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Associate Director of Development - College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science

California State University
San Luis Obispo, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 16 Feb 2026
💰 $99,999/yr($24,999/yr$99,999/yr)

About the role

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Development will serve as a professional in the college to cultivate and solicit alumni, parents, friends, employers, foundations and corporations for contributions. The incumbent will  participate in a comprehensive college-based development program by identifying, qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gifts; understand and comply with the policies, procedures and best practices established by University Development; foster successful major gift fundraising by preparing  academic leaders to participate routinely and effectively in development activities and prospect appointments; and participate in college based programs that identify and encourage relationships with donors, prospects and alumni. 

Department Summary

The role of the University Development and Alumni Engagement (UDAE) Division is to foster strong relationships with external partners while enhancing support for Cal Poly. University Development and Alumni Engagement does this by implementing an overall advancement program that includes alumni and parent engagement, community outreach, coordinated fundraising efforts, donor relations, gift processing, trust and endowment management, training and systems support for the donor database, and Cal Poly Foundation support and administration.

Key Qualifications

  • Manage a personal portfolio of an assigned number of prospective annual and major gift prospects/donors, while maintaining confidentiality. Manage prospect, identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Conduct an assigned number of significant or substantive donor meetings annually. Submit an assigned number of major gift proposals annually.
  • Develop and implement strategies for the solicitation of leadership annual gifts ($1,000 - $24,999) and major gifts ($25,000 - $99,999) including determining the appropriate ongoing relationships with prospects/donors; recommending specific purpose and level of gift; identifying those who should be involved in cultivation and subsequent solicitations; and carry out solicitations, as directed.
  • In conjunction with input from the Senior Director of Development in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science and the Assistant Vice President in University Development and Alumni Engagement, execute an assigned portion of an annual development plan. Responsible for personal and college metrics and goals that result from the annual development plan.
  • Under the direction of the CAFES Senior Director of Development, develop written proposals for presentation to leadership annual and major gift donors, corporate sponsors, and foundations; develop gift agreements and confer with appropriate administrative personnel to secure closure of the gift; oversee accounting, gift recording and acknowledgement procedures and reporting; oversee compliance for in-kind gifts.
  • Work collaboratively with central University Development & Alumni Engagement partners including, but not limited to, Annual Giving, Planned Giving, Corporation Relations, Foundation Relations, Development Support Services, Trust and Endowments, and Parent Philanthropy.
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Education and Experience

  • Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience in development, fundraising, donor relations, marketing, planned giving or other related professional experience. 
  • Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
  • Possession of a valid driver's license or the ability to obtain one by date of hire.

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $75,000 - $95,000 per year. Note that the offer is calculated based on the background and relevant years of experience of the individual selected.

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the University anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participatio

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Company

California State University

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