Executive Director of Development, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Executive Director of Development, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

The ASU Foundation has partnered with Prime Executive Office in the search for an Executive Director of Development for the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. You may submit an application via primeexecutiveoffice.com/opportunities .

The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts (HIDA) is the largest comprehensive design and arts school in the nation, located within a dynamic, fast-growing research university.

With almost 10,000 students, more than 600 faculty members, over 140 program options and a tradition of top-ranked programs, we are committed to redefining the 22nd-century design and arts school. Our college has assembled a dynamic team of leaders with diverse skill sets that can work between and among disciplines unlike any other program in the nation, including ASU FIDM and ASU FIDM Museum ; the School of Art ; The GAME School ; The Design School ; The Sidney Poitier New American Film School ; the School of Music, Dance and Theatre ; and the ASU Art Museum .

The Executive Director of Development is one of seven members of HIDA’s leadership team, which is working to make the Institute the most inclusive and ambitious arts and design school in the country. The Executive Director leads all advancement for HIDA, including major gifts, donor cultivation, campaigns, and external engagement, and works closely with development colleagues across ASU. The role reports to the ASU Foundation Vice President of Unit Development with a liaison reporting line to the Dean. It is based in Tempe, Arizona.

Why this role, why now:

The Herberger Institute sits at the intersection of the arts, technology, education, and what makes us human. Its reach extends well beyond its alumni: ASU touches roughly half a million learners each year, and HIDA’s natural supporters include anyone who sees design and the arts as part of solving real problems. The next Executive Director will bring an entrepreneurial approach to that opportunity, starting every conversation with what the donor wants to accomplish. With HIDA's growing presence in Los Angeles, particularly across fashion, film, and gaming, there is also an opportunity to cultivate new philanthropic relationships and expand the Institute's reach into one of the world's leading creative markets.

Dean Renee Cheng is a visionary leader who rallies people around big ideas. She operates with a strong bias to action, and she is looking for a partner who will keep pace and put her vision into play: someone who brings structure, prepares her ahead of every donor conversation, and follows through on every relationship. The Executive Director will also lead and coach a talented team of fundraisers, build a disciplined pipeline, and reimagine HIDA’s advisory councils, working closely with the Dean’s team and colleagues across the ASU Foundation.

What you'll do:

- Partner to the Dean. Serve on the Institute’s senior leadership team, as the Dean’s strategic partner in fundraising, and as a thought partner on the Institute’s broader strategy. Bring structure to her development priorities and calendar, staff her at donor meetings and events with talking points well in advance and briefings on who is in the room, and ensure prompt follow-up on every relationship.
- Development strategy. Set and refine HIDA’s development strategy in line with the Dean’s vision, translating ambitious, interdisciplinary ideas into compelling, actionable philanthropic opportunities that reflect the values of ASU. Collaborate with school directors, chairs, and faculty to shape gift opportunities that connect donor interests with institutional priorities and prepare university leaders to engage effectively with prospects.
- Major and principal gifts. Manage a personal portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, focused on gifts of $1M and above, with a personal fundraising goal of at least $5M. Write proposals and lead complex, university-wide proposals for the highest-level gifts.
- Team leadership. Lead as a player-coach: recruit, coach, and retain a high-performing team, set and evaluate individual goals, and bring gift officers into donor meetings. Own unit results, from donor count and retention to proposals and new commitments. Manage the unit’s development budget.
- Pipeline and donor base. Build a disciplined approach to pipeline management within the ASUF tracking system, establishing clear processes for prospect identification, cultivation, and stewardship. Create greater visibility for the Dean into pipeline health, donor engagement, and fundraising progress. Grow the donor base of individuals, corporations, and foundations, and ensure strong stewardship and recognition.
- Councils and partnerships. Lead the reimagining of the Creativity Council and the Dean’s advisory councils, giving members meaningful, behind-the-scenes ways to engage. Partner with HIDA’s marketing, communications, and events teams and with the central ASU Foundation,  as well as university colleagues to coordinate donor strategy across ASU.

What you'll need:

- Exceptional organization, speed, and follow-through; keeps pace with a fast-moving, decisive Dean and honors every commitment
- The confidence to partner with a visionary Dean and contribute meaningfully to a topperforming team; offers ideas and candid counsel, welcomes feedback, iterates quickly, and commits fully once a decision is made
- A bias toward yes: meets big ideas with a plan, and offers a workable alternative when something can’t be done
- Skill in navigating a matrixed structure, leading through influence, moving priorities forward between the college and the ASU Foundation, and translating the Dean’s ambitions into terms central partners can act on
- Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop gift officers, building a culture of trust, shared opportunity, and accountability
- An entrepreneurial, builder’s mindset and enthusiasm for ASU’s vision as the New American University and the role of the arts in a changing world, with a strong awareness of the trends shaping donor priorities
- Excellent communication and relationship skills, with the judgment, discretion, and ethics to represent ASU well with donors, faculty, volunteers, and communities of all backgrounds
- Exceptional writing skills, including the ability to draft proposals and correspondence in the Dean’s voice

Relevant qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- At least eight years of development or fundraising experience, including at least three years managing a team
- A proven track record of major gift fundraising in higher education, the arts, or a large philanthropic organization, with hands-on knowledge of the full donor cycle

Preferred education and experience:

- Advanced degree
- Experience working in Salesforce and Workday

Benefits:

- Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) plan with matching employer contribution
- 22 days of vacation time
- 11 holidays, including your birthday
- Parental leave
- Significant tuition reductions
- Professional development is highly valued at ASU Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization and nurture new areas of interest
- $30 bi-weekly cell phone reimbursement

About ASU Foundation:

The ASU Foundation fosters partnerships between ASU and like-minded individuals, corporations and foundations who believe in ASU’s mission and provide resources for ASU to manifest its charter into meaningful impact. These partnerships empower ASU to advance student access, serve our community, protect the planet, create equity in higher education and conduct research for the public good.

At the ASU Foundation We Value:

Character

We prioritize character and integrity in every decision and action, establishing trust as the foundation of all that we do.

Service

We are dedicated to serving our students, donors, communities, and colleagues by fostering support and collaboration to ensure that our efforts are impactful.

Innovation

Innovation drives us to create meaningful opportunities and solutions, helping every member of our global community achieve meaningful outcomes.

The ASU Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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