The posting
Months Per Year:
Work Model:
Hybrid Work Eligible
Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.
Seattle University's Core Competencies
Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives.
Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally.
Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions.
Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making a positive impact.
Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness.
Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, pursues excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.
Job Description Summary
Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Development (AVPD), the Associate Director works to connect donors, alumni, parents, and friends of Seattle University with philanthropy that benefits the Seattle University community. The Associate Director will specifically work to engage, solicit, retain and upgrade annual giving level prospects and donors ($1,000-$25,000) to assist in building and sustaining a pipeline of major and/or planned gift prospects. The Associate Director will work closely with Development Officers and the Assistant Vice President for Development to share and keep open communication on strategies and successes and work together to ensure a seamless experience for Seattle University donors.
Position Description:
The Associate Director will work closely with the AVP Development, AVP of Advancement Services, and the Director of Prospect Development to develop a strategy and portfolio of discovery prospects.
Responsibilities
Donor Relations & Communication (80%)
The Associate Director identifies, cultivates, and solicits leadership annual gifts while actively stewarding prospects through proposal development stages in conformity with the university’s prospect management protocol.
- Establish fundraising goals and provide reports on progress to partners within University Advancement.
- Annually solicit a portfolio of 150+ assigned prospects, securing annual gifts in the $1,000-$25,000 range, using multi-channel communication tools, including email, social media, ThankView (video), and texting; in addition to in-person or virtual one-on-one meetings.
- Promote philanthropic opportunities, such as university and college giving priorities, crowdfunding projects, Seattle U Gives, President’s Club, and other annual giving campaigns
- Build, manage, and engage a donor portfolio for current and future solicitations. Prioritize personal visits with identified prospects.
- Establishes fundraising goals and reports on progress.
- Make qualification face-to-face visits beyond those in the portfolios (discovery).
- As needed, arrange and lead visits for donors and prospects with key university partners, including alumni, and industry stakeholders.
- Works as part of the Annual Giving team and with UA annual giving staff regarding annual giving efforts such as SU Gives and direct mail.
- Responsible for securing matchings and other incentives to amplify giving.
- Ensures annual donor impact reporting is correct and timely for endowed and recurring gifts.
- As needed, ensures timely and appropriate acknowledgement for all gifts, verifies that gifts are properly recorded in the appropriate fund and are documented in the university's gift processing database
Strategic Alignment and Institutional Knowledge (15%)
- Work with Advancement and Seattle University staff to plan strategies for cultivation and solicitation of prospective donors for annual gifts as well as transitioning donors who are ready to move into major gift pools/portfolios. Understand and track the progress towards achieving SU’s Strategic Directions.
- Develop and maintain broad knowledge of the university, such as Jesuit/Catholic traditions and values, admissions, athletics, colleges, and continuing education.
- Learn the values and programs that make Seattle University different from other area universities.
- Develop a network of contacts throughout the university to access for additional information.
- Build out resource hub of relevant content to share with donors
Other Duties (5%)
- Attend trainings and meetings for University Advancement.
- Undertake additional special projects as directed.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years’ work experience in fundraising/development, higher education, alumni or customer engagement, non-profit program management, marketing/sales, or similar fields.
- High level of cultural competency including an understanding and sensitivity to issues of race, class, and the ethical dilemmas that may arise from the development of strong reciprocal partnerships with alumni, donors, friends of the university, students, and faculty and staff.
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with diverse audiences including university leadership, donors, students, faculty and staff, and a diverse alumni population.
- Strong computer skills, particularly working with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Attention to accuracy and detail while accomplishing multiple tasks.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality, communicate with sensitivity, and follow university protocols.
- Ability to manage a complex set of assignments through strong analytical, planning, reporting, project management, and collaboration skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- We are looking for candidates who believe the power of diversity enriches all of us by exposing us to a range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions.
- Familiarity with customer/donor relationship management software such as Raiser’s Edge, or willingness and ability to learn new software.
University Advancement is committed to developing an equitable and inclusive culture that fosters a sense of belonging for all.
Compensation at a Glance
$72,000 - $82,000
Application Instructions
Please attach a cover letter with your resume when applying. Job postings are open until filled, unless otherwise specified.
Seattle University has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, and not based on a candidate’s gender or any other protected status.
Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Seattle University provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your total compensation package.
Benefits at a Glance
Consistent with its fundamental Jesuit values, Seattle University offers a wide range of benefits designed to care for the whole person. Benefits are available to eligible employees working at an FTE of 0.53 or greater. Eligible employees may choose from three medical plans, as well as dental and vision insurance programs. Protect your income with life, short- and long-term disability coverage. Plan for your future with up to a 10% employer contribution toward retirement benefits, comprised of a 5% nonelective employer contribution and an additional dollar-for-dollar match of your voluntary contributions, up to a maximum of 5%.
Eligible employees may also take advantage of 100% paid tuition benefits for themselves and eligible dependents, a subsidized transportation benefit, a wellness program with free access to an on-site fitness facility, and a wide variety of campus events. Enjoy a generous holiday schedule, including a paid December holiday break closure, vacation and paid sick leave, and paid community service leave.
Positions designated as hybrid eligible may offer the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule after successful completion of an introductory period of 3–6 months. In these cases, the role typically begins fully on campus to support onboarding and training, with the potential to transition to a hybrid arrangement thereafter.
Positions designated as on-site are not eligible for hybrid work and are expected to remain fully on campus.
All flexible work arrangements are subject to periodic review and may be modified or discontinued at any time at the university’s discretion.
