Position Overview
Reporting to the Senior Director of Corporate Relations, the Director of Corporate Relations will develop and implement long and short-term plans to secure major gifts from corporations, corporate foundations and other entities with an emphasis on gifts of $100,000 and above in primary support of university-wide initiatives. The Director of Corporate Relations will have responsibilities for coordination, communications and collaboration with other college and unit Advancement colleagues, as well as other internal partners outside of Advancement to engage the corporate and business sectors.
The position will serve as liaison and central corporate development resource to colleges, units, deans, and development staff looking to engage companies. They will manage and grow a portfolio of high-capacity companies, recommending strategic and innovative plans to senior management to identify new opportunities for partner engagement. Additional responsibilities will include the identification of opportunities and development of comprehensive proposals with university partners, the delivery of constituent training and awareness programs and assistance with establishing the protocols for managing sponsorships, and event collaboration.
The Director operates with a high degree of independence to make decisions, solve problems, negotiate and adapt to shifting priorities. Success in the position will be guided by annual metrics. Central resources such as a robust donor database and reporting and analytics tools exist to help the role achieve goals and manage an allocated budget. All members of Advancement are part of creating an inclusive culture that inspires and exceptionally diverse and talented team and are measured on their adherence to the following core competencies: Leadership, Continuous Improvement, teamwork and Collaboration, and Communication/Interpersonal Effectiveness.
Maintaining confidentiality and using good judgement when working with sensitive information, being proficient with MS Office programs, and regularly utilizing the customer relationship management system to include the timely input of prospect/donor information is essential. Expectations include stellar communications and interactions with constituents, collaboration with colleagues across Advancement and the university and Wexner Medical Center, diplomacy, and discretion. Demonstrated success in securing substantial corporate investments will help you hit the ground running. This role may require occasional travel, evening and weekend work but also offers a hybrid schedule as agreed upon with the Senior Director.
Department Overview
Our office is The Ohio State University’s hub for corporate philanthropy. We connect our corporate partners to collaborative giving opportunities across each of Ohio State’s colleges, departments, centers and initiatives.
Our team is here to serve partners seeking a greater awareness of Ohio State’s resources, to align those resources with partners’ needs, and to advocate for our partners’ interests in order to foster strong, lasting, and mutually beneficial relationships with the business community.
Duties and Responsibilities
95% – Fundraising
Identifies, qualifies, and cultivates a portfolio of prospective major gift donors. Pursues connections and discovers donor values, capacity, interests and passions. Ensures quality and positive momentum within assigned portfolio to convert prospects to donors. Builds context for gift proposals, develops and implements strategic gift solicitations. Maximizes opportunities to steward donors to further enhance relationships.
5% – Miscellaneous
Completes special projects and performs other duties as assigned.
Metrics and Collaboration:
The annual performance of all fundraisers at Ohio State is measured by the number of qualifications, cultivations, solicitations and commitments/dollars raised the individual accrues over each fiscal year. Each fundraiser may have different expectations regarding these figures based upon, but not limited to, their experience level, unit size, prospect portfolio, past performance, etc. Goal setting is done with the individual’s manager prior to each fiscal year to assure transparency, consistency and alignment.
All fundraisers at Ohio State are encouraged and expected to collaborate with their colleagues across the institution and can be counted as ‘Secondary’ on a gift in the solicitation, commitment and dollars raised phases of the development cycle. A secondary fundraiser can be considered when a team is working on a multi-unit gift, the fundraiser is a subject matter expert in an area critical to the solicitation or a fundraiser has a pre-existing, meaningful relationship with the donor and their participation helps move the gift forward.
Performance Objectives
First month
- Become familiar with the overall structure, resources, and processes of university development.
- Develop an understanding of corporate opportunities and priorities for Ohio State.
- Build relationships with college, unit, and other central advancement partners including prospect development, donor relations, foundation relations, development communications.
First 2-3 months
- Begin to actively fundraise by meeting with existing and prospective corporate donors. Partner on gift asks, begin discovery work.
- Implement lead generation (including cold calling) and cultivation strategies, engaging appropriate partners as necessary.
- Incorporate best practice solicitation strategies for portfolio assignments.
First 12 months
- Continue building a portfolio of qualified prospects. Develop priorities and areas to focus work in alignment with OCR and Advancement goals.
- Move the prospects through the donor engagement process.
- Make appropriate progress towards meeting team and individual performance goals/metrics by soliciting and closing major gifts.
- Participate in professional development to continue learning best practices and strategies.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Four years of relevant experience with at least two years of professional fundraising experience (building relationships towards philanthropic end through making calls, conducting face-to-face appointments, creating and presenting proposals, closing gifts) and two years of related experience in marketing, sales, public relations, financial advisement, account management or related field with emphasis on donor cultivation, solicitation and relationship cultivation of individuals/businesses.
Desired Qualifications (We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage you to apply even if your experience does not align perfectly)
- At least four years of professional fundraising experience raising the highest level of philanthropic gifts at an organization (preferably five or six figures and above).
- At least four years of professional fundraising experience in higher education or a hospital/health care environment.
- Experience working in other advancement departments such as donor relations and stewardship, donor communications and/or alumni relations.
- Experience fundraising via corporate/business partners or doing related work in a corporate environment.
The Office of Advancement is committed to providing tools and resources for you to learn our business, proprietary databases, university-specific processes, and advancement practices.
Commitment to Inclusion
The Office of Advancement is committed to active allyship in addressing and dismantling the inequities created by systemic racism and implicit, long-held bias. We pledge to act with kindness, respect, and integrity at all times; trust ourselves and our colleagues and empower their whole identities; and hear and see our colleagues’ ideas, voices, and perspectives, acknowledging that we are better together.
You Need to Know
Aside from the unparalleled benefits of working for The Ohio State University and working in the diverse, smart, enjoyable, and growing city of Columbus, Ohio, this opportunity will provide exceptional rewards that arise from working for an institution doing worldwide life-changing teaching and research. Learn more here: https://hr.osu.edu/careers/.
Salary range: $73,100 – $97,500
To learn more and apply, please visit: https://osujoblinks.com/5qhn
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, protected veteran status, or any other basis under the law.