Oregon State University Foundation

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, serve as a development officer within the division of Athletics and work closely with athletics development and university leadership to advance the philanthropic priorities of the division, and to create an articulate and compelling case for support for the programs within it.   

The Director of Development will be expected to devote 80% of work time to fundraising activities and 20% of work time to administrative responsibilities.  

Measures of Success:

• Raise $1M to $2.5M per year, including 12 to 16 major gifts ($50k+)
• Open 20 to 40 proposals annually for $50K+
• Conduct 120 to 160 visits per year
  

Major Gift Fundraising 

• Manage a comprehensive portfolio of 100 to 125 relationships.
• Employ sales enablement technology and conduct outreach (i.e., phone calls, email, video, texting) to garner both video conference and in-person visits to build a managed portfolio of donors and pipeline of potential donors.
• Advance the philanthropic priorities of OSU Athletics by leveraging established gift opportunities and engagement initiatives - such as the Valley Challenge for OSU Student-Athletes, Head Coaches’ Circles, annual memberships, campus-wide giving days, and other related giving opportunities to facilitate fundraising conversations with alumni and donors on behalf of Oregon State University Athletics.

Potential Donor Discovery 

• Develop and implement a long-range strategic planning process to increase and grow the major gift pipeline and overall fundraising success over the next five to ten years.

 Engagement 

• Collaborate with athletics/university external relations colleagues to broaden and deepen the engagement of alumni, parents, and friends. 
• Along with Athletic Development colleagues and university partners, support the Oregon State Athletics Sports Specific & Engagement Plan, which will include a sport liaison assignment(s).  
• Organize small group gatherings with coaches and staff to create interest in philanthropic giving opportunities.  
• Engage your portfolio in the life of the university

Leadership 

• Provide visible leadership across the entire organization by engaging in organization-wide activities such as development management meetings, all-staff meetings, and staff events. 

Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Accountabilities  

• Raise $1M to $2.5M per year, including 12 to 16 major gifts ($50k+)
• Open 20 to 40 proposals annually for $50K+
• Conduct 120 to 160 visits per year
• Perform related administrative duties for the assigned areas, including writing contact reports, budget management, case statement development, and events development. 
• Assist in increasing the overall productivity and efficiency of the division’s development staff in terms of the number of potential donors visited, proposals opened, and major gifts closed. 
• Develop and support clearly defined and strategic fundraising priorities and articulate compelling cases for support going forward to advance them. 
• Bring the foundation’s organizational values to life by modeling them at all times.  

Knowledge/Skills:

• Proven track record of success in major gift cultivation and solicitation
• Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to articulate a strong and compelling case for support  
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to create strong professional relationships with colleagues at the Foundation, OSU Alumni Association, and the university  
• Ability to listen to donors and determine the best engagement plan
• Strategic, hardworking, and able to work with a high degree of flexibility in a highly-collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented environment  
• Ability to apply creative and entrepreneurial thinking, while applying sound judgment and conducting oneself with integrity 
  

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree required and 5+ years of major gift development experience in higher education or related work experience. Equivalencies will be considered.  Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate successful major gift fundraising experience. This position requires the ability to travel frequently, at times requiring overnight stays, and by various modes of transportation.

Important Organizational Notes: 

The candidate must possess a valid driver’s license and be prepared to work a flexible schedule that may include evenings and weekends to support foundation events, athletic contests, and donor-related activities. Adherence to a professional code of conduct is essential at all times, ensuring the highest standards of integrity, respect, and ethical behavior in all interactions and responsibilities.  Adherence to the Core Values is vital to success.

Oregon State University Foundation Core Values

• Collaborative: We convene our partners to achieve solutions.
• Productive: We get the right things done.
• Respectful: We treat one another with dignity and civility.
• Bold: We aspire to transform.
• Inclusive: We nurture a culture of belonging.
• Creative: We color outside the lines.

Classification: Exempt

What We Offer:

Compensation: Starting annual salary $89,000

Comprehensive Benefits: a comprehensive total compensation package, which includes:

• An impressive 17% employer contribution to retirement plan (based on qualified earnings)
• Monthly employer contribution towards benefits
• Health Savings Account employer match with 1:1 match from the employer
• Employer paid program through First Stop Health—offering covered Urgent Care, Primary Care, Mental Health and Health Coaching services.
• A generous Paid Time Off (PTO) program - 300 hours of Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Two employee discount programs for access to retail, travel, and other money saving resources

Professional Growth: We invest in our employees through ongoing training, leadership development and opportunities for advancement. OSUF encourages and supports the active participation and leadership of our employees in multiple professional associations.        

A Values-Driven, Engaged Culture: Our work is guided by shared values and a commitment to continuous improvement. We invest in regular employee engagement practices—including Gallup Q12 and CliftonStrengths—to listen closely, act on what we hear, and build an environment where people can do their best work.

Work Location

The work location for this position is Corvallis, OR.