Retiring advancement leader has been “making magic” and growing MSU’s “margin of excellence” for decades

<p><a href="https://president.msu.edu/communications/messages-statements/2021_community_letters/2021-06-10-heil-retire.html">Heil</a> has a career spanning 45 years across three universities raising critical funds, tirelessly promoting the value of philanthropy and expanding alumni engagement efforts.</p><p>She came out of retirement in October of 2018, returning to MSU, where she has now spent more than 33 years in advancement. Marti was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan and is a 1976 graduate of <a href="https://comartsci.msu.edu">MSU's College of Communication Arts and Sciences</a> with a bachelor's degree in <a href="https://comartsci.msu.edu/departments/advertising-public-relations">advertising</a>. </p><p>“It has been my absolute pleasure and honor to serve Michigan State University and a privilege to do what I have done for 45 years. And it’s been even a greater privilege to have done it at my alma mater.”</p><p>What originally attracted you to advancement work? What do you love about it? Why do you do what you do?</p><p>“When I got started in fundraising, it was not something that you sought. You mostly fell into the career. I started in public relations. That's what I always wanted to do. And someone that I worked with said, ‘You'd be good as a fundraiser.’ And I thought, ‘Well, how would I ever do that?’ And it truly has been my passion, and it has been a privilege to be able to serve in this capacity as a fundraiser for so many years.</p><p>“I like to refer to it as making magic. It's that goosebump moment when you're bringing together passionate donors and alumni who have a desire to make a difference and to make a positive impact in the life of a university. And they're visionary because they see a need and they have financial resources.</p><p>“And our job as fundraisers is to be able to match those visionary donors and alumni with visionary faculty who are making a difference through their research. It's matching them with students who will also make a difference in the world and make th