Executive Director of Development, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

The ASU Foundation has partnered with Aspen Leadership Group in the search for an Executive Director of Development for the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. You may view the position prospectus or submit an application via this link: https://opportunities.aspenleadershipgroup.com/opportunities/3788.

The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is the largest comprehensive design and arts school in the nation, located within a dynamic 21st-century research university.

With almost 9,000 students, more than 600 faculty members, more than 130 program options and a tradition of top-ranked programs, we are committed to redefining the 21st-century design and arts school. Our college is built on a combination of disciplines unlike any other program in the nation, comprising ASU FIDM and ASU FIDM Museum; the School of Art; the School of Arts, Media and Engineering; The Design School; The Sidney Poitier New American Film School; the School of Music, Dance and Theatre; and the ASU Art Museum.

The Executive Director of Development for the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is a senior professional who is responsible for fostering significant philanthropic investments in the institute by providing strategic direction to the academic leadership of the unit while collaborating with development colleagues across the university to promote opportunities to interested prospects. The executive director will be responsible for all aspects of advancement, including fundraising, community and donor cultivation, campaign management, and other external engagement functions, while proactively managing a major gift/prospect portfolio within their assigned area(s) of responsibility in support of the ASU Foundation (ASUF) and ASU funding goals and initiatives. This individual must be a seasoned development leader with a proven track-record in higher education and/or arts related fundraising. The executive director will report to the ASUF Vice President of Unit Development, has a liaison reporting line to the Dean, and serves as a member of the college’s leadership team.

What you'll do:

• Leads the strategic efforts to permanently raise the long-term fundraising success for the funding areas under their purview by designing, implementing, evaluating, and refining the unit(s) strategic development activities; sets direction and approach in partnership with assigned ASU unit/program leader’s vision
• Collaborates with development colleagues across the university to promote opportunities to interested prospects and proactively manages a personal major gift donor/prospect portfolio (including principal giving level prospects) with a primary focus on securing gifts at or above the $1M level and a personal fundraising goal of at least $5M
• Effectively manages a team and/or several sub-teams (may include staff and volunteers), responsible for all aspects of advancement; provides leadership, assigns and directs work, determines and evaluates individual goals, develops and implements training and mentoring, monitors coverage of primary areas of focus ensuring that goals and objectives are attained
• Responsible for the achievement of personal and unit(s) fundraising goals/metrics including overall donor count, identification of new prospects, growth in cumulative giving, donor retention, major gift proposals submitted, receipts, and new gifts and commitments
• Guided by the direction and scope of a prospect’s interest, collaborates with various faculty, institute/center directors, and unit-based and foundation-based fundraisers to leverage the maximum philanthropic potential of a prospect
• Develops and submits written proposals, budgets and other collateral materials needed to secure philanthropic investments
• Provides fundraising expertise and counsel regarding potential development opportunities for evolving programs and priorities
• Leads unit leadership, deans, and department chairs, in articulating compelling gift ideas and implements plans, goals and activities related to major gift fundraising
• Engages the deans directly with principal and major level prospects and prepares the deans and other university leaders to participate effectively in development activities and prospect appointments
• Participates in strategic planning for unit programs as it relates to fundraising, working closely with deans and academic leaders to identify fundraising needs and opportunities
• Works within the ASUF prospect management and tracking system, following all protocols for visits and solicitations
• Recruits, motivates, develops and retains a high-performance team
• Partners with both internal departments and broader University partners to identify common goals and develop, execute, and advance prospect and donor strategies and increase participation among high profile volunteers and donors (i.e., alumni engagement, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, development, donor relations, estate and gift planning, financial services, research, and prospect management, etc.)
• Ensures the proper stewardship and recognition of donors in portfolio
• Serves as a project manager for complex, multilayered, university-wide proposals aimed at raising the higher gifts for a university campaign
• Ensures compliance with prospect management guidelines for tracking and maintenance of contact and progress reporting
• Manages budget, related to area(s) of responsibility, ensuring a maximum return on university investments while controlling expenses
• Within area(s) of responsibility, maintains up to date knowledge on key alumni and high-level donors, and/or oversees continuous research, development and up-to-date knowledge on prospects and works with other areas to coordinate contacts
• Serves as a member of the unit’s leadership team
• Participates, as a member of the ASUF development team and serve as a resource to development colleagues
• Sustains and elevates working relationships with deans, chairs, directors, and faculty members within area(s) of responsibility

What you'll need:

• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with academic leadership, faculty, prospects, donors, and/or volunteers in a wide range of roles
• Complex problem-solving skills coupled with the ability to conduct research, gather data, analyze information, and prepare effective, accurate, and timely reports and other documents to support development objectives
• Strong leadership skills: ability to organize, motivate, and lead a team to achieve desired result
• Ability to foster effective working relationships within a team environment
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to Foundation and University business and confidential prospect information
• Ability to inquire about and understand organizational interests and needs, and determine how to persuade or market to that organization with compelling benefits
• Ability to represent the institution well and possess an advocate’s belief in the vision of ASU as the New American University
• Ability to project a strong positive image of the University through personal interaction with prospects, donors, and alumni
• Ability to exercise good judgment, to demonstrate an understanding of ethics related to development activities, and to use discretion in interactions with donors, prospects, volunteers, and others
• Ability to foster effective working relationships within a team environment
• Community relations skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community
• Knowledge of fundraising techniques including proposal development, prospect identification, program planning, fund solicitation, database management, donor tracking, and social networking and marketing tools 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present effectively to small and large groups
• Ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures and backgrounds
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and comfortable working in donor/prospect computer database systems

Relevant qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Eight (8) to ten (10) years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience with at least three (3) to four (4) years managing a team
• Or any equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved
• Seasoned development leader with a proven track-record in higher education development
• Demonstrated administrative and organizational skills such as strategic planning, setting deadlines, and evaluating progress  

Preferred education and experience:

• Advanced degree
• Experience working in Salesforce and Workday

The ASU Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Learn More:

Salary : $30