Development Associate - #1336460

Job # 040834
Department Code 50412-7125
Department Regional Advancement
Job Title Development Associate
Location Syracuse, NY
Pay Range $58,500 - $60,500
Pay Determination Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses
Staff Level S4
FLSA Status Exempt
Hours Standard University business hours

8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs
Job Type Full-time
Campus Syracuse, NY
Unionized Position Code Not Applicable
Job Description Under the direct guidance of the Executive Director of Leadership Giving and Discovery, this position plays a crucial role in identifying and engaging alumni, parents, and friends capable of supporting Syracuse University through leadership annual gifts of $2,500 or more. The Development Associate manages a select caseload of leadership annual prospects, in addition to managing a wider donor pool for discovery, with a primary focus on the NYC Mid-Atlantic and South regions. Designed to boost donor engagement and philanthropy, this role emphasizes strategic outreach, personalized communication, and meaningful contact, thereby maximizing philanthropic opportunities
Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Two (2) plus years of successful fundraising experience or related experience within a higher education setting preferred.
• Proven experience in personal solicitations and relationship building preferred.
• A valid Enhanced Driver’s License and Passport are required.

Job Specific Qualifications

• Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility, essential for meeting changing organizational needs and donor expectations.
• Shows a strong personal commitment to achieving and surpassing annual objectives through motivation and persistence.
• Works well in teams to solve problems and achieve common goals.
• Capable of independent initiative, requiring minimal supervision.
• Combines independent and collaborative critical thinking for effective problem-solving and decision-making.
• Possesses excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to engage a variety of stakeholders.
• Clearly articulates the organization’s needs and objectives.
• Understands and prioritizes donor needs, crucial for developing donor-focused solicitations/ building lasting relationships.
• Has knowledge or interest in understanding the principles of leadership annual giving and discovery, focusing on strategies for securing significant annual donations.
• Eagerness to learn or experienced in advanced, layered solicitation strategies.
• Aims to set and achieve clear goals, using effective strategies and data analysis for strategic planning that aligns with both organizational aims and donor interests.

Responsibilities

• Conduct 150 face-to-face visits annually with a strategic emphasis on building authentic relationships, assessing donors’ inclination, capacity, and affinity.
• Utilize personalized phone calls, emails, digital methods, and in-person interactions to solicit new gifts, renewals, and upgrades.
• Focus on increased participation in The Hill Society by creating a sense of community among donors.
• Ensure effective communication of qualification outcomes with colleagues, sharing leads and planning next steps to boost engagement.
• Analyze data independently, prioritize outreach, and conduct targeted qualification visits and solicitations to enhance donor relationships and engagement.
• Take an active role in Discovery initiatives and special projects to innovate and personalize donor engagement and solicitation efforts.
• Manage a pool of up to 25 leadership annual giving donors for cultivation, solicitation, and or stewardship using traditional methods including phone calls, emails, and visits, as well as creating and implementing personalized donor experiences.
• Focus on annual increases in the number of donors giving at to annual funds and increasing participation in The Hill Society through solicitation/relationship building.
• Identify and engage with leadership and mid-level prospects, enhancing the engagement pipeline.
• Travel is essential and expected for meaningful personal engagement, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Collaborate actively with colleagues across the division, including Central Giving Team partners, schools/colleges/units, Athletics, Family Giving, Alumni Engagement/Annual Giving, and Career Services.
• Work together to develop and implement strategies that not only maximize fundraising effectiveness but also prioritize donor engagement and satisfaction as key outcomes.
• Utilize the database of record (CITRUS) to meticulously update strategic plans, opportunities, interactions, outcomes, and next steps.
• Through this, contribute to the research and ensure the accuracy of alumni records, always with an eye towards enhancing engagement and building stronger relationships.
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment Not Applicable
Application Instructions In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter
About Syracuse University Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience

The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu
About the Syracuse area Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal
EEO Statement Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members
Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity.