Director of Devel, Honors College​/Development Officer II​/S

Working/Functional Title

Director of Devel, Honors College

A premier program of Michigan State University, the Honors College is a community of approximately 3,200 bright, academically talented undergraduate students who wish to pursue and achieve academic excellence through active, innovative learning. Promoting the intimacy of a small college atmosphere on the campus of one of the world’s leading research universities, the Honors College attracts the highest caliber students from across the country to MSU and produces highly successful graduates.

More than 17,500 graduates, in fact, who are leaders in their fields and are making meaningful contributions within their communities and around the world.

Under the leadership of a dynamic and energetic new dean, the college seeks a confident, creative, collaborative, enthusiastic, and results-oriented major gift officer who understands and has appreciation for academic excellence, to build upon the foundation of its advancement program. As part of Michigan State University’s $4 billion Uncommon Will. Far Better World comprehensive campaign, the Honors College has set an ambitious goal of $45 million.

The director will be instrumental in helping the college achieve this goal by identifying, cultivating, and soliciting individuals for significant 6- and 7-figure support, as well as periodic special purpose appeals and programs with business, industry, and interested foundations. The selected candidate must be an exceptional fundraiser, an accomplished motivator and mentor, an effective manager of people, and a visionary change agent who has a proven track record in successfully leading dynamic development programs.

Experience leading comprehensive/capital campaigns in higher education is a plus.

Serving as the college’s chief development officer, the director will maintain a personal prospect portfolio of major donor prospects as well as employ a strategic moves management program to ensure constant positive progression along the donor continuum and engage new audiences to build the pipeline. Leading by example, the director will oversee an assistant director of development and work in partnership with the Honors College deans and unit directors to drive the college’s campaign strategy forward.

The director will work closely with the dean, senior administrators, and volunteer leadership to ensure that the Honors College reaches its full philanthropic potential.

As MSU strategically progresses through its third billion-dollar plus campaign, the Director will assume a leadership role in planning and spearheading the campaign effort for the College. This includes recruiting and training volunteers, articulating the case for support, identifying and cultivating prospects, developing engagement strategies to best position successful proposal delivery, and actively soliciting philanthropic investments with a focus on gifts of $100,000 and greater.

• Plans and implements methods of prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation to maximize fundraising support, and match donor's interest with the needs of the College. The director will manage a portfolio of approximately 60-75 major gift prospects, strive to conduct 15-20 significant contacts (visits/virtual) per month, which will include discovery visits to qualify new prospects, and deliver 2-3 proposals per month.
• Plans and implements the major and planned gifts strategy for the College as well as funding from other sources, including corporations and foundations.
• Assists donors regarding tax laws, policies and procedures and resolves problems to maintain a positive image of the University.

• Supervises, directs, motivates, and evaluates staff to assure consistency in quantity and quality of work performed.
• Sets clear direction and priorities for staff of professionals and administrative support personnel. Promotes excellence through well-defined and measurable goals; inspires and motivates staff through the free flow of information placing staff members’ work within the context of the College’s strategic priorities…