University of Southern California
USC values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment. USC University Advancement is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture in which all advancement staff and our stakeholders have the opportunity to connect, belong, and grow while supporting USC’s mission, values, and goals.
USC University Advancement is seeking an
Associate Director of Development
(ADOD) to join its major gifts team based in Los Angeles. The ADOD will join a dynamic, collaborative and well-supported University Advancement team charged with increasing private support for USC, with special attention to USC President Carol Folt’s university-wide fundraising priorities.
The ADOD is responsible for management of a diverse portfolio of prospects who are capable of making major gifts, with a special focus on USC alumni, parents, and friends in Southern California. The ADOD will develop working knowledge of the full breadth of USC schools, programs, and initiatives in order to match them with prospective donor interests. He/she/they will develop and implement individualized engagement, cultivation, and solicitation strategies, moving prospects progressively toward gift goals that are aligned with their capacity and interests.
Major Responsibilities
- Actively manages a dynamic portfolio of 125+ prospects, including alumni, parents, and friends, with the capacity to make gifts of $100,000 or more.
- Participates in setting annual activity and fundraising goals and monitors progress toward achieving them.
- Develops and implements strategies to engage, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects to build and maintain a prospect pool at various stages of development and across diverse constituencies.
- Maintains a focus on pipeline development by continuously conducting discovery and qualification meetings and initiating conversations with potential donors that lead to further engagement and philanthropic potential.
- Increases base of support from major donors through by establishing, building, and maintaining relationships and staying in contact through in-person and virtual meetings, telephone calls, and correspondence.
- Travels regularly for meetings and events.
- Attends campus activities such as athletic events, arts performances, lectures, and symposia to foster strong relationships with prospects that result in philanthropic contributions.
- Works independently and creatively to match donor interests with institutional priorities.
- Gathers and synthesizes information to describe giving opportunities to and write funding proposals for prospective donors.
- Obtains contributions from new major gift donors and renews/increases support from prior donors.
- Partners with Stewardship and unit-based teams on donor relations.
- Works collaboratively with colleagues in University Advancement, including colleagues in regional offices, corporate and foundation relations, gift planning, parent program, and advancement services.
- Updates and maintains accurate, prompt and appropriate prospect and donor information and other record keeping in the prospect management and donor relations system, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- 5+ years related work experience, including major gifts or other direct fundraising experience
- Experience fundraising for higher education
- Able to build strong relationships with prospects, donors, volunteers, as well as faculty, staff, and administrators
- Able to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality, be able to work effectively with stakeholders and maintain composure under pressure, and have the capacity to handle multiple projects and meet deadlines
- Able to travel extensively and attend University functions during and after normal business hours
- Experience with desktop applications
- Experience with relational databases, including managing and tracking prospects
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Possess strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen carefully and respectfully and to speak with diplomacy and tact
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
- 3 years or combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience
- Major campaign, fundraising, public relations, and/or volunteer management experience.
Required Application Documents
Please provide a cover letter along with your resume. Please ensure both of these documents are attached.
The annual base salary for this position is $90,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern Californi a considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff & their family with access to the renowned university medical network; retirement plans with employer contribution when you meet Program’s eligibility period; tuition benefits for staff & their family; free professional development online courses; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses & free tram pick up services; discounts to football, basketball & other campus events.
The University of Southern California values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment.
Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 3 years, Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience Minimum Field of Expertise: Fundraising, campaigns and/or volunteer management
