Director of Development
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences (COAS)
The Opportunity
The Oregon State University Foundation (OSUF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the mission of Oregon State University (OSU). As OSU aspires to become even more instrumental to the well-being of Oregon and the nation by offering cutting-edge research and more scientific programs, the Foundation aspires to develop into one of the premier public University fundraising programs. As such, it seeks to capitalize on past successes, an engaged and committed alumni body and the talents and experiences of its senior leadership. The Presidents and Vice Presidents of the University and the Foundation are fostering an environment of innovation and excitement and are attracting top talent university-wide. The Foundation is now seeking an experienced fundraiser for the position of Director of Development for the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences (COAS) at Oregon State University.
The College is a leading institution in the study of the ocean, atmosphere, and Earth systems, with a particular strength in climate change research. The appointed Director of Development for COAS will have the opportunity to establish a fundraising operation for this renowned program and to join a dedicated and experienced advancement team working for the long-term benefit of OSU. The following pages will inform prospective applicants about the position, the mission and strength of the University, the nature of the fundraising program and an overview of the current campaign.
Director of Development, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
Reporting to the Vice President for Constituent Development and Associate Campaign Director, and working in close partnership with the Dean of the College, the Director will oversee all aspects of fundraising for COAS. The Director of Development will be responsible for increasing the level of support for the College from individuals, corporations, foundations and other sources. He or she will be expected to devote 80% of work time to fundraising activities and 20% of work time to administrative responsibilities.
Specifically, the Director will:
- Work closely with Dean Mark Abbott to advance the philanthropic priorities of the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences;
- Manage a prospect portfolio of 75-125 prospects rated at $25,000 to $5 million;
- Raise $1-$2 million dollars per year, including 16-24 gifts at $25,000 and above;
- Open at least 20 new proposals at the $25,000 and above level per year;
- Conduct 120-160 face-to-face visits per year;
- Travel five to seven days per month making three to five visits per travel day;
- Perform related administrative duties for the assigned area including contact reports, budget management, case statement development, and major gift cultivation events; and
- Other duties as assigned.
The Director of Development will have the privilege and opportunity to support climate change and other earth systems research by designing and leading the fundraising program for one of the top research institutions in this area. The program will have a significant impact on the state of Oregon and world-wide.
Oregon State University
OSU started as an academy incorporated as Corvallis College in 1858 just prior to being provided Land Grant status in the late 1860s. The second Morrill Act of 1890 and the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 further provided for the teaching function of the institution and for programs of research and extension. Today, as Oregon’s land grant institution, Oregon State University has crafted a mission for the 21st century that puts the needs of Oregon and the nation first and foremost. Oregon State is also one of only two universities in the United States with land, sea, space and sun grant designations, and accordingly, was selected by the federal government to be a nexus of teaching and research that benefits the country and the world. At the same time, OSU has become even more instrumental to the well-being of Oregon itself. As higher education, breakthrough ideas, and new knowledge become increasingly important to our economy and society, OSU has provided the accessible education and practical research that Oregonians and Oregon businesses need to thrive in changing times.
Oregon State University is a comprehensive public research university and a member of the Oregon University System. The University has programs and faculty located in every county of the state. OSU views the state of Oregon as its campus, and works in partnership with Oregon community colleges and other OSU institutions to provide access to educational programs. Departmental strengths include forestry, sciences including nanotechnology, oceanography/tsunami research, engineering, marine biology, agricultural sciences, and nutrition (the famed Linus Pauling Institute). OSU’s sports teams compete in the PAC 10. Recent large scale construction projects funded by donations include a new football stadium which seats 43,000, a $20 million engineering center, a renovation of Valley Library and Weatherford Hall, and a brand new state-of-the-art home for the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Mission and Goals of OSU
Oregon State University aspires to stimulate a lasting attitude of inquiry, openness and social responsibility. To meet these aspirations, the University is committed to providing excellent academic programs, educational experiences and creative scholarship. OSU’s strategic plan outlines its goals, including its aspiration to become one of the top 10 land grant universities in the United States. Three strategic objectives guide Oregon State University in meeting its mission:
(1) Statewide Campus. Oregon State University has a historic and unique role in Oregon. As a land-grant university, its heritage is articulated in the statement "the state of Oregon is the campus of Oregon State University." OSU emphasizes the importance of extending the University into every community in Oregon. The University will provide learning opportunities for Oregonians, and will create and apply knowledge that contributes to the prosperity of the state and its quality of life.
(2) Compelling Learning Experience. Oregon State University is committed to creating an atmosphere of intellectual curiosity, academic freedom, diversity, and personal empowerment. This compelling learning experience celebrates knowledge, encourages personal growth and awareness, acknowledges the benefits of diverse experiences, world views, learning styles, and values, and engenders personal and societal values that benefit the individual and society. OSU will develop curricula based on sound disciplinary knowledge and input from practitioners. Students will acquire skills and knowledge for a lifetime of learning, and will be involved in scholarly and creative pursuits.
