Development Specialist (Advancement Professional II)

Join San Diego State University as a Development Specialist and help strengthen the relationships and philanthropic programs that support the Fowler College of Business. In this role, you'll coordinate donor engagement, advisory board activities, stewardship initiatives, and fundraising operations that connect alumni, business leaders, and supporters with the college's programs and priorities.

Working closely with the Fowler College of Business Development team, you'll support 8 philanthropic advisory boards, coordinate donor communications and engagement activities, analyze fundraising data, and help ensure development programs run smoothly. This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys relationship building, organization, and using data and communications to support meaningful philanthropic engagement.

Advisory Board Management & Engagement

• →Coordinate the operations and engagement activities of the Fowler College of Business's philanthropic advisory boards, including the Entrepreneurship Initiatives Advisory Board.
• →Manage board membership, onboarding, communications, dues tracking, and related administrative processes.
• →Serve as a primary point of contact for advisory board members, working closely with board chairs, faculty, and development staff.
• →Support board engagement strategies that strengthen relationships and philanthropic participation.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• →Develop donor communications, outreach campaigns, newsletters, and engagement materials.
• →Coordinate donor acknowledgment, recognition, and stewardship activities for annual and major gifts.
• →Plan and support donor recognition events and engagement opportunities.
• →Maintain donor relationships and coordinate follow-up with development staff and campus partners.

Prospect Research & Fundraising Analysis

• →Research prospective donors and analyze giving trends to support fundraising strategies and major gift pipeline development.
• →Maintain donor and prospect information using CRM systems and research tools.
• →Develop reports, track pledges and donor activity, and identify opportunities for engagement and stewardship.
• →Prepare gift agreements, fund documentation, and financial reports supporting development activities.

Development Operations & Administrative Support

• →Coordinate day-to-day development operations, including records management, scheduling, and executive support.
• →Track budgets, expenses, purchasing, and financial documentation in accordance with university and foundation procedures.
• →Support administrative processes and identify opportunities to improve development workflows and systems.
• →Collaborate with college leadership, faculty, development colleagues, and university partners on fundraising initiatives.

We're looking for an organized, relationship-oriented professional who enjoys coordinating programs, working with donors and stakeholders, and supporting fundraising initiatives.

Experience in areas such as the following is especially valuable:

• Advancement, fundraising, donor relations, or nonprofit development
• Advisory board coordination, membership management, or stakeholder engagement
• Donor communications, stewardship, and event coordination
• Prospect research, fundraising reporting, or data analysis
• CRM systems, donor databases, or financial reporting tools
• Administrative operations, budget tracking, and process improvement
• Supporting senior leadership and managing multiple priorities
• Higher education, nonprofit, or philanthropic environments

• This is a full-time (1.0 time-base), benefits eligible, permanent/probationary position.
• This position is designated as exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs (Ability and availability to travel and attend events or perform duties on and off campus outside of normal working hours, including weekends as needed). 
• This position is eligible for telecommuting up to 3 days per week, following a training period during which on-site presence is required.

University Relations and Development (URAD) shares the university’s vision and mission underscored in the SDSU strategic plan. Units of URAD work together to create enduring relationships with alumni, parents, donors, students and the community to generate private support for SDSU students, faculty and a diverse number of programs.

URAD handles a range of services encompassing stewardship, events, gift administration, communications and more.  The departments of Development, SDSU Alumni, Planned and Annual Giving, Special Events and Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Financial Management, Data Management, Prospect Research and Management and Operations are making a tangible difference in the lives of more than 40,000 students.

Our fundraising success can be credited to the university’s goal of building a world-class university campus, research center, and multi-use stadium in Mission Valley to serve higher education, the public good, and the community’s goals and aspirations.

SDSU has been recognized several times for its exceptional development program by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). With the support of loyal donors and in collaboration with SDSU’s visionary faculty and staff, the university cultivates lifelong relationships with more than 500,000 alumni, friends, and community members—advancing SDSU’s mission for generations to come.

For more information regarding the University Relations and Development department, click here.

Equivalent to a bachelor's degree in a related field and two years of relevant experience. Additional experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

• Ability to independently coordinate and administer advisory board engagement and activities.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and implement process improvements while managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to respond to internal and external constituents in a timely, efficient, and professional manner, with excellent follow-through.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong administrative and project coordination skills.
• Ability to represent SDSU, University Relations and Development, and The Campanile Foundation positively, demonstrating integrity and commitment to their missions.
• Experience providing administrative support to senior leaders and multiple individuals.
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office, including strong proficiency with Excel and Word.
• Ability and availability to travel and attend events or perform duties outside of regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, both on and off campus.
• Preferred
• Experience managing or engaging with philanthropic advisory boards.
• Experience serving as a point of contact for donors, industry leaders, or prospective philanthropists, preferably in a higher education or nonprofit setting.
• Experience providing general office or administrative support in a higher education or nonprofit environment.
• Experience using CRM, donor, gift, or financial databases, managing expenditures against a budget, or preparing and interpreting financial reports.

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community.  Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment.  We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

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Valid California Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. 

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.