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

The ASU Foundation (ASUF) fosters partnerships between ASU and like-minded individuals, corporations and foundations who believe in ASU’s mission and provide resources for ASU to manifest its charter into meaningful impact.   

Built on a dynamic combination of disciplines unlike any other design and arts school in the nation, the ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts connects, fuses and merges fields. The Herberger Institute comprises ASU Art Museum, ASU FIDM, The ASU FIDM Museum, The Design School, The GAME School, The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, The School of Art and The School of Music, Dance and Theatre.

The principal activity of the Associate Director of Development is to be externally focused, with responsibility for engaging a portfolio of individuals, corporations, and foundations that have a potential affinity with ASU and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts (internally referred to as HIDA). The Associate Director’s effectiveness will be evaluated on the ability to achieve financial goals and contact metrics consistent with the programs and prospects assigned.

In addition to your resume, we ask that you include a cover letter with your application.

What you'll do:

• Develops and executes strategic fundraising and engagement efforts on behalf of Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, The Sidney Poitier New American Film School and the Media and Immersive Experience (MIX) Center by designing, implementing, evaluating, and refining development activities to drive donor retention, reactivation, acquisition, and pipeline growth

• In support of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, actively engages donors, alumni, faculty, staff, and students to proactively build and manage a personal major gift/prospect portfolio with a focus on securing gifts at or above the $50,000 level in accordance with performance metrics

• Collaborates with development team, unit leaders and academic leaders to assist and direct the implementation and coordination of special fundraising and engagement opportunities by identifying, cultivating, and soliciting annual, major, and planned gifts in cooperation with the objectives and strategies of ASUF and the University Development Office

• 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 as needed for securing significant philanthropic investments

• In support of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, collaborates with and coordinates the efforts of various ASU offices and functions to advance prospect and donor strategies (i.e., alumni engagement, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, development, donor relations, estate and gift planning, financial services, research and prospect management)

• Proactively manages a personal major gift/prospect portfolio, develops and executes strategic prospect strategies leading to solicitation and investment based on the opportunities of each special assignment

• Staffs HIDA Leadership   at ASUF and ASU events, concerts, and programs and engages with donors and prospects

• Uses the ASUF prospect management and tracking system (i.e., Salesforce) to record and coordinate contacts, strategies and proposals

• Assumes responsibility for core fundraising success metrics including face-to-face visits with prospects, identification and qualification of new prospects, growth in cumulative giving from the prospect portfolio, major gift proposals submitted, dollars raised

• Ensures proper stewardship and recognition of donors in portfolio

• Participates collaboratively as a member of the ASUF development team and serve as a resource to development colleagues regarding fundraising opportunities

• Develops and sustains strong working relationships with deans, chairs, directors, and faculty members of HIDA

• Identifies projects and initiatives and develops and implements strategic fundraising efforts and campaigns in close collaboration with HIDA Leadership, Faculty, and stakeholders

• Serve as mentor, teacher and role-model to HIDA team members, student employees and junior team members, even in the absence of a direct-reporting relationship

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 

• Ability to conduct research, gather data, analyze information, and prepare effective, accurate, and timely reports and other documents to support development objectives 

• Database management skills 

• Ability to lead a team and train employees, to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments 

• 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   

• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present effectively to small and large groups 

• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to Foundation and University business and confidential prospect information 

• Ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures and backgrounds 

• Ability to represent the institution well and possess an advocate’s belief in the vision of ASU as the New American University 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and comfortable working in donor/prospect computer database systems   

Relevant qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or currently enrolled in bachelor's degree program 

• Four (4) to six (6) years of years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience  

• Demonstrated ability in securing major grants and gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other private funding sources 

• Demonstrated organizational skills and experience in managing events and other complex activities in support of development objectives

Preferred education and experience:

• Advanced degree 

• Four (4) to six (6) years of years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience preferably in higher education or the Arts

• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding philanthropic investments and strategic partnerships within one or more of the following industries:  film, television, streaming, and digital media, entertainment and media technology, mixed reality (XR), immersive media and experiential design

• Experience working in Salesforce and Workday

The ASU Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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