Assistant Manager of Strategic Philanthropy, FIT Foundation

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), part of the State University of New York and an internationally renowned college of art, design, business and technology with a strong emphasis on liberal arts, invites nominations and applications for an Assistant Manager of Strategic Philanthropy in the FIT Foundation.

The Fashion Institute of Technology, a part of the State University of New York, has been a leader in career education in art, design, business, and technology for nearly 70 years. With a curriculum that provides a singular blend of hands-on, practical experience, classroom study, and a firm grounding in the liberal arts, FIT offers a wide range of outstanding programs that are relevant to today's rapidly changing industries. Internationally renowned, FIT draws on its New York City location to provide a vibrant, creative community in which to learn. The college offers more than 45 majors and grants AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees, preparing students for professional success and leadership in the global marketplace.

With close ties to industry, FIT draws faculty from the city's art, business, and design elite, and from the rich academic community of the region. The college continually seeks creative faculty members who are passionate about their field and demonstrate exceptional professional capability in the core competencies of instruction design, learning enrichment, globalism, and use of technology, as well as mastery of established and emerging industry practices.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Assistant Manager of Strategic Philanthropy is responsible for developing, implementing and co coordinating fundraising and donor cultivation events, working in close collaboration with the VP for Advancement, the Director of Strategic Philanthropy and the FIT Foundation Board's Joint Development Committee. This position is responsible for managing fundraising events to meet fiscal goals to support the mission of the Foundation. Responsibilities of the role encompass two key areas: the first, to be an event lead on functions including but not limited to, fundraising, stewardship and cultivation events, as well as special initiative fundraising events; and the second is to support the lead event planners, both internal and external, in the planning, logistical management and production of Foundation fundraising events.

Event Management

• In collaboration with the Foundation team and other event owners and volunteers, plan and execute FIT fundraising events including the FIT Gala, as well as small and large-scale cultivation events and dinners, membership events, and donor cultivation and events both on-campus and off-campus.
• Work closely with the Director of Strategic Philanthropy, event producers, event Chairs and Committees on all aspects of FIT Foundation special events, including venue research, selection of and contract negotiations with vendors and entertainment planning. Manage events within expense budgets and to meet fundraising goals.
• Work closely with the office of CER to generate all event-related collateral and promotional material (print, web and social media) including invitations and event programs.
• Supervise the development of special event prospect lists, donor reports, and list reviews with the Foundation team, event co-chairs and committees.
• Lead post-event follow-through including follow up on outstanding pledges and debriefing meetings to solicit stakeholder feedback to incorporate into future plans.
• Create recap reporting on all fundraising events and initiatives.

Project Management

• In collaboration with the Operations team, manage all income, expenses and record-keeping related to the Strategic Philanthropy cost centers.
• Supervise the development of prospect lists, donor reports, and list reviews with the Foundation team.
• Maintain upkeep of donor portfolios in CRM, tracking all touchpoints.
• Manage in-kind sponsors or underwriters for donations of goods & services in CRM system.
• Monitoring, analyzing and reporting on fundraising initiative results to internal and external constituencies.
• Develop strategies to track and analyze results of development activities, solicitation assignments and progress.

Donor Relations

• Working with a portfolio of assigned prospects or faculty to cultivate, solicit and steward their support.
• Establishing ongoing relationships with individual donors through personal visits, phone calls and meaningful contacts.
• Reporting on and presenting stewardship opportunities within the Foundation office.
• Preparing all necessary reports and files to share with donors and prospective donors.
• Assisting with sponsorship and event fundraising with corporate and individual donors and prospects.

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position; other duties may be assigned consistent with the classification of the position.

REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required. 
• Three to five years of development experience in the areas of event planning and management, event budget development and management.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must be resourceful and creative in terms of researching, resourcing and securing venues, vendors and event related merchandise.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and teams.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment; manage multiple projects, tasks, and concurrent priorities simultaneously; and bring them to completion in a timely and thorough manner.
• Ability to plan long-term and meet deadlines.
• Maintain a professional demeanor and possess a high level of interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Adept at problem-solving and using independent judgment in situations requiring initiative, diplomacy, and tact.
• Ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
• Exceptionally well-organized, accurate, and attentive to detail on a consistent basis.
• Willingness to learn and employ new technologies as required.
• Must be flexible, forward-thinking, creative, resourceful and willing to think out of the box when taking on new responsibilities and initiatives.
• Willingness to collaborate with teams of colleagues across campus toward a common goal in a complex higher education environment.
• Willingness to work above and beyond regular hours, including evenings and weekends as events require.
• Excellent communication skills including writing, editing, and presenting.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an engaging and innovative personal style and a high level of sophistication and maturity in social and professional settings, including the ability to work diplomatically with partners and represent the Foundation and FIT.
• Highly developed leadership and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Proficiency in Raiser's Edge or similar CRM database system.
• An ability and willingness to quickly learn FIT and the University's history, mission, demographics, faculty, current programs, departments, etc., as well as the University culture to be able to persuasively articulate how FIT distinguishes itself from peer institutions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree preferred. 

MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Read Comprehend- Constant; Perform Calculations- Frequent; Communicate Orally- Constant; Reason & Analyze- Constant; Write- Frequent

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The position is on campus, primarily in an office environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Sit- Constant; Stand-Occasional; Bend- Occasional; Walk- Occasional; Climb- N/A; Pull- N/A; Push- N/A; Lift<10 lbs. - Occasional; Lift 10-20 lbs. - Occasional; Lift over 50 lbs.- N/A; Reach- N/A

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Days/Hours: M-F, 9am-5pm, in person; work schedule subject to change based on needs of the department. 
Collective Bargaining Agreement
Hiring Salary: $66,187 per year

Full-Time Benefits
Employee Holiday and Work Schedule
Remote Pilot Program

Review of applications will begin immediately until the position is filled.

Successful completion of a background check is required for appointment to this position once an offer has been made.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

In order to be considered for the position, you must submit the following documents online:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• A list of three references with telephone numbers and email addresses

Returning Applicants- Login to your FITNYC Careers Account to check your completed application.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to contact each applicant individually regarding his or her application status.

For more information about FIT, please visit FIT's website at: http://www.fitnyc.edu.

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

EEO/ Affirmative Action Statement

FIT is firmly committed to creating an environment that will attract and retain people of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. By providing a learning and working environment that encourages, utilizes, respects, and appreciates the full expression of every individual's ability, the FIT community fosters its mission and grows because of its rich, pluralistic experience. FIT is committed to prohibiting discrimination, whether based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, religion, ethnic background, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military service status, genetic information, pregnancy, familial status, citizenship status (except as required to comply with law), or any other criterion prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws. FIT is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, including the opportunity for upward mobility for all qualified individuals.  Applications from minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged.  Inquiries regarding FIT's non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator, 212.217.3360, titleix@fitnyc.edu.

The Fashion Institute of Technology is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is strongly and actively committed to diversity within the community.