Assistant Director of Development (2 Vacancies)

Southern Illinois University

$73K — $101K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in fundraising, nonprofit, alumni relations, PR/Marketing, or related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in fundraising or related roles.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills for donor relations.
  • Experience managing a portfolio of prospects effectively.
  • Proven track record of securing significant gifts and building relationships.

Responsibilities

  • Orchestrate and execute donor relationship strategies for major gifts.
  • Identify and contact prospective major gift donors to meet fundraising goals.
  • Secure annual gifts of $250,000 or more for the foundation.
  • Conduct 50-100 personal visits annually to cultivate new prospects.
  • Manage a portfolio of 25-50 prospects and develop strategies collaboratively.
  • Prepare proposals and maintain effective records in the prospect management system.
  • Participate in ongoing performance evaluations and development staff meetings.

Benefits

  • Work in a vibrant academic environment with a diverse student body.
  • Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
  • Engagement in a mission-driven organization impacting the university community.
  • Located in a region with a low cost of living and rich cultural amenities.
Full Job Description
Salary: $73,503.00 - $101,066.00 Annually
Location : Carbondale, Illinois
Job Type: Administrative Professional
Job Number:
Department: SIU Foundation Carbondale-SIUC
Opening Date: 08/07/2026
Closing Date: 10/8/2026 11:59 PM Central
FLSA:: Exempt
Security/Safety Sensitive:: Security sensitive (subject to pre-employment criminal background investigation)
FTE: 1.0

Description

The Southern Illinois University Foundation invites applications for two Assistant Director of Development positions. The individuals in these positions are responsible for a portfolio of major gift prospects and is expected to identify, cultivate, and solicit private financial support from alumni and friends of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The successful candidate will be a member of the development staff and report to the Senior Director of Development Officer. Travel, including nights and weekends, is required.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.
Examples of Duties

  1. Orchestrate and execute the advancement of relationships with prospective donors through appropriate stages of qualifications, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship culminating in private philanthropic support.
  2. In consultation with the Unit Development Officer, identify and establish personal contact with current and prospective major gift donors whose interest and financial capacity have the greatest likelihood of meeting the Foundation and University fundraising goals.
  3. Secure $250,000+ annually in new gifts and commitments for SIU.
  4. Conduct 50-100 documented face to face personal visits per year, qualifying 20-40 new major gift prospects annually.
  5. Manage a portfolio of 25-50 prospects. Collaborate with appropriate development and academic staff to develop prospect strategies and build relationships.
  6. Set specific goals and objectives to effectively advance toward solicitation of major gifts.
  7. Become familiar with and understand key initiatives of the university relating to faculty, students, instruction and research.
  8. Prepare proposals and gift agreements as required for proper gift documentation. Ensure effective records maintenance, including timely filing of requests for prospect assignments, prospect strategies and contact reports using SIU Foundation's prospect management system.
  9. Provide stewardship of gifts including acknowledgment process coordination recognition events, dedications and working with the Unit Development Officer on appropriate recognition.
  10. Report regularly on the progress toward annual action plans.
  11. Specific annual metrics and goals will be established at the beginning of each FY.
  12. Participate in weekly development staff meetings, monthly one-on-one meetings, a mid-year performance discussion and a performance evaluation with the Unit Development Officer.
  13. Protects confidential information.
  14. Other duties as assigned by the Unit Development Officer.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree with professional experience in fundraising or related non-profit organization work, alumni relations, PR/Marketing, or closely related field. Must have a valid driver's license.

Required Documents: Please submit a letter of application,CV/Resume, transcripts, and three references.

Contact: Darla Peterman,

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an R1 Opportunity University with a statewide economic impact of $2.7 billion dollars. We offer 200+ undergraduate degrees, minors and specializations, 79 master's degrees, and 40 doctoral degrees. Our main campus is 1,136 acres, with additional acreage in University Farms, Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, and other facilities. The university is an essential part of the city of Carbondale and an important contributor to the culture of the entire region. While Carbondale includes many of the amenities of urban life, it retains its small-town flavor. Cost of living is considerably lower in the region than similar areas elsewhere, and many employees commute from nearby counties.

The Southern Illinois region is distinct from the rest of the state, boasting considerable natural beauty including the Shawnee National Forest, many state parks, national wildlife areas, and several lakes beloved for recreation. Local foods are readily available in the area, with a variety of eateries and a growing specialized food truck presence. The area is home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, an official wine appellation designation. The wineries extend the cultural reach of the community, hosting live music and continual art exhibits. The campus itself is a microcosm of the area, with a lake and forest on campus, as well as traditional collegiate architecture, quad, and residential halls. Students enjoy outdoor study areas as well as specialized computer labs scattered across campus, including in the three million volume Morris Library. To learn about , , and find resources about Carbondale and the Southern Illinois region, visit:

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Southern Illinois University

More Education, Government & Non-Profit Jobs

Find similar Assistant Director of Development (2 Vacancies) jobs: