Careers

Wichita State University Foundation and Alumni Engagement (WSUFAE) is looking to hire a talented, dynamic, dedicated, and self-motivated individual as the Assistant/Associate Director of Development with our fundraising team. As the Associate Director of Development for Fine Arts, you will play a pivotal role in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospective leadership (mid-level)  and major gift donors. This position will focus on volunteer management, fund development coordination, and maintaining a portfolio of prospective donors. Your efforts will directly support the mission and vision of Wichita State University, helping to shape the future of education and innovation.

The job duties for this position include:

• Volunteer Management
  • Responsible for volunteer management and fund development coordination of multiple pooled donor support groups while liaising with volunteer boards and the WSU College of Fine Arts and its schools.
  • Work with the marketing and communications team to prepare and deliver compelling proposals and written appeals to prospective donors.
  • Coordinate with the Donor Engagement team on donor recognition and events to enhance donor satisfaction and loyalty. Ensure timely and effective stewardship of leadership and major donors through personalized communication, updates, and recognition.

• Fundraising
  • Collaborate with the Data Sciences team to identify, qualify, and prioritize potential leadership (mid-level) and major gift donors.
  • Develop and maintain a pipeline of prospective donors through research, networking, and outreach.
  • Collaborate with the Senior Director of Development – Fine Arts, and other senior leadership to create and execute strategies for donor identification.
  • Build and maintain meaningful relationships with leadership (mid-level) and major gift prospects through personalized outreach, meetings, and events.
  • Develop tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies for each donor based on their interests and capacity to give.
  • Lead or assist in the coordination of leadership (mid-level) and major gift solicitation efforts, ensuring that appropriate steps are taken in the donor journey.
  • Ensure timely and effective stewardship of leadership (mid-level) and major donors through personalized communication, updates, and recognition.
  • Develop and execute stewardship plans for leadership (mid-level) and major gift donors, ensuring that they are informed and engaged with the organization’s impact and progress.

• Collaboration and Reporting
  • Collaborate with development team members, board members, and volunteers to leverage relationships and increase support for the organization.
  • Coordinate with the College of Fine Arts schools, Donor Engagement team, and Development team on the Creative Scholars & Supporters Program (connects donors with student scholarship recipients involved in WSU College of Fine Arts events).
  • Track and report on fundraising progress, donor activity, and campaign outcomes into the database as well as with the development team and others as needed.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in the donor database system.
  • Be a liaison between assigned college(s)/departments and WSUFAE by coordinating prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship with the college dean.
  • Develop annual fundraising goals and objectives in conjunction with college dean.

• Event and Outreach
  • Attend donor and volunteer meetings, events, and functions to represent the organization and strengthen donor relationships.
  • Regularly host donors at College of Fine Arts and support group events for cultivation and stewardship purposes.
  • Represent WSUFAE by attending appropriate WSUFAE and WSU events and functions.

• Administrative Duties
  • Develop and manage an annual budget for fundraising activities and professional development.
  • Maintain accurate and confidential files via computer and paper as necessary.
  • Perform any other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required
• Must be willing to travel with frequent weekend and evening work

• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and insurance

• Project professional image at all times
• Commitment to the WSUFAE core values of Integrity, Service, Excellence and Collaboration

Skills

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Highly competent in facilitating volunteer/donor group management
• Excellent is liaising and building collaboration and trust with multiple stakeholders; identifies multiple avenues of engagement for individuals and volunteers
• Highly motivated and ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team
• Maintain confidentiality of information, records, and materials

Physical Requirements

• Frequent and sudden movements from sitting, standing, bending, reaching, and walking
• Frequent standing or sitting for prolonged periods
• Frequent exposure to large crowds, loud noises, and/or bright and/or flashing lights
• Occasional travel for conferences and donor or alumni engagement opportunities
• Frequent lifting up to 30 pounds
• Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds when traveling
• Occasional exposure to outdoors and hot and inclement weather

Preferred Requirements and Skills

• Experience in fundraising within a higher education setting.
• One year of experience in fundraising or related field and/or volunteer management
• Knowledge of Wichita State University and a commitment to higher education

Apply Today

Wichita State University Foundation and Alumni Engagement (WSUFAE) is looking to hire a dynamic, organized, and self-motivated individual as the Senior Director of Events and Donor Experience on our Stakeholder Engagement team. As the Senior Director of Events and Donor Experience, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the vision, strategy, and successful execution of engagement-focuses events and stewardship at all levels with the overall donor experience. This position will focus on developing and implementing comprehensive programs that cultivate strong, lasting relationships with key university stakeholders and enhance their engagement with the university’s mission.

In this role, the Senior Director will oversee the full life cycle of donor interactions, from initial engagement through long-term stewardship, with the goal of fostering deep, enduring connections that lead to sustained philanthropic support. The Senior Director will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams—across development, marketing and communications, finance and operations, and alumni engagement—to ensure that the WSUFAE delivers a seamless personalized experience for all stakeholders.

