A Day In The Life Of An Assistant Director Of Development At UC Davis
As an Assistant Director of Development at UC Davis, a typical day involves being a "frontline fundraiser" by traveling extensively throughout California to meet with alumni, primarily focusing on furthering relationships with alumni through in-person meetings and zoom calls whether or not they're gonna be able to give a major gift. The role also entails working on dean's projects and college events, such as alumni networking and volunteer board meetings, where "every day's a little bit different," and appreciating the privilege to explore the diverse geographic locations of the UC system's alumni.
Fundraising, Relationship Building, Alumni Engagement, Event Planning, Travel
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Ryan Advincula
Assistant Director of Development
University of California, Davis
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis: MBA
Entertainment, Music & Arts, Political Science, American Studies
Education, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Assistant Director of Development primarily focuses on frontline fundraising for the College of Letters and Science, which involves frequent travel to meet with alumni across diverse locations in California.
2. The role involves building and nurturing relationships with alumni through meetings and calls, exploring opportunities for major gifts, volunteering, and connections to promote fundraising goals and career opportunities for students and recent graduates.
3. The work is varied, including attending alumni networking events, volunteer board meetings, and assisting with projects initiated by the dean, making each day different and engaging.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of an assistant director of development in higher ed look like?
I work as a frontline fundraiser for the College of Letters and Science. Most of my days are remote, though we are in the office about two days a week.
Typically, I'm on the road taking meetings with alumni. I'm based in Sacramento, but a day might include meetings in the South Bay, East Bay, Berkeley, Davis, El Dorado, the Central Valley, or even up north to Redding.
These meetings can also be held over Zoom. The main goal is to further our relationships, whether or not alumni are able to make a major gift.
They can also contribute by volunteering or offering connections that help promote fundraising goals. Additionally, these connections can help actualize career opportunities for recent grads and students.
My day can also look very different if the dean has specific projects. We also host many events in the college, such as alumni networking events or volunteer board meetings.
Every day is a little different, which is part of why I enjoy the job. Traveling can be fun, but it can also be draining.
However, I get to explore so much of California, which I love. Part of why I appreciate the University of California system is seeing alumni in their diverse geographic locations. I feel privileged to explore this every day.