The Organization
San Diego State University is the oldest higher education institution in San Diego. Since its founding in 1897, the university has grown to become a leading public research university. Each year, SDSU provides more than 35,000 students with the opportunity to participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an international emphasis that prepares them for a global future.
University Relations and Development (URAD) shares the university’s vision and mission underscored in the 2020 five-year strategic plan. The plan identifies five strategic priorities including: Becoming a Premier Public Research University: A New Kind of Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI); Resilience. Designed to Thrive; We Are SDSU; Equity and Inclusion in Everything We Do; and Students at Our Core.
Units of URAD work together to create enduring relationships with alumni, parents, donors, students and the community to generate private support for SDSU students, faculty and a diverse number of programs. URAD handles a range of services encompassing stewardship, events, gift administration, communications and more.
Within URAD, the departments of Development, SDSU Alumni, Planned Giving, Special Events, Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Financial Management, Data Management, Prospect Research and Management and Operations are making a difference in the lives of SDSU’s 35,000 students.
URAD had another record-setting fundraising year in 2021-2022 with $136.3M total raised. Other superlatives in 2021-2022 include 22,368 total gifts, 2,077 scholarships awarded and 8,565 first-time donors. The latest fundraising success can be credited to the university’s goal of building a world-class university campus, research center, and multi-use stadium in Mission Valley to serve higher education, the public good, and the community’s goals and aspirations.
SDSU has been recognized several times for its exceptional development program by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). With the support of loyal donors and working alongside SDSU’s visionary faculty and staff leaders, SDSU builds lifelong relationships with over 480,000 alumni, friends and the community that advance the mission of SDSU.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
University Relations and Development at San Diego State University is committed to upholding, as a foundational belief, a supportive working environment of inclusion that values, honors, and respects, all members of our team and the University community.
We strive to engage in and promote the fair and equitable recruitment and training of URAD staff members, develop meaningful relationships with all groups in our diverse campus community, and share philanthropic stories that highlight the impact of and opportunity for diverse giving by our SDSU community.
University Relations and Development firmly believes that an inclusive environment facilitates critical and creative thinking, and that differences in identities, values, beliefs, and perspectives are fundamental to our mission of generating philanthropic support for the university and its student body.
Within University Relations and Development, the term diversity implies a respect for all and an understanding of individual differences and other characteristics protected by applicable state or federal law, so that all members of the community are treated at all times with dignity and respect.
We value diversity and inclusion in the working environment and believe it is vital to the fulfillment of the university’s mission.
Position Overview
The Associate Director is a mid-level fundraising professional responsible for raising gifts to support the SDSU Imperial Valley ($50,000+). The Associate Director is a member of the university’s development team and reports to the Executive Director of Development with a dotted line to the Dean of SDSU Imperial Valley. The incumbent is responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing a major gift program for SDSU Imperial Valley initiatives. The incumbent will work closely with the SDSU Imperial Valley Dean to identify, cultivate and solicit individuals, corporations and foundations.
The primary responsibility for this position is to raise major gifts for SDSU Imperial Valley’s funding initiatives (operational, capital, scholarships, endowments). This position will manage a portfolio of major gift prospects working to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects. The Associate Director will manage a portfolio, coordinating activities of prospect management, research, scholarship, annual and planned giving, and corporate and foundation relations. The Associate Director will actively conduct and prepare basic prospect research, developing profiles on major gift prospects, corporations and foundations and summarizing verbally and in writing, pertinent and detailed information as it relates to priorities and strategic plans. The Associate Director will work with the Dean and Executive Director of Development on strategies for prospects in his/her portfolio. The Associate Director will work with the Dean and Executive Director of Development to define annual long-term fundraising strategic plans, goals, communication and engagement strategies for SDSU Imperial Valley.
How To Apply
Associate Director of Development, Imperial Valley [Job #521721]