Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving

Posting Details

Posting Details

Posting Number NA01594

Position Information

Position Title Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving

State WI

Employment Status Full Time

Position Status Regular

If Limited Term (End Date of Assignment, Project, or Grant)

Position Type Staff

Job Family Advancement

Hours Per Week

Position Overview

Responsible for securing philanthropic support for university priorities by establishing and developing relationships with supporters through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship in particular geographic regions and/or affinity-based groups. S/he demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of university priorities and develops and implements fundraising strategies to build and maintain a portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects. This position has the opportunity to work in a hybrid work environment, with time worked both on campus as well as remotely.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Build, manage, and maintain a portfolio of up to 75 prospects and donors, serving as a philanthropic advisor and developing relationships throughout the full donor cycle. Develop and execute strategies to increase unrestricted giving through the acquisition, renewal, and upgrade of annual donors, securing annual gifts, multi-year commitments, and/or planned gifts in support of university priorities. This position requires 40+ solicitations, 20+ commitments, and 120+ personal visits annually, with a particular focus on growing unrestricted giving, strengthening donor retention and engagement, and building a robust pipeline of future major gift prospects.

2. Builds a portfolio of prospective donors through strategic qualification, leveraging CRM data, digital prospecting platforms, Power BI tools, social media, and other technology to identify alumni, families, and community members with the inclination and capacity to make a gift. Utilize digital engagement strategies, including personalized email, virtual meetings, and targeted outreach, to initiate and strengthen relationships and advance prospects through the donor pipeline in addition to in person meetings.

3. Develops and executes an annual fundraising business plan with strategic qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship steps for prospects. Meets regularly and collaborates with manager to assess and divide fundraising priorities, review strategies and track progress toward meeting fundraising performance benchmarks.

4. Maintains comprehensive knowledge of university wide fundraising priorities, with a particular focus on current use funds.

5. Proactively develops professional fundraising skills using internal and external sources

6. Attends university and university-sponsored events and volunteer meetings, often during the evenings and weekends; represents the university to external constituents. Participates in Advancement monthly staff meetings/prospect tracking meetings/committee meetings, etc.

7. Collaborates with internal colleagues to engage regional or affinity-based groups through promoting their attendance as guests at events, identifying volunteer leaders, nominating award winners, etc.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

Minimum of 3 years of development experience in a non-profit environment or related field (e.g. sales, recruitment, etc.) working directly with external constituencies

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work with colleagues in a team environment

Ability to travel

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Previous fundraising experience making personal solicitations

Department University Advancement

Posting Date 09/15/2026

Closing Date

Special Instructions to Applicants

EOE Statement

It is the policy of Marquette University to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable federal or state-protected classification.

Required Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter/Letter of Application

Optional Documents

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).