Assistant Director of Development

OVERVIEW

The University of St. Thomas invites qualified candidates to apply for an Assistant Director of Development position within University Advancement.

The University of St. Thomas embraces belonging and equal opportunity for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity and personal attention call us to embody and champion an inclusive environment. The University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, or other protected characteristic. This commitment to inclusion and equal opportunity is consistent with our mission: Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good. A successful candidate will possess a commitment to the ideals of this mission.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

The University of St. Thomas offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, which includes:

• Tuition Remission for employees, spouses, and dependents

• Generous Retirement Contributions to support your future

• Comprehensive Health Coverage including medical, dental, and vision

• Fully Paid Insurance : disability, life, and AD&D

• Paid Parental Leave to support growing families

Salary Range: $64,000 to $67,675

The University of St. Thomas has provided a salary range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The specific salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Senior Director of Development, the Assistant Director of Development will support fundraising, stewardship, alumni engagement, and campaign efforts for the Opus College of Business and Schulze School of Entrepreneurship. In partnership with the Senior Director of Development and Director of Development, this position will help build engagement, partnership, and philanthropic support among alumni, parents, corporate partners, and friends of the University of St. Thomas through leadership annual giving strategy, stewardship activities, volunteer coordination, donor and alumni engagement initiatives, and fundraising efforts aligned with collegiate priorities.

This position will support strategies designed to strengthen donor participation and overall philanthropic support for the college. The role will maintain individual fundraising and donor participation goals through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and donor engagement activities, including direct solicitation of annual and leadership annual gifts up to and exceeding $50,000. In addition, this position will support execution of a college-wide philanthropic initiative connected to the Opus student experience, including scholarships, experiential learning, faculty excellence, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and emerging collegiate priorities.

This position works closely with University Advancement partners, including advancement communications, donor relations, alumni engagement, events, and Prospect Development, as well as faculty and staff leaders, alumni volunteers, advisory boards, and corporate partners across the college. Additionally, this position maintains a strong external focus through meaningful donor, alumni, and corporate engagement activities that strengthen relationships and philanthropic support for the college.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leadership Annual Giving and Stewardship

• Assist the Senior Director of Development and Director of Development with the planning, development, and execution of strategies that increase donor participation, retention, and overall philanthropic support for the Opus College of Business and Schulze School of Entrepreneurship.

• Solicit leadership annual and select major gifts up to $50,000 and work collaboratively with advancement leadership to support annual fundraising goals.

• Support oversight and execution of a college-wide philanthropic initiative connected to the Opus student experience, including scholarships, experiential learning, faculty excellence, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and emerging collegiate priorities.

• Lead stewardship planning and execution for collegiate donors in partnership with Donor Relations and Advancement Communications.

• Execute preparation and delivery of stewardship and impact communications tied to donor-supported initiatives and collegiate priorities.

• Track stewardship efforts and support ongoing development of donor engagement and retention strategies.

• Partner with fundraising colleagues to identify and refer emerging major gift prospects as appropriate.

• Engagement Plan Activation

• Assist the Senior Director of Development in developing and implementing an annual engagement plan to engage current and prospective prospects and donors.

• Proactively ensure that events and communications pieces are regularly scheduled throughout the year with appropriate post-event follow-up.

• Working with UA events staff, assuming responsibility for logistics associated with meetings and events.

• Work with the Engagement Center to develop high-touch and mass engagement strategies to increase prospect engagement with the university and cultivate gifts.

• Corporate Partnerships and Communications

• Coordinate department-based corporate sponsorship and partnership opportunities throughout the college.

• Serve as advancement liaison for advisory boards and alumni groups connected to fundraising, donor engagement, or corporate partnership activity.

• Partner with Advancement Communications, Alumni Engagement, Donor Relations, and Events teams to support fundraising and engagement communications aligned with collegiate priorities.

• Assist with development and execution of donor, alumni, and engagement communications across multiple platforms.

• Institutional Knowledge, Reporting, Planning & Administrative Work

• Submit an annual plan outlining proposed solicitations and strategies for each fiscal year.

• Gain familiarity with university and unit fundraising priorities to facilitate meaningful donor discussions. Continually refresh knowledge through reading/research, attendance at university and unit functions, and team and one-one meetings with colleagues.

• Enter timely reports on all donor outreach attempts and contacts, including detailed reports on face-to face visits and other substantive contacts using the donor database, (Salesforce).

• Plan and organize local travel schedule, prepare reports for supervisor and UA leadership as needed, and maintain accurate record of work-related expenditures.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree

• One year of relevant advancement experience

An equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills have been acquired may be substituted.

HOW TO APPLY

All interested candidates must apply online at Follow the instructions to complete an online application which includes creating or updating an applicant profile, uploading a resume, and completing a job specific application.

In light of its commitment to create and maintain a safe learning and working environment, employment with the University of St. Thomas requires consent and successful completion of a background screening.

Official job posting is available at

Apply for this job (

Want to get notified about new employment opportunities?

To receive notifications regarding new job opportunities that fit your selected career interestsConnect with us. (

Job Post Information* : Posted Date2 weeks ago(6/24/2026 4:43 PM)

Position Number330547

CampusMinneapolis

FLSA StatusExempt/Salaried

Employment TypeFull-Time Staff