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Michigan State University

Spartan Fund Development Assistant

🇺🇸 Hybrid - East Lansing, MI

🕑 Temporary

💰 $19 per Hour

💻 Other

🗓️ July 29th, 2025

CRM Salesforce

Edtech.com's Summary

Michigan State Athletics is hiring a Spartan Fund Development Assistant. The role involves supporting major and annual giving efforts, stewardship and event coordination, and general fundraising office functions within the Spartan Fund to help secure philanthropic contributions for student-athlete programs.

Highlights
  • Support Annual Fund initiatives including Give Green Day and other solicitations
  • Assist in delivering annual donor benefits like parking allocation and sport-specific re-seating
  • Use CRM databases (Salesforce Ascend and Paciolan) to track and manage donor information and gift documentation
  • Support stewardship efforts and coordinate donor events including setup, registration, and vendor relations
  • Supervise student workers for event parking and premium seating at multiple sports
  • Execute digital gift acknowledgements and assist in developing sport-specific annual fund plans
  • Provide customer service managing inbound and outbound donor and season ticket holder communications
  • Requires baccalaureate degree and experience in athletics, sales, higher education, or related field
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Temporary full-time position at $19/hour with potential for extension up to 18 months

Spartan Fund Development Assistant Full Description

Position Summary(Basic Job Function)
This is a temporary or an on-call position. Provides professional support. Responsibilities may include general business, science, medical, agricultural or other professional support functions. Term: Temps can work two (2) nine (9) month terms with a week break in service in between and at the end of the second term terminate for three (3) months or switch to an on-call. On-Call allowed to work 1039 hours in any twelve (12) month period.

Unit Position Summary
Michigan State Athletics is seeking qualified applicants for a Development Assistant within Spartan Fund, the department’s fundraising arm. This is a temporary, full-time position (40 hours per week) for a term of 9 months that can be extended to 18 months. The pay rate is $19/hour.

Michigan State University Athletics
Competing within the prestigious Big Ten Conference, Michigan State University Athletics is a self –sustaining unit and private support plays a crucial role in keeping that fiscal responsibility.

MSU Athletics, through contributions to Spartan Fund, secures philanthropic contributions through capital, annual, endowment and planned gifts.  These gifts are in support of our student-athletes in their quest for excellence.

Annually, nearly 700 student-athletes across 23 sports receive a world-class education while playing the sport they love.  With private support from Spartans across the country, we are able to offer a championship level opportunity in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. 

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Development Assistant, as a member of Spartan Fund, will support major and annual giving, stewardship and events, and general functions of a Big Ten fundraising office.

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
ANNUAL FUND (30%)
  • Support Annual Fund initiatives including Give Green Day and other annual solicitations.
  • Assist in delivering annual donor benefits including, but not limited to parking allocation, sport-specific re-seating, and Go Green Cards.
  • Gather data, assess prospects, and help develop strategies designed to realize the current and lifetime giving potential of individual prospects.
  • Use CRM databases (Salesforce Ascend and Paciolan) to identify trends, coordinate and track strategies, record activities, maintain updated prospect information, and manage gift documentation.
  • Assist in maintaining and updating customer records.
STEWARDSHIP & EVENTS (30%)
  • Support stewardship-related efforts through benefit fulfillment according to donor level, as well as highlighting the impact of individualized philanthropy.
  • Provide support for donor events, including registration, setup and tear down, coordinating with vendors, and assisting donor needs.
  • Supervise and schedule student workers for assignments related to event parking and premium seating in football, basketball, volleyball, and hockey.
 GENERAL OFFICE FUNCTIONS (40%)
  • Assist in the development of assigned sport-specific annual fund plans.
  • Execute digital annual fund-level gift acknowledgement program.
  • Partner with Athletics Development colleagues to execute a successful comprehensive donor strategy.
  • Deliver exceptional customer service to donors and season ticket holders by expertly managing both inbound and outbound calls and emails.
  • Execute renewal, lapsed, and long-lapsed donor calls asking for support.
  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with colleagues in the Athletic Department, specifically Spartan Fund, University Advancement, Spartan Ticket Office, and Marketing & Fan Engagement.
  • Attend all assigned meetings.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Previous development assistants with Spartan Fund have accepted full-time positions at Michigan State, the Big 12 Conference, Clemson, Arizona State, and UCF among numerous other Division I institutions directly following the development assistantship.

Desired qualifications
  • Baccalaureate degree and experience in athletics, sales, higher education, or related field.
  • Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
  • Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks, details, and prioritize work to meet deadlines
  • Demonstrated excellence in communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills and ability to interact with varied constituents in a timely, courteous and professional manner

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Work Hours
STANDARD 8-5
Website
WWW.MSUSPARTANS.COM