by the direction and scope of a prospect’s interest, collaborates with various faculty, institute/center directors, and unit-based and foundation-based fundraisers to leverage the maximum philanthropic potential of a prospect

• Develops and submits written proposals, budgets, and other collateral materials as needed for securing significant ($50,000+) philanthropic investments

• Assumes responsibility for core annual fundraising metrics including face-to-face visits with prospects, identification of new prospects, growth in cumulative giving from the prospect portfolio, major gift proposals submitted, and >$1M dollars raised

• Sustains strong working relationships with deans, chairs, directors, and faculty members of assigned unit(s)

• Ensures proper stewardship and recognition of donors in portfolio

• Uses the ASUF prospect management and tracking system (i.e., Salesforce) to record and coordinate contacts and proposals

• Travel when necessary to execute strategic development plans for regional and national major donor prospects

• Participate as a member of the ASUF development team and serve as a resource to development colleagues regarding fundraising opportunities

• Work in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment with complex and evolving relationships and priorities

• Other duties as assigned

What you'll need:

• Documented success in personally implementing sophisticated, multi-year cultivation strategies that use a relationship-building and moves management approach leading to successful gift closure

• Demonstrable experience in donor relations plans leading to additional investments

• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with academic leadership, faculty, prospects, donors, and/or volunteers in a wide range of roles (in person, in writing, and by phone/Zoom)

• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to Foundation and University business and confidential prospect information

• Knowledge of fundraising techniques including proposal development, prospect identification, program planning, fund solicitation, database management, donor tracking, and social networking and marketing tools 

• Ability to conduct research, gather data, analyze information, and prepare effective, accurate, and timely reports and other documents to support development objectives

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

• Adept at navigating complex environments with evolving priorities and communication plans

• Self-starter able to secure personal appointments and qualify new prospects

• Highly organized, with attention to detail and thoroughness in completing assigned duties

• Proactive problem solver and strategist who can take initiative, set priorities, and manage multiple projects and complex situations involving numerous and sometimes competing constituencies

• Ability to exercise good judgment, to demonstrate an understanding of ethics related to development activities, and to use discretion in interactions with donors, prospects, volunteers, and others

• Ability to translate highly technical scientific research into impactful case statements for donor audiences

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and comfortable working in donor/prospect computer database systems such as Salesforce

• Ability to represent the institution well and possess an advocate’s belief in the vision of ASU as the New American University

• Ability to travel nationally when necessary to engage and solicit major prospects

• Ability to work a flexible schedule to include early mornings, evenings and weekends to accommodate meetings and events 

Relevant qualifications:​​

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or currently enrolled in bachelor's degree program

• Four (4) years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience

• Demonstrated ability in securing major grants and gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other private funding sources

• Demonstrated organizational skills and experience in managing events and other complex activities in support of development objectives ​

Preferred education and experience:

• Advanced degree

• Four (4) years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience preferably in higher education or college athletics for applicable roles

• Experience soliciting funds from private foundations and corporations is highly desired

• Previous experience in science, engineering, or working with scientists (e.g., college major)

• Experience working in Salesforce and Workday

ASU Enterprise Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer