Senior Director of Development, Natural Sciences

ASU Foundation for A New American University•Tempe, AZ

About The Position

The Senior Director of Development for Natural Sciences in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a fundraising professional responsible for generating philanthropic support for ASU from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The role works collaboratively with ASU Foundation for A New American University (ASUF), academic leadership, the Dean of Natural Sciences, and the division’s leadership team. It focuses primarily on major-gift fundraising and foundation support, with responsibility for engaging a portfolio of prospects regionally and nationally. Performance is evaluated against financial goals and contact metrics aligned with assigned programs and prospects. The position reports to the ASUF executive director of development in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The Senior Director develops and executes fundraising strategies for annual, major, and planned gifts; manages prospect and donor relationships through cultivation and solicitation; prepares proposals and supporting materials; and oversees assigned development staff. The role requires a flexible schedule, national travel when needed, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with complex relationships and evolving priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Seven years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience demonstrating comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Documented success personally implementing sophisticated, multi-year cultivation strategies using relationship-building and moves management to achieve gift closure.
Demonstrated ability to secure major grants and gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other private funding sources.
Demonstrable experience creating donor-relations plans that lead to additional investments.
Knowledge of development and fundraising principles and techniques, preferably in higher education.
Ability to secure personal appointments and qualify new prospects.
Ability to prepare complex and detailed proposals and related materials.
Ability to travel nationally when necessary to engage and solicit major prospects.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and comfort using donor/prospect database systems such as Salesforce.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends, to accommodate meetings and events, and to meet demanding work-schedule expectations.
Collaborative, team-oriented approach and ability to work independently as well as with others.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and responsibility concerning Foundation and University business and confidential prospect information.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including effective in-person, written, and telephone communication.
Problem-solving skills, initiative, prioritization, and flexibility.
Ability to manage complex situations involving numerous and sometimes competing constituencies.
Ability to represent the institution well and advocate for ASU’s vision as the New American University.
Attention to detail, thoroughness, strong organization, and ability to handle multiple projects.
Ability to navigate complex environments with evolving priorities and communication plans.
Curiosity and ability to grasp complex scientific and technological concepts at a foundational level to develop well-informed proposals.
Demonstrated achievement in securing philanthropic investments.

Responsibilities

Develop, coordinate, and execute a comprehensive fundraising program to identify, cultivate, and solicit annual, major, and planned gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
Manage overall fundraising metrics for Natural Sciences initiatives, including donor count, new prospect identification, cumulative giving, donor retention, major-gift proposals, and new gifts and commitments.
Collaborate with academic-unit development officers to develop and implement sustaining and major-gift strategies for Natural Sciences prospects.
Work with divisional academic leadership to develop philanthropic concepts that may lead to major-gift funding.
Proactively manage a regional and national portfolio of major-gift prospects ($100,000+) and develop strategies leading to solicitation and investment aligned with donor interests or foundation funding requests and ASU opportunities.
Meet personal fundraising metrics, including face-to-face visits, portfolio giving growth, donor retention, major-gift proposals, gifts closed, and new gifts and commitments.
Travel with leadership when necessary to execute strategic development plans for regional and national major-donor prospects.
Develop and submit written proposals, budgets, and other collateral materials to secure philanthropic investments.
Lead, develop, and oversee assigned development staff; establish priorities and goals, provide coaching, training, and mentoring, and direct and evaluate work.
Perform other duties as assigned.