How to Apply

Interested candidates must apply through the UM Jobs website (umjobs.org/). In addition to your resume, a cover letter is required,  not to exceed one page.  In the body of your letter, please describe how the position fits with and advances your career goals.  Please submit your cover letter and resume together as a single electronic document, as the system will accommodate only one attachment.  Your resume and cover letter will serve as a writing sample for the initial screening process.

If you have any questions please contact [email protected]

Interview Timeline and Structure
Applications will be reviewed starting in January. We expect to conduct Round 1 (phone) interviews and Round 2 (Zoom) interviews throughout February, with Final Round interviews in March. Start dates will be determined based on the selected candidate's needs. All candidates will be updated about their application status in a timely manner throughout the process.

Salary and Work Location

Salary is determined by direct relevant experience and demonstrated past performance results while ensuring equity on our team.

The salary range for this position is $125,000 - $135,000. This position will report to the LSA Advancement Director of Major Gifts. This position does not have management of staff duties.

Our office is located at 309 Maynard Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This position is hybrid with the major gift officer team typically being in-office on Tuesdays. Specific days in the office will be determined with your manager and team.

Job Summary

Who we are

LSA Advancement champions the liberal arts at the University of Michigan by creating access and opportunities for learning, engagement, and giving that will improve the world. We are a department of more than 50 professionals building a positive work environment that supports the excellence and transformative power of the college's liberal arts mission through values-based fundraising and development operations.  To learn more about what we do and what it's like to work with us, visit our Join Our Team Website.

Who you are

You are an active listener who enjoys meeting new people and can encourage someone to share their story through clarifying and thoughtful questions. You are a curious lifelong learner and enjoy conversing on topics ranging from Astrophysics to Native American studies to Van Gogh. You have a passion for the goals of higher education and can share them with a sophisticated and diverse audience. You are a strategic thinker who enjoys working toward a goal. You approach challenges with creativity and collaboration. You thrive in a self-directed environment with autonomy and professional responsibility and with support from your supervisor. If this describes you, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll do

Major gift fundraisers in LSA have conversations about student support and scholarships, dinosaurs, economic recovery, and English literature all in one day, sometimes in one discussion. Our alumni live in all corners of the world, work in every imaginable field, and have one thing in common - their love for Michigan and their liberal arts education.

As the regional director for principal gifts, you'll manage a portfolio of prospects across the West Coast, East Coast, and southeastern Michigan - discovering, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors capable of giving $1,000,000+ to advance the college's vision. You'll bring market awareness to your region, spark donor engagement, and connect prospects to LSA priorities and people. You're organized, tech-savvy, and a trusted resource for others, continuously learning and sharing your expertise. You'll collaborate with faculty, department chairs, and colleagues to design effective and sophisticated fundraising strategies.

A full job description can be found here.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off, including vacation time, sick time, holidays, and paid parental leave
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance and Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

In addition, LSA offers:

• Enhanced tuition support programs for LSA courses
• Strong commitment to work/life balance
• Flexible work arrangements with respect to campus stakeholder needs

You can see a summary of the benefits you will be eligible to receive here.

Required Qualifications*

• A bachelor's degree.
• 7+ years of fundraising experience with 5+ years focused on closing major gifts, experience closing gifts at or above $1M
• Experience discovering ultra-high-net-worth prospects.
• Proven success fundraising in complex organizations and higher education institutions.
• Experience with blended gifts, multi-unit gifts, and gifts requiring partnership with academic and programmatic leadership.
• Experience engaging with senior executives and/or ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
• Sound knowledge of laws, practices, and philosophy of charitable giving.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working with sensitive and confidential data.

We encourage applications from candidates with varied perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds.

Travel requirements:
Travel will include 12-15 trips per year, with overnight stays several days a month, and regular evening and weekend work responsibilities, such as attending sporting events, tailgates, dinners, and other social gatherings. Individuals must be able to travel by air and car to locations within their region, including areas that may not have reliable public transportation options and may require use of a rental car. 

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

Work Authorization: 
Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment, and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.

As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.

To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.

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