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Location

East Lansing, MI | United States

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Job description

Working/Functional Title

Director of Foundation Relations, ANR

Position Summary

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

University Advancement, together with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, AgBioResearch, and MSU Extension, is seeking a confident and energetic leader to help plan and co-lead the organization and operation of a comprehensive foundation development program for CANR, AgBioReseach, MSUE, and the broader MSU community. This position will be a key partner working closely with CANR leaders and faculty to increase the department’s development outcomes, primarily focused in the foundation space.  Identification, cultivation, and solicitation of foundation and nonprofit entities will comprise the managed portfolio. The Director of Foundation Relations – Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment will be a key member of the CANR and Foundation Relations development teams, and one who can assist in growing our philanthropic efforts that support the service and research-oriented vision and mission of CANR, AgBioResearch, MSU Extension and the broader MSU community. This position will primary focus on foundation prospects with a capacity to make grants of $100,000 and more. This position is a dual report to the CANR Senior Director of Development and the Senior Director of Foundation Relations.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising:

• Plans and implements methods of prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation in order to match foundation interests with the strengths of CANR and MSU.
• In collaboration with the CANR Sr. Director of Development and the Sr. Director of Foundation Relations, this position will be responsible for the foundation development program for the College, AgBioResearch, MSU Extension, and broader MSU community. The Director will focus on 6- and 7-figure gift fundraising with in-and out-of-state travel required.
• Regularly meet with faculty to support their foundation funding needs and to source potential foundation partners.
• Communicate CANR faculty research/programs in a clear and concise way to foundation staff with the goal of building relationships and securing funding.
• Prepare annual operating plan that outlines measurable goals, objectives, and strategies to ensure fundraising success.

Foundation Development Programmatic Management:

• Manage a robust portfolio and prioritize projects and research most appropriate to pitch to foundation partners.
• Audits internal operations in order to develop standardized procedures and to ensure conformity with established policy.
• Plans, hosts, and communicates at meetings and trainings of the public and University personnel in order to provide information on the College and/or University.

COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Foundations - in order to solicit as potential donors, handle direct communication with foundations to solicit mainly programmatic and research support.
• MSU Faculty - in order to educate, train and partner with them in the Development process, to seek their advice on needs, to answer funding questions, and collaborate on prospect/proposal strategy.
• Department Heads/Michigan State University Executive Management - in order to consult and coordinate work within University structure to aid in the identification of potential donors and gain support of special projects.
• Michigan State University Vice President and Associate Vice Presidents of University Advancement - in order to advise on the progress of specific College campaigns.
• Peers/Professional Organizations - in order to obtain advice and council on options being considered for programs.

SUPERVISION

Supervision for this position is a dual report between the CANR Sr. Director of Development and Sr. Director of Foundation Relations.

Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills

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; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in volunteer administration, professional and higher education fundraising, public relations, marketing, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Travel is required.

Desired Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree: Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, and/or Business preferred.
• Five years’ experience in professional fundraising, public relations, marketing, or a related field or three years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education development, public relations development of budgets, preparation and presentation of case statements, and analysis of operations or a related field.  Previous experience working in agriculture, environmental sciences, or academic environment a plus.
• Demonstrated organizational, interpersonal, and written/oral communications.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating major gifts through planned giving instruments.
• Working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving.
• Travel involving automobile.

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

HOW TO APPLY

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Patricia Karam, Director of Recruitment, at [email protected] . 

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 925539 when submitting your application.

Screening of applicants will continue until the position is filled.

Work Hours

8 am - 5 pm with some evenings and weekends

Website

Advancement.msu.edu

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 January 30, 2024 at 11:55 P.M.

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

Connections working at Michigan State University

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