(3) Top-Tier University. Oregon State University aspires to be a top-tier university. It is a Carnegie Doctoral/Research-Extensive University, a sea-grant institution and space-grant program, in addition to being a land-grant institution. OSU will measure its success by the caliber of entering students, the accomplishments of students and alumni, the quality of the faculty, the quality of instructional and research facilities, the effectiveness and productivity of engagement with businesses and constituents, and the support for research and scholarship.
For more information on OSU and the strategic plan, see www.oregonstate.edu.
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
The College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences is recognized worldwide for its research in Earth systems: the interplay of ocean, atmosphere, land, and biosphere. In addition to making critical discoveries about issues like climate change, the college emphasizes social impact: equipping policy makers, industry leaders, and other stakeholders with science-based information that allows them to make better decisions. COAS is a leader in the study of the Earth as an integrated system, providing scientific understanding to address complex environmental challenges. Climate change is rapidly emerging as one of those key challenges. In a new era where the past is no longer a good predictor of the future, new strategies must be developed that are grounded in discoveries regarding the functioning of our planet as an integrated system. COAS is pioneering new approaches in modeling, observations, and interdisciplinary science to help government and business develop strategies to respond to global-scale changes.
Seventy-five teaching and research faculty work with 80 research associates, recent Ph.D. recipients (postdocs) and faculty assistants, while engaging 100 graduate students in master’s and Ph.D. programs. Within the College, six main discipline groups oversee research and educational programs in atmospheric sciences, oceanography and marine resource management. These groups are: Atmospheric Sciences, Biological Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Marine Geology & Geophysics, Marine Resource Management, and Physical Oceanography. Many COAS researchers are world-renowned, and the college is growing and attracting more world-class faculty who are interested in the interdisciplinary approach of the academic program, the state-of-the-art technology and facilities, and working with leading faculty and students. OSU is now home to the third-largest number of ocean researchers of any institution in the United States, trailing only Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
The faculty, research and facilities at COAS are of the highest quality, including state-of-the-art computing infrastructure to support real-time ocean/atmosphere observation and prediction. The school operates numerous advanced, modern laboratories and two oceanographic research vessels. Facilities include general-purpose and specialized facilities and laboratories for chemical and biological analyses. The vessels operate out of the port facility at the Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) in Newport, Oregon. COAS is a national leader in the study of coastal zones and ocean processes. Through field experiments, theoretical investigations and numerical modeling and simulations, students and faculty research all aspects of ocean, land and atmosphere processes and interactions. Recognized as a leader as well in the study of small-scale ocean physics and mixing processes, COAS also has expertise in instrument design, field experiments, theory and modeling. COAS researchers lead national and international research using satellites for remote-sensing. The strength of OSU’s research was recently recognized by the National Science Foundation which awarded COAS a $20.6 million grant to lead an initiative over the next six years that will establish an ocean observatory off the Pacific Northwest coast.
Mission, Goals and Principles of COAS
The mission and goals of COAS are to increase knowledge and understanding about oceanic and atmospheric sciences, helping Oregonians, the nation and the world respond to the challenges of a dynamic and changing Earth system. Specific goals and principles are listed below.
Goals
- Transform new scientific understandings into accurate and well-characterized predictions.
- Educate the next generation of Earth scientists, policy makers, and advisors through a combination of comprehensive coursework and participation in scientific research.
- Disseminate knowledge of the Earth and its environment beyond the traditional academic and government communities.
Principles
- Our research is timely, relevant and of the highest scientific quality as measured by peer review and competitive selection.
- We maintain vital scientific activities in all areas of meteorological and oceanic research - - atmospheric sciences; biological, chemical, and physical oceanography; marine geology and geophysics; and marine resource management.
- Our graduate students actively participate in college research activities and have direct access to all college scientific facilities.
- Our organizational structure promotes and encourages substantial interdisciplinary research and education.
- We create unique, state-of-the-art scientific and technical facilities and make them available to internal and external researchers.
- We forge strong partnerships, coordinating with academic, government and private-sector groups to advance oceanic and atmospheric research and education.
Dean Mark Abbott
Mark Abbott joined the OSU faculty in 1988 and has been Dean of the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences since 2001. He is a member of the National Science Board, and serves as co-chair of Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s Climate Change Integration Group. Dean Abbott received a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources from the University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of California, Davis. His research interests include the coupling of biological and physical processes in the upper ocean, remote sensing of ocean color and sea surface temperature, phytoplankton fluorescence, and length and time scales of phytoplankton variability. Currently, Dr. Abbott is working on the relationship of time/space variability of phytoplankton to wind forcing in the California Current, Lagrangian observations of upper ocean optical properties, filaments in the California Current, mesoscale variability in the Southern Ocean, and phytoplankton fluorescence.
