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Director of Development

University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI Full Time
POSTED ON 5/30/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 7/30/2026

Description


Job ID 

AF9883-4020-1949 


Position Classification

FT Administrator


Position Summary

The Director of Development for the School of Law (SOL) is responsible for planning and managing the overall major gift work for the SOL. They will work through University Advancement (UA) and in conjunction with the Dean to advance the priorities of the academic unit as well as the University.


The Director of Development, SOL will be responsible for developing and implementing an overall major gift program that will support the specific academic area initiatives and the University of Detroit Mercy’s overall development efforts. Focusing on major gift commitments, the DOD identifies, qualifies, cultivates and solicits prospects, and stewards donors, according to the performance expectations established in UA.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Identification of donor prospects. 
  • Contact with donors and donor prospects for qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. Actively work all four stages of their assigned portfolio of prospects. 
  • Contact preparation and follow-up, contact reports, proposal development. Detailing of monthly and annual metrics for performance centered around in-person meetings, quality outreach, and annual fundraising goals. 
  • Meetings with Dean, faculty, staff and UA supervisor and UA team. 
  • Other duties that support major gift development. 

Requirements


Minimum Qualifications

  •  Education – A college degree or four to eight years of work experience in a related field.
  •  Employment – Five years to seven years (Equivalent combination of education and employment).

Preferred Qualifications

Employee will have sound knowledge of laws, best practices and philosophy of charitable giving.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The employee will have the knowledge and skills to successfully manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors for the University’s fundraising initiatives. Knowledge and skills include the ability to identify, qualify and cultivate donor prospects; to develop timely and effective solicitation strategies; to conduct personal solicitations; and to effectively steward donors in a way that will lead to their next gift.
 

Employee will have the knowledge and skills to develop fundraising goals and detailed prospect strategy plans with priorities, action steps, timelines and expected outcomes; to maintain complete contact reports and appropriate Raiser’s Edge records; and to advise on the development of fundraising marketing materials.
 

Employee will have the ability to work with the Dean and appropriate faculty and staff to develop and maintain a comprehensive approach to external relations, and to fulfill the major gift portion of that plan, which will include, but not be limited to, assisting the Dean with local, regional, and national strategies to increase both the amount of monies raised and the number of donors giving to the school.


Physical Requirements

Job may require lifting light weight objects (1 to 10 pounds) with no repetitive bending or stooping. Occasionally lift average weight objects (1 to 10 pounds).


Work Environment

Regular exposure to favorable conditions such as those found in a normal office.


Salary/Pay Information

Commensurate with experience


Anticipated Schedule

Monday – Friday, 8:30 am -5:00 pm


Additional Information

Employee must possess a commitment to support and articulate the University’s Catholic, Jesuit and Mercy mission; have excellent verbal and written communication skills; have appropriate computer skills in support of fundraising; have the interpersonal skills to work effectively with major gift prospects and donors, volunteers and University leaders; and have the ability to contribute to University Advancement as part of the Major Gift Team. 


Employee Benefits

At the University of Detroit Mercy we continually strive to provide a high-quality, comprehensive benefits package to our valued employees. We offer our employees the following: 


· Medical -

      o Three health plans to choose from with a large national provider network

· Dental -

     o Option to purchase additional dental plan through Sun Life 

Dental Care is available at the School of Dentistry to the employee, the employee's spouse or legally domiciled adult and dependents (dependents shall be as defined for Internal Revenue Service purposes).

The fee for such services shall be waived for the employee, the employee's spouse or legally domiciled adult and dependents, up to a cap of $3,000 per individual per calendar year. Beyond the $3,000 cap amount, employees will be responsible to pay 25% of any remaining fees for the balance of that year.

· Vision - 

o Option to purchase additional vision plan through Heritage

Vision benefits available at Detroit Mercy Eye Institute

$35 Comprehensive Eye Exam

Contact Lens Exam starting at $7o

50% off Optical Frames

25% off Sun Frames

30% off Prescription Lenses

20% off Prescription Contact Lenses

*Cannot be combined with insurance*

· Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options

· Employee Assistance Program -

     o Provided to everyone in your household

· Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

· Life and AD&D - 

      o One times base salary up to a hundred thousand dollars

· Option to purchase additional life insurance, accident insurance, and/or critical illness insurance

· Tuition Remission Benefit for you, your spouse, and children

· Retirement Plan - 

Employees have a choice of the following:

Employees who contribute 3% shall receive an Employer contribution of 6%, and employees who contribute 4% in the plan shall receive an Employer contribution of 8%.


Michigan’s largest, most comprehensive private University, University of Detroit Mercy is an independent Catholic institution of higher education sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and Society of Jesus. Detroit Mercy seeks qualified candidates who will contribute to the University’s mission, diversity, and excellence of its academic community. University of Detroit Mercy is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer with a diverse student body and welcomes persons of all backgrounds. 

Salary : $7 - $35

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