Interim Associate Vice President of University Development (Administrator IV - Exempt, Range 1) - Development Office

San Francisco State University • San Francisco, CA

4d

About The Position

Reporting to the Vice President of University Advancement, the Interim Associate
Vice President for Development is responsible for continuity in planning and
implementing San Francisco State’s fundraising goals through strategic
management and supporting solicitation of major individual donors, as well as
corporate and foundation, and planned giving prospects. The incumbent will also
support and contribute to the planning and implementation activities
commensurate with the quiet phase of a new comprehensive campaign, which began
in March 2025, with a working goal to secure $225 million in philanthropy by
2031. The incumbent will also personally cultivate and solicit major gifts and
manage a portfolio of donors and prospects. This position offers an opportunity
to lead and work with an exceptional team that shares a commitment to the
transformative importance of mission-driven public higher education, ensuring
strong continued momentum across the Development team and deep alignment with
the rest of the Advancement division.

Requirements

• A minimum of 8-10 years of experience in major gifts or fundraising or a similar background is required. Experience in higher education is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in managing a prospect management and tracking system to ensure productivity and accountability.
• Proven track record in stewarding major gift donors.
• Proven success in leadership, management, and talent retention.
• Extensive knowledge of the corporate and foundation community.
• The ability to provide strong and innovative leadership in developing and implementing programs.
• Ability to persuade and motivate others, and to earn the respect and partnership of SFSU leadership and influential volunteers.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Technical knowledge in a variety of fundraising areas, especially planned giving.
• Function effectively as a member of a team; commitment to participating in activities and assignments that will benefit other members of the team or will contribute to the accomplishment of team objectives.
• Experience in the management of writing and editing persuasive materials, including grant proposals, information brochures, and letters.
• Computer literate and knowledge of university development databases/spreadsheets, including formulas and functions.
• A bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in experience is required.
• Must pass Live Scan background check.

Nice To Haves

• Leadership experience in a multi-year comprehensive campaign in higher education strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight of a motivated and diverse team consisting of major gift officers; development staff in corporate and foundation relations and planned giving; as well as teams focused on development communications and donor relations, prospect research, and administrative support
• Maintain a strong collaborative and collegial culture across Development, championing an ethos of equity and inclusion, mutual respect, cooperation, cultural competency, and shared commitment to successful outcomes.
• Direct and manage all major gift fundraising, programs, and campaigns.
• Steward a limited portfolio of prospects and attain annual portfolio fundraising goals.
• Supervise and support Development personnel in establishing goals, objectives, performance standards, operating policies and procedures, and evaluation processes to monitor progress in achieving assigned goals.
• Serve as a resource and role model to staff on matters of prospect strategy and offer new approaches and techniques; seek to provide creative solutions to complex solicitations; rely on past experience in the field and remain current with evolving trends in philanthropy.
• Work with the Vice President of University Advancement to coordinate SF State Foundation board directors, define development priorities, and actively engage in development-related activities.
• Act as champion of the Development department, establishing strong relationships with University partners across the campus, sharing accomplishments, & interpreting development’s purpose and value externally.
• Identify ties to SFSU via specific corporate or foundation interests and through senior decision makers, alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and parents.
• Support relationships with existing donors in an effort to increase both current and planned gifts.
• Coordinate an effective program for donor recognition, involvement, and stewardship.
• Support effective marketing programs to maximize outreach and engender further interest in annual, major, capital and planned gift campaigns.
• Support clear annual goals, manage solicitation activities, and oversee the timely tracking and acknowledgment of all major gift donors and prospects.
• Facilitate relationships between potential and current donors and the University’s leadership, deans, faculty, staff, volunteers, and others.
• Manage productive relationships with other University Advancement units, including Strategic Marketing Communications, University Engagement and Alumni Relations, and Advancement Services & Operations.
• Oversee prospect and portfolio management processes that ensure maximum results by development officers, in particular in relation to the campaign prospect pipeline.
• Serving as a primary partner to the VP of Advancement regarding the campaign’s vision, execution plan, and overall structure.
• Overseeing the strategy and execution of the prospecting strategy outlined in the campaign plan, ensuring that new prospective donors are screened and entered fundraisers’ portfolios in a timely and effective manner.
• Directly supervise the Senior Director of Development serving as Campaign Manager, to ensure that the position fulfills all of its logistical responsibilities associated with keeping campaign workflows and timelines on track.
• Managing the hiring of campaign-specific positions, including five additional recommended positions for the Development team, and consulting closely with Alumni Relations on the addition of a position to that team.
• Serving as a primary contributor to all collateral campaigns, and overseeing its development by the Senior Director of Development for Development Communications, which reports directly to this position.
• Co-architecting campaign solicitation strategies with the VP of University Advancement for lead donors during the campaign’s quiet phase.
• Architecting a stewardship plan for campaign donors.
• Co-staffing the Campaign Steering Committee with the VP of University Advancement and securing campaign commitments from all committee members.
• Demonstrate behaviors that are in line with the User-Friendly Principles (P530C) and Principles of Conduct for a Multi-Cultural University (P30D).
• Demonstrate safe work practices for oneself, others, and the office environment.
• Other Duties as Assigned

Benefits

• Threaded through our Total Compensation package is a commitment to Bridging Life's Transitions.  SF State is committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive program that rewards efforts that are appreciated by your colleagues, students and the customers we serve.
• We offer a competitive compensation package that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Pension, 401k, Healthcare Savings Account, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Vacation and Sick Leave as well as State Holidays and a dynamic Fee Waiver program, all geared towards the University's commitment to attract, motivate and retain our employee.

What This Job Offers

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