The unique Earth System Science Initiative at COAS establishes COAS as a leader in meeting the challenges facing society and the planet. Dean Abbott explains that “the world has come to understand that the Earth itself is the foundation of economic sustainability and success. Our country is beginning to see that understanding the natural world is vital to enhancing American innovation and competitiveness. To that end, the United States is expanding its investments in science and engineering, and Oregon looks to its universities to enhance its economy. At COAS, we provide critical knowledge to answer environmental and economic problems facing the state -- erosion of our shoreline, atmospheric pollution and impacts of climate change on marine and terrestrial ecosystems.”
Oregon State University Foundation
The OSU Foundation is the non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing Oregon State University. The Foundation achieves this mission by raising and managing private gifts that transform OSU’s programs beyond what is possible through the state-funded higher education budget. While public funds and tuition maintain the University, private gifts provide an additional margin of excellence through donor funded scholarships, professorships, program and endowments and other opportunities that provide depth and richness to the OSU experience.
Legally independent from the University, the Foundation is led by a Board of Trustees. It enjoys the involvement and commitment of forty-eight volunteers who assist in development activities. In addition, the Foundation employs 120 professional staff, with over 105 in Corvallis and others in offices in Portland and around the state. Over the next three years, the Foundation plans to add several associate and assistant level positions in constituent and central development, which will provide the resources necessary to increase fundraising levels and accomplish campaign goals. At the close of FY07, the Foundation had total assets of more than $570 million and the composite endowment was valued at more than $430 million. The Foundation raised $76.9M in FY07, one of the best years in its history. The Foundation’s primary office complex in Corvallis is a contemporary structure just blocks from the main campus and its buildings and activities.
The Foundation is committed to bringing the most talented professionals to Oregon to work for the benefit of Oregon State University and participate in the University’s first comprehensive campaign. It needs successful strategic planners, fundraisers, development services professionals and managers to help ensure its success in this exciting endeavor. The Foundation management seeks a Director of Development for COAS who is eager to be part of its entrepreneurial team and who views a challenge as an opportunity to build something great.
For more information on the Foundation, go to www.osufoundation.org.
The Campaign
Oregon State University officially launched "The Campaign for OSU," a $625 million fundraising effort and the university's first ever comprehensive capital campaign, in October 2007. As part of the event, OSU President Ed Ray also announced $77 million in private and public commitments toward a major campaign initiative: the Linus Pauling Science Center and its associated research and education programs.
Beginning with a planning phase in 2004, the campaign has already received strong support, including $52 million toward a $100 million goal for scholarships and fellowships. More than 62 donors have given gifts of $1 million or more to the campaign to date. Participation has been broad, with more than 400 donors contributing $100,000 or more; 45 percent of these donors live outside of the state. Of the dollars raised, 25-35% will go toward the University’s endowment, 15-25% toward facilities and the remaining toward current use. Campaign priorities were established based on the goals of the University’s strategic plan, the needs of the different colleges and programs and in collaboration and consultation with University leadership. As of this writing, the campaign has achieved $363 million toward its $625 million goal. The campaign goal for COAS is expected to be approximately $4.6 million, of which $1.2 million has already been raised.
Alumni Base and Notable Alumni
Oregon State has over 148,000 living alumni. Feasibility studies have indicated that there are 13,000 alumni prospects with the capacity to give $25,000. Approximately 4,000 alumni live in the wealthiest zip codes in the country, half of which are in California. The University enjoys a 16% annual fund participation rate, which is in the upper tier of participation for state universities.
Seventy percent of the alumni live in Oregon with many of the others residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California, and Seattle. Notable alumni include Linus Pauling, the only person to ever win two unshared Nobel Prizes; the first Americans to climb Mt. Everest; Bernie Newcomb, co-founder of E*Trade; two Oregon governors; Donald Bower the first President and CEO of Standard Oil of California; all four founders of CH2M Hill, a leading engineering consulting firm; Doug Engelbart, the inventor of the computer mouse; Lowell Edwards, the inventor of the artificial heart valve; John Young, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard; the world’s tallest basketball player; and Terry Baker, the Pacific Northwest’s only Heisman Trophy winner.
COAS graduates in particular have excelled in many fields. Notable alumni include Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, who holds master's and doctoral degrees in oceanography from Oregon State University; Nancy Ann Budden, Director for Counter terrorism Technology; and Ron Zaneveld, who received the Jerlov Award for his outstanding contributions to optical oceanography in 2006.
