Assistant Dean of Advancement, Kogod School of Business, American University - Charity Search Group

Position Title: Assistant Dean of Advancement, Kogod School of Business

Reports to: Assistant Vice President of Advancement 

Position: Full-Time, On-site, Exempt

Location: Washington, D.C.; Maryland; Virginia

Salary: $160,000 - $180,000 annually

About American University

“We are a University of strivers and dreamers, of activists and artists, of scholars and servant-leaders. We realize that when we all contribute, we all succeed. We are, quite literally, one AU.” – President Sylvia Burwell

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly ranked schools and colleges, internationally renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Our students distinguish themselves with their service, leadership, and ability to rethink global and domestic challenges and opportunities.

At AU passion becomes action; students actively engage in the world around them; and the leaders of today train the leaders of tomorrow.

We are looking for candidates who reflect the diversity of our student body. At AU, we are deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. American University was founded to respond to the needs of a changing world, with a set of guiding values—among them diversity, equity, and inclusion. AU cannot be excellent without being truly inclusive, and without taking the concrete, specific steps to improve our campus climate.

BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrants, multilingual, mature or differently abled candidates, and people of all faiths or none at all are encouraged to apply.

About Change Can’t Wait: The Campaign for American University

With a $500 million goal, Change Can’t Wait will create transformative educational opportunities for students, advance research with impact, and build stronger communities locally, nationally, and globally. Why us? Changemaking is in our DNA. Why now? We know change can’t wait.

Find out more about the campaign here.

The Role

Working in and reporting to the University Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, the Assistant Dean of Advancement for the Kogod School of Business (“KSB”) is the chief fundraiser for KSB at American University.  The Assistant Dean of Advancement works on behalf of the Dean of the Kogod School of Business, shaping and executing plans for fundraising to meet the financial needs of the Dean’s academic priorities for the School.  The Assistant Dean of Advancmentt focuses on major and principal gift fundraising for KSB and participates in the Dean’s senior management team to understand fully and discuss implications of academic programs for development.  The Assistant Dean of Advancement plans implements, and oversees the major gift fundraising program for KSB with an emphasis on gifts of $100,000 to $1,000,000+.

The Assistant Dean of Advancement serves as a key member of the Dean’s management team and as an ambassador of KSB.  The Assistant Dean participates in the development of publications for KSB and other programs and special events by the Dean.  The Assistant Dean supervises the activities of one additional fundraiser (Director of Development) and a Development Coordinator who works in a collaborative, team atmosphere in support of donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, alumni programming, and special events.  In coordination with the Dean, the Assistant Dean of Advancement supports the KSB Dean’s Advisory Council including strategic recruitment of members.  The Assistant Dean and KSB Development team strive to maximize the Council’s effectiveness, working closely with the Dean’s office to establish agendas and programs for meetings and communications.

As a specific component of the Assistant Dean of Advancment’s responsibilities, the Assistant Dean works with the Dean of KSB in donor/constituent-specific development strategies, secures dates and plans for the Dean’s development activities, including local and regional constituency events, travel for cultivation and solicitation, correspondence and regular contact with donors.

The Assistant Dean of Advancement operates under the University’s prospect management system with the expectations of achieving the metrics below through demonstration of a high degree of professionalism, discretion, and refined written and oral communication.

• Management and strategy development of a pool of assigned, rated, and staged prospects generally rated $100,000-$1,000,000+;
• Meaningful contact or attempted contact of 100% of the assigned portfolio during any six month period;
• Regular maintenance of prospect pipeline (i.e., planned and executed solicitations).
• Varying by stage of cultivation, consistent movement of prospects in the assigned portfolio in the proscribed timeframe.  (As an example, it is expected that prospects will only be in qualification and early cultivation mode for 6 months, regular cultivation for 12 months, and pre-solicitation cultivation and consideration mode for 6 months.)
• A minimum of 10 planned, strategic visits per month with many other interactions, meetings, events, and unplanned visits.
• Regular updates to contacts, staging, and ratings so that all reports are current for supervision meetings and monthly progress reports.
• Work in concert with Advancement colleagues, including particularly close collaboration with the Planned Giving Team, and Office of Prospect Research & Management, to conduct entrepreneurial prospect identification and qualification work equal to approximately 10-20% of all activity.  
• The Assistant Dean’s financial objectives will be established collaboratively and with a close review of the capacity and readiness indicators of the Assistant Dean’s prospect portfolio.  

As needed, the Assistant Dean updates and coordinates with the Director of Development, Annual Giving to ensure that the messages and priorities are consistent for the mail and phone programs; coordinates with directors in other areas on mutual interest prospects and programs.

Organizational Characteristics

The Assistant Dean of Advancement, Kogod School of Business, reports to the Assistant Vice President of Advancement with a collaborative dotted line to the Dean of the Kogod School of Business.  

Responsibilities

Major Gifts Portfolio Management (40%):

• Work closely with the Dean and independently to manage major gifts portfolio according to Divisional rules and guidelines.
• Set and execute strategies for assigned major gift prospects, aiming to meet or exceed established benchmarks for visits, contacts, and solicitations.
• Secure gifts that align with the academic priorities of the Dean, other units, or the University.

Fundraising Strategy Development for Kogod School of Business Dean (30%):

• Develop, execute, and manage fundraising strategies, priorities, schedules, and tactics for the Dean of the Kogod School of Business.
• Identify and engage prospects around the Dean’s academic priorities, plan travel and individual meetings, manage regular communication with key prospects, add a development perspective to relevant matters within the School, and manage the Dean’s Advisory Council.

Management of Kogod School of Business Development Team (20%):

• Manage, motivate, and evaluate the Kogod School of Business Development team, including the Associate Director of Development and Development Assistant.
• Develop major gift strategies, revenue expectations, donor stewardship initiatives, and special event plans.
• Delegate tasks, including the creation and design of related publications.

Collaboration with AU’s Annual Giving Team (5%):

• Collaborate with AU’s Annual Giving team to manage annual giving techniques and messages used in direct marketing and phone programs.
• Ensure accuracy and alignment with the School’s fundraising objectives in information about the Kogod School of Business utilized in these programs.
• Work closely with the Director of Development, Annual Giving, on annual Dean’s letter or other equivalent solicitation pieces.

Non-Essential Functions (5%):

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the objectives of the Assistant Vice President, Development.

Work Environment

• This position requires regular national and international travel approximately 25-40% of the time.  The position also requires occasional evening and weekend work.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible development experience.
• Demonstrated success in securing major and principal gifts of $100,000 or more for at least 10+ years.
• Supervisory experience.
• Familiarity with and experience following guidelines of an established Prospect Management System.
• Computer literacy, including familiarity with fundraising systems.
• Superior written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferences:

• Experience in higher education.
• Experience working with high-level executives, academics, or leaders.
• Experience managing volunteers.
• Experience with major gift solicitation and closure at the $500,000+ level.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to analyze and articulate reasons for giving.
• Strong priority-setting skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a deadline-oriented environment.
• Maturity and diplomacy.
• Analytical, research, and project management skills.

Benefits

American University offers a comprehensive benefits package and competitive compensation. 

American University has retained the services of Charity Search Group to coordinate the search for this position. To apply, please complete this online application. If you have questions or need accommodations, please contact Pascale Hughes at pascale@charitysearchgroup.com ​or visit www.charitysearchgroup.com

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin,  religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance,  gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.