(Hybrid) Assistant Director of Development - Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

West Virginia University

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Development for the Division for Land-Grant Engagement serves the Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, WVU Extension, and the Center for Community Engagement. This position is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding philanthropic gifts, with a primary focus on gifts in the $5,000–$49,999 range and select activity at the major gift level ($50,000+). The Assistant Director will manage an assigned portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation prospects, and will play a meaningful role in
expanding philanthropic support across WVU's land-grant mission areas.
This position works closely with the WVU to align strategies, stewardship plans, and outreach while partnering with Division leadership, faculty, and unit staff to advance fundraising priorities.
We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:
37.5-hour work week
13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
401(a) retirement savings with 6%25 employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
Wellness programs

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience in the following:
• Direct, progressively responsible experience in annual giving, major gift, or planned gift fundraising, or other employment involving similar direct client engagement, required.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse constituencies including donors, faculty, staff, and volunteer leaders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite; familiarity with Blackbaud CRM or similar fundraising database preferred.
• Proficiency in computer and internet usage is necessary. Ability to accurately enter data into a database and recall information through reports is necessary.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and function effectively under pressure.
• Demonstrated capacity to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Willingness to travel regionally and work occasional evenings and weekends as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with 4-H Youth Development or land-grant mission organizations preferred.
• Previous experience working with higher education, nonprofit, or community organizations with grants or sponsorships at any gift level is preferred.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Manage a designated portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation donors and prospects at the $5,000–$49,999 gift level, with select involvement at the major gift level ($50,000+), as defined in partnership with the WVU Foundation.
• Execute qualifying conversations to assess philanthropic interests, motivations, and capacity for prospects identified through the WVU Foundation Prospect Discovery and Strategy program.
• Move prospects through all stages of the development cycle—qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship—with timely follow-through and disciplined portfolio management.
• Develop and implement an annual action plan aligned with portfolio goals and the Division's fundraising priorities, meeting or exceeding metrics established with the Executive Director of Development and the WVU Foundation.
• Plan, schedule, and complete mostly regional travel, with some overnight, to maintain active contact with prospects and donors.
• Maintain current and accurate records in the WVU Foundation CRM (Blackbaud) for all prospect interactions, proposals, and pipeline activity.
• Partner with Division departments, unit directors, and faculty to identify and advance funding opportunities for capital, endowment, and programmatic priorities.
• Coordinate with the WVU Foundation's Annual Giving program on Day of Giving campaigns, crowdfunding initiatives, and annual giving level projects.
• Partner with the Foundation's Donor Engagement program to develop and execute personalized stewardship plans for select donors and prospects, as agreed at the Division level.
• Partner with the Division's student and volunteer groups to identify funding opportunities and guide them through the annual giving or crowdfunding process.
• Partner with WVUF’s Corporate and Foundation Relations team to execute annual corporate and foundation solicitations, including event sponsorships, grants and other special initiatives.
• Provide planning support and staffing for on-campus events where prospects and donors are the primary audience, including donor and prospect site visits, Alumni Academies, 4-H camps, fairs (alumni and corporate partner hosting), farm visits, Emeriti luncheons, and WVU academic and sporting events.
• Execute personalized stewardship plans for select donors and prospects as agreed upon at the Division level.
• In conjunction with the Executive Director of Development, coordinate nomination processes for various University and Foundation recognitions, including the Order of Vandalia, Academy of Distinguished Alumni, departmental academies, Honorary Degree, Mountaineer Week Most Loyals, and Homecoming Awards.
• Maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of the Division and University, including mission, history, and current fundraising priorities, to ensure effective representation of all opportunities for private support.
• Build and manage a network of relationships with prospective donors involving University and Division leadership, faculty, and volunteers. Facilitate and coordinate all communication with prospects and among their campus relationships.
• Comply with all WVU Foundation reporting and accountability standards and coordinate development efforts with university development staff as needed.
• Complete additional assignments as may be required by the Executive Director of Development, Foundation senior management, or the Division's Dean as appropriate.

Benefits

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6%25 employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks.
• Wellness programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level