How to Apply
You must apply through the UM Jobs website (umjobs.org/). In addition to your resume, a cover letter is required, not to exceed one page. In the body of your letter, please describe how the position fits with and advances your career goals. Your resume and cover letter will be a writing sample for the initial screening process. Please submit your cover letter and resume together as a single electronic document (PDF is preferred, but other formats are also acceptable), as the system will accommodate only one attachment.
Interview Timeline and Structure
We will be conducting interviews via phone and Zoom in mid-November through early-December, with an anticipated start date in January 2027.
Salary and Work Location
The salary range for this position is $58,000 - $$65,000.
Salary is determined by direct relevant experience and demonstrated past performance results while ensuring equity on our team.
Our office is located at 309 Maynard Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This position offers the option to work on-site or in a hybrid (remote and on-site) format. Specific days in the office will be determined with your manager and team.
Mission Statement
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
Job Summary
Who we are
LSA Advancement builds philanthropic relationships to inspire transformational support for the liberal arts and sciences at the University of Michigan. We are more than 50 professionals building a positive work environment that supports the excellence and transformative power of the college's liberal arts mission through values-based fundraising and development operations. To learn more about what we do and what it's like to work with us, visit our Join Our Team Website.
Who you are
Are you a curious person who loves to listen to people tell their stories? Are you inspired to help connect individuals with causes they are passionate about? Are you somebody who is excited to travel and take on new adventures? Are you able to establish rapport quickly, and carry on a lively conversation about almost anything? And, do you enjoy chatting about your higher education experience and the power of the liberal arts?
If this sounds like you, then we want you as part of our Annual Giving and College Connections team! You should be able to communicate the outcomes of a liberal arts education with strong writing, critical and analytical thinking skills, and thrive in a collaborative team environment. You will also be working with team members to fundraise for important annual fund dollars, so you should be driven by making an impact on students and be able to make a convincing case for support.
What you'll do
As a member of the College Connections group, you will be part of a team of three that travels around the country to interview LSA alumni and parents, and connect them with opportunities to help the college. This position will give you the opportunity to to learn about donor outreach, data, reporting, and content creation and how the field of annual giving fundraising connects to other parts of higher education and fundraising.
Other duties and expectations include:
- Travel one week per month, 8 months per year to your assigned region
- Conduct approximately 150 interviews per year with LSA Alumni and parents to learn about their experiences, ideas, and insights about the college and also educate them about college fundraising priorities and volunteer opportunities (80% of interviews will be in person during your trips and 20% will be virtual over Zoom or the phone)
- Complete documentation of the interviews, compile reports of trends, and share those with the Dean of LSA; then follow-up with interested donors to connect them with fundraising opportunities
- Participate in annual giving projects such as: giving days, mail solicitations, department crowdfunding projects, and email marketing
- Work on special projects such as the Young Alumni Newsletter or Young Alumni giving
You'll report directly to the Director of Annual Giving and College Connections.
A full job description can be found here.
Required Qualifications*
- Undergraduate degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- 2-4 years in annual giving or development (or transferable field).
- Must be able to speak to the value of a liberal arts education by showing a breadth of experiences (academic and extracurricular).
- Experience working and collaborating with a variety of partners.
- Experience in donor relations or a transferable field such as customer service, interviewing, sales, etc
- Demonstrated writing and communication skills.
- Working knowledge of business productivity tools such as Google Workspace or Microsoft Office and video conferencing applications (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet).
- Experience working with sensitive and confidential data.
We encourage applications from candidates with varied perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds.
Why Work at Michigan?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
- Generous time off, including vacation time, sick time, holiday, and season days
- A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
- Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
In addition, LSA offers:
- Enhanced tuition support programs for LSA courses
- Strong commitment to work/life balance
- Flexible work arrangements with respect to campus stakeholder needs
Being part of something greater, of serving a larger mission of discovery and care - that's the heart of what drives people to work at Michigan. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. It's adding a purpose to your profession. Work at Michigan and become a victor for the greater good.
You can learn more about the benefits you will be eligible to receive at this website.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
Travel requirements:
Individuals must be able to travel by air and car to locations in the central United States, including areas that may not have reliable public transportation, Uber, Lyft, etc. Travel will include overnight stays several days a month and occasional evening and weekend work responsibilities such as attending sporting events or tailgates, dinners, etc.
Work Authorization:
Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment, and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.
As one of the world's great liberal arts and sciences colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.
To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.