The job duties for this position include:

1. Strategic Leadership & Plannings

• • Develops strategic plans and goals for all stakeholder (alumni, donor, friends, corporate partners) engagement events and donor experience initiatives in collaboration with the Vice President for Stakeholder Engagement, and unit leaders for Development and Alumni Engagement.
  • Participate in long-and short-term departmental planning.
  • Leads gift stewardship strategy and standard processes to build a consistent donor experience for all stages of a philanthropic relationship with Wichita State University.

2. Program & Event Oversight
   • Oversee the development, budgeting, execution, and assessment of donor related events (in-person, virtual, on- and off-campus).
   • Manage signature and high-touch events including groundbreaking ceremonies, stewardship events, press conferences, alumni engagement events, naming celebrations, grand openings, etc.
   • Manage on-going smaller scale events that engage current or prospective donors.
   • Provide on-site leadership and staff support at all events.

3. Stewardship & Donor Relations
   • Lead the execution and strategy of donor stewardship practices including acknowledgements, impact reporting, storytelling, and recognition efforts.
   • Maintain consistent stewardship practices across gift types (annual, endowment, capital, planned gifts, etc.)
   • Conduct donor satisfaction surveys and analyze feedback to inform program development.
   • Manage WSUFAE’s recognition protocols (signage, naming, giving societies, etc.)

4. Team Leadership & Development
   • Supervise and mentor a high-performing Donor Experience team.
   • Provide regular performance feedback, developing plans, training, and support for career progression.
   • Foster an inclusive and collaborative team culture align with the organization’s values.

5. Collaboration & Relationship Building
   • Collaborate with development officers, university departments, alumni engagement staff, and campus/community partners as needed to support integrated stewardship strategies.
   • Partner with Marketing and Communications and other WSUFAE teams on strategies to effectively target and engage audiences in donor experience events and programming.
   • Build relationships with vendors, donors, volunteers, and institutional leadership.

6. Data & Operational Management
   • Develop, implement, and monitor KPIs, metrics, and dashboards to assess performance and ROI of stewardship initiatives and donor engagement.
   • Ensure accurate data entry and tracking of all event-related, stewardship, and donor engagement information.
   • Evaluate and redefine internal processes for improved efficiency and impact.
   • Provides program reporting to internal WSUFAE partners on all matters of donor stewardship and donor relations, including gift acknowledgment, impact reporting, donor recognition, and coordinated activities for principal level donor initiatives.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field (Communications, Nonprofit Managements, Public relations, etc.)
• Minimum 5 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, stewardship, event management, or community engagement (to include special events)
• Minimum of 2-3 years of managerial experience
• Strong track record of excellent and collaborative project management skills that result in a high degree of excellence.
• Experience with strategic planning and execution on plans
• Project a professional image at all times
• Experience in budget oversight
• Commitment to the WSU Foundation core values of Integrity, Service, Collaboration, and Excellence

Skills

• Excellent relationship management and interpersonal skills
• Experience in supervising others to meet goals and objectives
• Enthusiasm, commitment to excellence, self-motivation, a professional demeanor
• Highly organized and detail oriented
• The ability to handle multiple tasks with organization and accuracy
• A collaborative, team-oriented attitude
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project), internet research and strong knowledge of social media
• Experience working with databases (preferable Raisers’ Edge)

Physical Requirements

• Frequent and sudden movements from sitting, standing, bending, reaching, and walking
• Frequent standing or sitting for prolonged periods
• Frequent use of a telephone for prolonged periods
• Frequent exposure to large crowds, loud noises, and/or bright and/or flashing lights
• Occasional travel for conferences and donor or alumni engagement opportunities
• Occasional use of stairs for events
• Frequent lifting up to 20 pounds
• Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds
• Frequent exposure to outdoors and hot and inclement weather

Preferred Requirements and Skills

• Knowledge of Wichita State University and a commitment to higher education
• Master’s degree in related field

Apply Today

Whether you are just starting your career or are an experienced professional, we invite you to submit your resume for future opportunities with us.

Position Overview: This job posting serves as a general application for individuals interested in future roles across various departments and teams within WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement. While we may not have a specific position that fits what you are looking for at this moment, we are continuously growing and always looking for new team members who bring unique skills and perspectives.

If you are interested in being considered for any future opportunities, please submit your resume and indicate your areas of interest and expertise. We will keep your information on file and contact you when a relevant position becomes available.

Who Should Apply: We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and with a variety of skill sets. Ideal applicants should possess:

• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• A passion for education and giving back
• A desire to contribute to a positive work culture

How to Apply: Please submit your resume along with a brief cover letter outlining your skills, areas of interest, and why you would be a great fit for our team. Be sure to include any relevant experience, certifications, or projects that demonstrate your qualifications.

WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement is an equal opportunity employer and strives to provide a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

We look forward to reviewing your application and exploring how you can contribute to our future success!

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