Assistant Director of Development, OKC

Oklahoma State University Foundation•Oklahoma City, OK

12h

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Development for Oklahoma State University's OKC team builds and manages strategic partnerships with individuals, corporations, and foundations capable of providing gifts. The role creates a pipeline of future major-gift donors and fosters collaboration among university leaders, faculty, and community partners to secure funding aligned with institutional strengths, workforce needs, and long-term goals. The department aligns philanthropic goals with the strategic priorities of OSU-OKC, the Hamm Institute for American Energy (HIAE), and KOSU through donor engagement and fundraising partnerships. Fundraising is the primary focus, including managing a prospect portfolio, securing gifts with an emphasis on gifts of $25,000 or more, conducting at least 140 personal visits annually, submitting 15–20 funding proposals annually, and achieving annual fundraising production of $1,000,000 for the OSU System, with a focus on Oklahoma City-area priorities. The role also supports donor pipeline growth, portfolio management, donor engagement, and stewardship. The position requires local, regional, and occasional national travel, as well as occasional evening and weekend availability for fundraising events and donor activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing and communications, nonprofit management, humanities, or a related field.
Minimum of 2–4 years of experience in fundraising, development, major gifts, or relevant professional work.
Effective communication, execution and initiative, teamwork and interpersonal skills, problem-solving and judgment, adaptability and flexibility, courage and conviction, and a donor-centered approach.
Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and via video conferencing.
Ability to travel locally, regionally, and occasionally nationally for donor visits, meetings, and university events.
Valid driver's license.
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support fundraising events and donor engagement activities.
Ability to perform frequent repetitive motions when operating computers, telephones, and standard office equipment; sit or stand for extended periods; and lift, carry, push, or pull materials weighing up to approximately 20 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a higher education setting.
Experience with fundraising and donor management software.
A proven sense of humor and ability to have fun.

Responsibilities

Develop and manage a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation prospects connected to OSU-OKC, HIAE, KOSU, and the broader OSU System.
Solicit and secure gifts, with a focus on gifts of $25,000 or more.
Conduct a minimum of 140 personal visits annually with donors and prospective donors.
Develop and execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for assigned prospects.
Submit 15–20 funding proposals annually and achieve annual fundraising production of $1,000,000 for the OSU System, focusing on Oklahoma City-area priorities.
Coordinate campus visits and support university leaders during donor meetings and engagement opportunities.
Develop and manage donor engagement and annual giving strategies to identify new donors and advance qualified prospects into major-gift portfolios.
Partner with Pipeline Growth & Readiness, Prospect Development and Research, and campus leaders to build and implement a pipeline plan for OSU-OKC and other assigned priorities.
Identify new individual, corporate, and foundation prospects throughout the Oklahoma City area.
Coordinate annual giving solicitations and appeals with campus and Foundation colleagues.
Build relationships with industry, foundation, and community leaders who may support Oklahoma City-area priorities.
Track and report fundraising progress through contact reports, prospect management, and other communication tools.
Maintain regular contact with portfolio prospects and document qualification and disqualification activities appropriately.
Learn and follow OSU Foundation data management standards and best practices.
Collaborate with Prospect Development and Research to identify new OSU Foundation donors.
Coordinate donor and prospective-donor events and engagement opportunities with campus and Foundation partners.
Develop and execute engagement and stewardship plans for assigned prospects, working with OSU Foundation support teams to provide meaningful stewardship.
Connect donors with university leaders, faculty, students, programs, and impact opportunities.
Perform other duties as assigned.