USC Marshall School of Business’s Department of External Relations –is seeking an Associate Director of Development, Annual Giving to join its team. Under the direction of the Director of Annual Giving, the Associate Director assists with growing the pipeline of donors to the USC Marshall School of Business and Leventhal School of Accounting. The Associate Director will be responsible for meeting specific monetary and donor goals associated with the Marshall Fund and the Leventhal Fund. The Associate Director will actively build and manage a portfolio of donors with the goal of individually soliciting and engaging these individuals in philanthropic cultivation. This individual will also assist the Director of Annual Giving in the creation and execution of targeted mass-solicitation projects including but not limited to electronic solicitation, direct-mail, tele-fundraising, crowdfunding, and peer-to-peer fundraising, as appropriate. In addition, this individual will guide and grow leadership giving to various Marshall and Leventhal boards, and work with major gift and stewardship colleagues to ensure proper cultivation and stewardship occurs gifts at all levels.

The ideal candidate has experience in annual or leadership giving, written solicitation, donor relations and stewardship, preferably in higher education; an understanding of software used to produce and deliver various communication pieces; and has excellent attention to detail and prospect management skills.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Plans and conducts at least 15 face-to-face (or virtual) meetings and visits with prospective and existing donors each month
• Researches, identifies, and cultivates potential leadership donors for the school
• Makes leadership annual gift solicitations and has preliminary planned giving conversations
• Makes recommendations to major gift officers on prospects capable of donating above leadership levels
• Coordinates the writing of proposals and agreements to secure gifts for the Marshall School of Business and Leventhal School of Accounting
• Conducts individual screenings to determine capacity and inclination for major giving
• Serves in an ongoing stewardship capacity for current donors, creating meaningful Marshall and USC connections and experiences, as well as recognition opportunities for donors
• Actively records information in donor database in accordance with University policy
• Collaborates with peers within External Relations to build Marshall’s donor base for the annual fund, as well as major gifts
• Cultivates relationships with students, recent grads and parents to foster life-long relationships with the school
• Assists as necessary with the creation of mass-marketing materials and mass-solicitations at the Annual Giving level
• Coordinates with admissions, advising, student services, student life and academic departments to arrange and provide concierge services for donors; engages with faculty and researchers to identify strategic opportunities aligned with prospective donors
• Collaborates with USC counterparts to cultivate friends and donors of Marshall and USC
• Represents Marshall at meetings and events, serving as an ambassador for the school to the greater USC community
• Manages special projects as directed by the Director of Annual Giving

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5-10 years’ proven experience in major gifts development for a school, hospital or similar institution
• Demonstrated persistency and ability to cultivate and close gifts
• Demonstrated ability and energy to professionally and effectively build new relationships and communities on an ongoing basis
• Goal oriented and results driven
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplinary and interdisciplinary lines, and to interact successfully with a diverse constituency of varying abilities, backgrounds, interests and beliefs
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proactive follow up and follow through skills
• Strong organization skills with an attention to detail
• Ability to think creativity and apply an entrepreneurial mindset
• Passion and knowledge of higher education and business schools

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable in the face of changing priorities and fluctuating workloads
• Experience in a higher education environment, preferably in the area of business
• Strong knowledge and understanding of prospect management, donor cultivation, and donor relationship cycles
• Proficient skills in philanthropic writing
• Knowledge of academic decorum and experience interacting and communicating with senior administration and faculty
• Directly related program management experience
• Ability to manage sponsored projects and volunteer fundraisers

Required Documents and Additional Information

• Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.
• USC is requiring all students, faculty and staff to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination and flu vaccination in order to access campus facilities for the fall semester. There is exemption process available for medical and religious reasons. Your safety is our top priority.
• USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions*; tuition benefits for staff and their family; free Professional Development classes; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses and free tram pick up services; discounts to sporting and other campus events.
• The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer that Values Diversity.

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree
Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
Minimum Experience: 5 years
Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience
Minimum Field of Expertise: Experience in development, maintaining meaningful relationships with a wide variety of internal/external stakeholders. Ability to self-manage, prioritize work assignments and manage multiple deadlines. Experience maintaining and interpreting large datasets and database systems. Excellent planning, organizational and interpersonal skills. Detail oriented with excellent written and oral communication skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office.