Accounting, Analysis Skills, Campaigns, Communication Skills, Computer Systems, Donor Development, Donor Relations, Fundraising, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Nonprofit, Physical Demands, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Regulations, Scholarship, Solicitation Planning, Stewardship, Strategic Planning, Typing, Willing to Travel, Writing Skills
Job Title: Major Gift Officer
Job Title: Major Gift Officer
Classification: Exempt
Reports To: Chief Development Officer. The Senior Director of Major Gifts will provide indirect supervision and management to the analytical activities of major gift officers.
Job Summary/Objective: The Major Gift Officer will be responsible for cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major gifts in support of the college's mission and strategic priorities. This role focuses on building meaningful, long-term relationships with alumnae, parents, and friends to secure significant philanthropic investments that advance academic programs, student scholarships, faculty support, and campus initiatives.
Position Type/Expected Work Hours: Full time, Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm with flexibility for events and weekends as needed.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Responsible for a personal solicitation portfolio of up to 100 Sweet Briar donors with a focus on donors capable of making gifts of $25,000 or more to be determined in consultation with Senior Director of Major Gifts and other leadership;
- Develop individual donor strategies to include written cultivation and solicitation plans for all assigned prospects;
- Conduct regular outreach, including in-person visits, virtual meetings, and personalized communications.
- Collaborate with colleagues on annual giving, planned giving, and campaign initiatives
- Report and record in Banner all contacts, solicitations, next steps and outcomes;
- Stewardship of donors and prospects;
- Participate in regular Major Gift Officer meetings;
- Assist with updating prospect bios;
- Assist with developing overall fundraising strategies;
- Willingness to travel for alumnae/donor meetings;
- Represent the College as requested at alumnae/donor events;
- Help identify and cultivate potential alumnae leaders and prospects.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree required;
- Minimum of three to five years of experience in donor relations, fundraising and stewardship;
- Proficient in all aspects of Advancement to include annual, major, and planned giving;
- Highly effective communications skills, written and oral;
- Knowledge and utilization of on-line fundraising strategies;
- Excellent judgment and high integrity;
- Positive and approachable interpersonal style, able to win trust among co-workers;
- Commitment to mission and strategic priorities of the College
- Expert level skills with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google platform
- Ability to learn complex computer system quickly and individually
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced Degree in a related field;
- Applicable experience within an institution of higher education;
- Experience working with alumni and volunteer leaders.
- Familiarity of gift tax implications and rules, nonprofit accounting, GAAP, and CASE rules and regulations;
- CFRE designation
Work Environment:
- Traditional office environment, primarily indoors.
- This position requires frequent travel, including regional and occasional national trips, to meet with donors and attend college events.
- Currently this is an on-campus position.
Travel: 75% for travel. Expectation of minimum 15 donor calls per month.
Physical Demands: Extensive computer use and typing; extended periods of sitting/standing may be required.