Million dollar mavens

San Diego State University, hit by parched California state finances, is on the hunt for a new million-dollar-plus rainmaker. Says an online help-wanted ad: “The Director of Donor Relations reports directly to the Vice President of University Relations and Development. The director leads SDSU’s efforts to sustain and deepen the relationship between the university and its donors through thoughtful and meaningful acknowledgement, recognition, communication and engagement.” No salary is specified by the notice, but there are extra benefits. “This position is in the Management Personnel Plan (Administrator II) and earns management benefits including medical, dental, vision, $100,000 life insurance plan, and the CalPERS pension plan.”

Assignments include working “with University Development management and the senior development officers to create and implement individualized stewardship plans for $1 million-plus donors,” as well as teaming up with the school’s “Special Events unit to plan events around significant donor activity, such as naming gifts or endowed professorships.” The new hire will be expected to “establish and maintain” a “personal portfolio of twenty-five donors to steward.”

If schmoozing with rich old folks isn’t your thing, how about rounding up well-heeled foreign students from Turkey? “The Turkey/Middle East Recruitment Initiative Coordinator works under the general supervision of the Director of Specialized Recruitment,” says an online SDSU help-wanted notice. The salary range is between $3519 and $5002 per month.

A major task will be to arrange “the development of contracts and agreements with Turkish and Middle East schools, universities, foundations, agencies, corporations, and government offices, in Turkey and the Middle East.” On top of that, the successful candidate will have the “ability to recognize multicultural, multi-gendered, and multi-aged value systems and work accordingly.” ... Republican city-council candidate Ray Ellis didn’t beat La Jolla incumbent Sheri Lightner — who just came out for the resignation of fellow Democrat Bob Filner from his position as mayor — but not for lack of cash. The wealthy GOPer is still busy spreading his money around, both to his own political fund as well as to fellow pols.

During the first half of the year, according to his personal political disclosure report for the period, he gave $43,140 to his city-council committee and $500 each to Lorena Gonzalez’s successful assembly bid and Dwayne Crenshaw’s failed city-council effort. Both are Democrats. Ellis also kicked in $500 to aspiring city-council candidate Chris Cate and incumbent Lorie Zapf. They are Republicans.