Management Team
The Director of Development for COAS is a critical member of OSUF’s senior fundraising team and reports directly to the Vice President for Constituent Development and Associate Campaign Director, Kevin Heaney. Kevin joined the Foundation in September 2005. As Vice President for Constituent Development, Kevin supervises fundraising teams covering twelve colleges and programs at Oregon State University including the College of Agricultural Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Veterinary Medicine, in addition to COAS. He has worked in fundraising at several prominent universities including Harvard, Johns Hopkins University and Georgetown University, where he served as the Director of Development for Georgetown College prior to his current appointment. He also has worked in academic advising at Cornell, the top-ranked land-grant university in the country. Kevin has a master’s degree in higher education administration from Columbia University and a law degree from Boston College. In his capacity as Associate Campaign Director, Kevin is actively involved in all campaign activities. He notes that “there is real enthusiasm and energy at the foundation, and OSU seems well-positioned to have a successful campaign that will bring the University to the next level. To be a part of that transformation is enormously exciting.”
Kevin is a member of the Foundation’s senior management team which includes Senior Vice President of Development, Shawn Scoville, Mary Ellen McGillan, Vice President for Central Development Programs and Michael Goodwin (Mike), the Foundation’s President. Shawn was most recently the Associate Vice President of Development for the Main Campus at Georgetown University, where he spent 16 years and led the effort to raise more than $700 million in a $1 billion campaign. Mike also came from Georgetown University, where he oversaw all development and fundraising operations. Under Mike’s leadership and direction of 200 staff, Georgetown closed its first $1 billion campaign, the Third Century Campaign, in 2004. Mike is considered one of the top fundraising executives in the United States and has successfully led three campaigns for private and public universities. He is well known for his outstanding management talent and development and fundraising skills.
First 12 Months and Anticipated Challenges
The first 12 months will be filled with opportunities and challenges. The priorities for this time period are: (1) to become familiar with the College, meeting with the Dean and faculty, to understand and appreciate the importance of its work; (2) to achieve greater clarity on the case for support for COAS; (2) to develop a pool of prospects and begin to conduct donor visits; (3) to develop the messaging for COAS fundraising; and, (4) to start raising gifts, demonstrating success but with the understanding that it may take some time to build relationships. The Director of Development should expect some challenges, in view of the small alumni base. He or she will need to work closely with the Dean to cultivate potential donors in the wider community. Under the strong leadership of OSU President Ed Ray and Foundation President Michael Goodwin, however, the Director of Development for COAS will be in an excellent position to accomplish the stated priorities with no significant obstacles.
Qualifications and Requirements
Applicants must possess a Bachelor’s degree and three to five years of development work experience or related work experience with emphasis on major gift fundraising. Comprehensive campaign experience is preferred. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate successful major gifts fundraising experience. Candidates must possess a valid driver’s license, and must be able to travel extensively and by varying modes of transportation.
Personality Traits and Compatibility Profile
The successful candidate will be a seasoned and creative fundraiser with an entrepreneurial bent. He or she will be passionate about the field of climate change and eager to apply that passion for the benefit of OSU. The highest standard of professionalism is required as is the ability to work independently but within a collaborative, team environment. The appointed Director must apply sound judgment, maintain the confidentiality of proprietary data, develop and sustain long-term donor relationships and act with integrity, honesty and focus at all times. All members of the Foundation staff are expected to operate as part of a team without the promotion of personal agendas and to exhibit a commitment to the profession and the University. The Foundation aims to attract candidates with a long term interest in working for OSU.
Benefits, Compensation and Community Information
The OSU Foundation offers nationally competitive salaries and excellent benefits. Compensation will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the finalist. For more information about benefits go to: www.osufoundation.org/employment/benefitsoverview
Corvallis is a college town with 50,000 residents, 18,000 of which are from the student body. Hewlett Packard is the largest corporate employer in the area. The University and Corvallis are located alongside the vineyard region, 90 miles south of Portland, and a similar distance from both the Oregon coastline and ski resorts in the Cascades. The area is known for offering unlimited hiking, biking, camping and other outdoor activities. For information on Corvallis, Oregon, go to www.welcometocorvallis.com . A slide show of Oregon is available at the Foundation’s website at www.osufoundation.org under Job Opportunities.
Search Process and To Apply
The OSUF has retained Higher Talent, Inc. to manage the search process. Interested candidates should direct inquiries, resumes, cover letters and compensation history to anyone on their team:
Diane Charness, President at 301-320-9007 or dc@highertalentinc.com
Mindy Suissa, Vice President at 301-915-0906 or ms@highertalentinc.com
Susan Fine, Associate Director at 301-915-0910 or sf@highertalentinc.com
Higher Talent Inc.
4938 Hampden Lane, #470
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301-320-9007
Fax: 301-320-7209
OSUF makes hiring decisions on the basis of merit and ability and encourages all qualified applicants to apply.
