Assistant Director of Development, OKC

Assistant Director Of DevelopmentVISION: Transform the university through the power of generosity. MISSION: Unite donor passions with university priorities to elevate the impact of Oklahoma State University. DEPARTMENT PURPOSE: The Oklahoma City team contributes to the mission by aligning the philanthropic goals of corporations, foundations, tribal nations, and individuals with the strategic priorities of Oklahoma State University's partners in the OKC area (OSU-OKC, HIAE and KOSU) through meaningful donor engagement and strategic fundraising partnerships. PRIMARY PURPOSE: The Assistant Director of Development for the OKC team will build and manage strategic, mutually beneficial partnerships with individuals, corporations and foundations capable of providing gifts, creating a pipeline of future major gift donors, fostering collaboration among university leaders, faculty, and community partners to secure funding aligned with institutional strengths, workforce needs, and long-term goals.KEY AREAS OF FOCUS:Fundraising (60%) Develop and manage a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation prospects connected to OSU-OKC, Hamm Institute for American Energy, KOSU and the broader OSU System. Solicit and secure gifts, with a focus on gifts of $25,000 or more. Conduct a minimum of 140 personal visits annually with donors and prospective donors. Develop and execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for assigned prospects. Submit 15–20 funding proposals annually. Achieve annual fundraising production of $1,000,000 for the OSU System, with a focus on Oklahoma City-area priorities. Coordinate campus visits and support university leaders during donor meetings and engagement opportunities.OKC Pipeline Growth (20%) Develop and manage donor engagement and annual giving strategies that identify new donors and advance qualified prospects into major-gift portfolios. Partner with Pipeline Growth & Readiness, Prospect Development and Research, and campus leaders to build and implement a pipeline plan for OSU-OKC and other assigned priorities. Identify new individual, corporate, and foundation prospects throughout the Oklahoma City area. Coordinate annual giving solicitations and appeals in partnership with campus and Foundation colleagues. Build relationships with industry, foundation, and community leaders who may support Oklahoma City-area priorities.Effective Portfolio Management (10%) Report and track fundraising progress through the use of contact reports, prospect management and other communication tools to ensure efficient and effective communication. Maintain regular contact with portfolio prospects. Learn OSU Foundation data management standards and best practices. Effectively engage in qualification/disqualification activities and document activities appropriately. Collaborate with Prospect Development and Research to identify new OSU Foundation donors.Donor Engagement and Stewardship (10%) Coordinate with campus and Foundation partners on events and engagement opportunities involving donors and prospective donors. Develop and execute engagement and stewardship plans for assigned prospects. Work with OSU Foundation support teams to provide meaningful stewardship for Oklahoma City-area donors. Help connect donors with university leaders, faculty, students, programs, and impact opportunities.JOB COMPETENCIES AND EXPERIENCE: Education & Certifications- Bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing and communications, nonprofit management, humanities, or related fields Experience- Minimum of 2-4 years in fundraising, development, major gifts, or relevant professional experience required. Experience in a higher education setting preferred. Fundraising and donor management software experience desired. Proven sense of humor and ability to have fun! Organizational Competencies- Effective Communication: Proactively ensures effective communication throughout the organization; makes relevant contributions to discussions and meetings, giving clear and concise explanations and sticking to the point; chooses language and communication method to suit the audience, reframes and articulates to help others understand; asks questions to check understanding when disseminating information. Execution & Initiative: Motivates self and others to achieve the best results, displaying energy, drive and a desire to succeed; enlists the support of others as necessary to overcome resistance; supervises cross-functional project team execution on tasks to meet stated objectives; helps other employees' gain the skills and experience they need to contribute; proactively outlines milestones, outcomes and deliverables and effectively communicates them to internal and external stakeholders. Teamwork/Interpersonal Skills: Develops and nurtures formal & informal relationships with a wide circle of people beyond those involved in current activities, including potential donors, stakeholders, and information links; encourages collaboration among colleagues, departments and entire organization to achieve results; compromises, handles conflicts, seeks common ground, articulates own and others goals; stays focused on positive win-win outcomes; seeks input on how to leverage existing processes to improve the donor experience; translates ideas into action. Problem Solving/Judgment: Gains understanding of how to apply approved policies and procedures; when and why escalation of issues is needed and to whom and communicates decisions and desired outcomes to others; anticipates the outcome of a single decision; recognizes problems in advance, systematically gathers information to define the root cause, breaks down complex information into component parts, develops alternatives, seeks input from others, selects and recommends the best solution. Adaptability/Flexibility: Embraces complex or first-time problems as opportunities to learn and incorporate new skills; flexes style based on immediate needs; accepts responsibility for implementing change; evaluates and manages resources needed to implement change; personally supports (in words and actions) organizational direction and change agenda. Courage & Conviction: Takes responsibility for individual & project outcomes regardless of success and learns from all results; encourages candid responses, feedback, new ideas and conflicting opinions. Donor Centered: Takes time to actively learn about the stated needs by asking questions, exploring how to unite the donors and university's passions and priorities; anticipates customer needs and proactively makes recommendations.PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and via video conferencing. Requires frequent repetitive motions when operating computers, telephones, and standard office equipment. Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer, attending meetings, or participating in events. This role includes traveling locally, regionally, and occasionally nationally for donor visits, meetings, and university events, which may include walking on campus and navigating varied environments. Requires a valid driver's license. Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support fundraising events and donor engagement activities. Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull materials weighing up to approximately 20 pounds.