Director of Advancement, East Coast

<div><h1><b><span>Director of Advancement</span></b></h1><p></p><p><i>The ASU Foundation has retained Pearl Street| Lindauer, an executive search firm, to assist in this search. Consideration of candidates will continue until the position is filled. Adele Mezher, Raegan Harvey, Emily Horsford, and Shari Berenson are leading the engagement. </i></p><p></p><p><i>Candidates should visit the  </i><a href="https://www.pearlstreetcollective.com/positions/asuf-daec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">application site</a> <i>to submit, in confidence, a resume and cover letter.</i></p><p></p></div><div><div><p>The Director of Advancement, East Coast is a senior professional who works collaboratively within the Arizona State University Foundation (ASUF) and partners across Arizona State University (ASU) to demonstrate leadership among colleagues and secure significant philanthropic <span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; display: inline; text-decoration: inherit; hyphens: auto;">investments. The</span> principal activity of this role is externally focused, and effectiveness will be evaluated on the ability to achieve financial goals and weighted engagement metrics. The Director works in coordination with the Senior Director of East Coast Advancement, Global Advancement team, and in partnership with the advancement departments of ASU’s various schools and units to build ASUF’s overall presence on the East Coast Region in support of ASU’s Charter. </p></div><div><p></p><p></p></div><div><h2><b><span>What you’ll do</span></b></h2><ul><li><p>This role requires approximately 30-40%  travel throughout the East Coast region, structured as a combination of day trips, short regional visits, and periodic multi-day travel for major donor meetings and university events. Candidates must be located on the East Coast with a strong preference for the Mid-Atlantic region and proximity to a major airport hub to maximize cost-effective travel. Strategic trip planning and the ability to build relationships through both in-person and virtual engagement are essential.</p></li><li><p>Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 50+ major gift donors, with an emphasis on securing gifts and commitments of $100K and above</p></li><li><p>Develop and execute customized strategies that leverage donor prospects’ interests, connect them to giving opportunities, and result in invitations to philanthropically support key initiatives</p></li><li><p>Demonstrate strong writing skills and prepare and guide the design of engagement, solicitation and stewardship materials for individual, corporate and foundation prospects</p></li><li><p>High level of collaboration with both internal departments and broader University partners to identify common goals and develop, execute, and advance prospect and donor strategies and increase participation among high profile volunteers and donors (i.e., alumni engagement, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, development, donor relations, estate and gift planning, financial services, research, and prospect management)</p></li><li><p>Ensures the proper stewardship and recognition of donors in the portfolio</p></li><li><p>Manages projects with moderate oversight; depending on area(s) of responsibility, may serve as a project</p></li><li><p>Track development activity according to prospect management guidelines for tracking and maintenance of contact and progress reporting</p></li><li><p>Within area(s) of responsibility, maintains up-to-date knowledge on key alumni and high-level donors, and/or oversees continuous research, development, and up-to-date knowledge on prospects and works with other areas to coordinate contacts</p></li><li><p>Participates as a member of the ASUF development team and serves as a resource to development colleagues</p></li><li><p>Furnish timely reports on progress toward assigned goals and solicitation results</p></li><li><p>Work in a result-oriented, dynamic environment with complex and evolving relationships and priorities</p></li><li><p>Other duties as assigned</p></li></ul><p></p><p></p><h2><b><span>What you'll need</span></b></h2><ul><li><p>Demonstrated success in raising donor sights, articulating aspirational goals and ideas, setting priorities, presenting philanthropic opportunities, and closing six and seven-figure gifts</p></li><li><p>Demonstrated skills in advancing large-scale ideas within an institute, college or research laboratory</p></li><li><p>Proven competence to design and implement effective cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies</p></li><li><p>Ability to exercise good judgment, to demonstrate an understanding of ethics related to development activities, and to use discretion in interactions with donors, prospects, volunteers, and others</p></li><li><p>Highly flexible nature, sophisticated and professional demeanor, and the ability to think quickly and react effectively to unanticipated circumstances, opportunities, and complex situations</p></li><li><p>Collaborative style, combined with the ability and desire to work in a team-based environment</p></li><li><p>Creative, professional, and entrepreneurial spirit; strong intellectual curiosity</p></li><li><p>Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to Foundation and University business and confidential prospect information</p></li><li><p>Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with academic leadership, faculty, prospects, donors, and/or volunteers in a wide range of roles</p></li><li><p>Ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures and backgrounds</p></li><li><p>Able to secure personal appointments and qualify new prospects</p></li><li><p>Complex problem-solving skills coupled with the ability to conduct research, gather data, analyze information, and prepare effective, accurate, and timely reports and other documents to support development objectives</p></li><li><p>Team-oriented strategist able to effectively manage complex situations involving numerous and sometimes competing constituencies and interests</p></li><li><p>Ability to represent the institution well and possess an advocate’s belief in the vision of ASU as the New American University</p></li><li><p>Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and comfortable working in donor/prospect computer database systems</p></li><li><p>Adept at navigating complex environments with evolving priorities and communication plans</p></li><li><p>High degree of self-motivation, personal discipline, and integrity</p></li></ul><p></p><p></p><h2><b><span>Relevant qualifications</span></b></h2><ul><li><p>Bachelor’s degree</p></li><li><p>At least five to seven years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience, preferably in higher education</p></li><li><p>Demonstrated ability in securing major grants and gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other private funding sources</p></li></ul><p></p><p></p><h2><b><span>Preferred Education and Experience</span></b></h2><ul><li><p>Advanced degree</p></li><li><p>Seven-plus (7) years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience in higher education</p></li><li><p>Experience working in Salesforce and Workday</p></li></ul><p></p><p></p><div><h2><b>Benefits</b></h2><ul><li><p>Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance</p></li><li><p>401(k) plan with matching employer contribution</p></li><li><p>22 days of vacation time</p></li><li><p>11 holidays, including your birthday</p></li><li><p>Parental leave</p></li><li><p>Significant tuition reductions</p></li><li><p>Professional development is highly valued at ASU Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization and nurture new areas of interest</p></li><li><p>$30 bi-weekly cell phone reimbursement</p></li></ul><p></p><p></p><p><b>About ASU Foundation</b></p><p></p><p><b>The ASU Foundation</b> fosters partnerships between ASU and like-minded individuals, corporations and foundations who believe in ASU’s mission and provide resources for ASU to manifest its charter into meaningful impact. These partnerships empower ASU to advance student access, serve our community, protect the planet, create equity in higher education and conduct research for the public good.</p><p></p><p></p><p><b>At the ASU Foundation we value</b></p><p></p><p><b>Character</b><br>We prioritize character and integrity in every decision and action, establishing trust as the foundation of all that we do.<br> </p><p><b>Service</b><br>We are dedicated to serving our students, donors, communities, and colleagues by fostering support and collaboration to ensure that our efforts are impactful.<br> </p><p><b>Innovation</b><br>Innovation drives us to create meaningful opportunities and solutions, helping every member of our global community achieve meaningful outcomes.</p></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p><b>The ASU Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer</b></p><p></p><p></p><p><b>Learn More:</b></p>

Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...