Major and Foundation Gifts Officer

Major and Foundation Gifts Officer

 

DEPARTMENT: Development/Capital Campaign

 

REPORTS TO: Chief Development Officer

 

POSITION NUMBER: 2522

 

POSITION SUMMARY: This position is responsible for the creation and management of a well-coordinated, strategic development plan to cultivate major gift prospects with support from private and corporate foundations.

This person works under the leadership of the Chief Development Officer to establish long-term partnerships, strengthen existing relationships, and initiate new contacts with private and corporate foundations. To complete their work, the individual must work collaboratively across the Development Office, Alumni Relations, and Senior Leadership to identify and steward high-capacity donors as well as navigate the established donor pool to secure gifts of $10,000 or greater.

This person will serve as a development liaison and work closely with an assigned Dean on identifying philanthropic support and coordinating the Dean's philanthropic activities.

The desired candidate will provide the expertise to advance the interests of UNO by researching and identifying sources of support, proactively seeking opportunities to generate new proposals based on corporate and foundation guidelines and interests, and by maintaining strong communication ties with corporate and foundation donors and prospects.

Gift Officers are held accountable for managing their time appropriately to achieve activity metrics and move management targets in advancing the collective donor pool.  They work with a high degree of independence and must adhere to utmost professionalism, meticulous follow-through and due diligence, prospect clearance, and communications protocols to advance collective institutional goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Private & Corporate Foundations (40%)

• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward private and corporate foundation donors at the five-figure level and above.
• Conduct research to determine interest and giving potential of private and corporate foundation prospects.
• Develops and manages an annual calendar to ensure all proposals and follow-ups are completed in a timely fashion.
• Prepare and submit private and corporate foundation proposals, reports, and letters of intent.
• Meets regularly with top private and corporate foundation donors to establish rapport and maintain relationships.
• Develops and maintains a solid cross-functional working relationship with department staff to ensure that the grants are meeting internal needs and expectations.
• Ensures compliance with all grant reporting as required by private and corporate foundation donors.

Major Gifts (40%)

• Create solicitation and cultivation plans targeted to meet fundraising goals and help move the College donors, of the assigned Dean, towards higher giving levels; develop associated fundraising strategies to support portfolio prospect moves management.
• Meet activity metrics and revenue goals through face-to-face solicitations, prepare written solicitation letters, strategic donor briefings/visits, formal proposals/correspondences, pledge documents, and other engagement methodologies as appropriate.
• Build and manage a portfolio of 50-100 qualified major gift donors and prospects.
• Utilize systematic, collaborative, and data-driven prospecting, relationship building, and networking to strengthen the pipeline of major gift donors and prospects with the capacity for five-figure gifts and above.
• Work with the Development Staff, Alumni Relations, and Senior Leadership to ensure transparent, coordinated, and collaborative approaches with team members and volunteers to augment the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and prospects. Must adhere to all prospect clearance, operations, and communications protocols to maximize collective success. 

Other (20%)

• As a contributing team member, work independently and proactively - employ creative approaches to solving complex problems and building strategic solutions utilizing available resources, due diligence, and utmost professionalism.
• Maintain strong and accurate records of activities as directed by team protocol using Raiser's Edge while maintaining confidentiality of donor information.
• Regularly monitor, evaluate, and report on progress and outcomes against agreed-upon goals.
• Work with the Chief Development Officer and Senior Leadership on regular portfolio reviews and adjust assignments based on captured feedback on prospect qualification, current level of donor activity, or high-priority assignments.
• Respond to all leads and newly assigned prospects with timely follow-up. Handle other major and corporate/foundation gift responsibilities as needed.
• Contributes to and participates in the activities of the Development and Alumni Relations program, most notably events involving major gift prospects, private and corporate foundation donors.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor's degree and 3 – 5 years of progressively responsible development, marketing, accounting, financial planning, or legal experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Office programs and use of relational databases such as Raiser's Edge.
• Preference will be given to candidates with successful corporate or foundation experience.
• Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and techniques, particularly in private and corporate foundation fundraising techniques.
• Demonstrated ability in proposal writing for varied proposal development.
• Demonstrated knowledge of methods, practices, and procedures for obtaining information about the giving programs of private and corporate foundations.
• Self-motivation and discipline to regularly set and achieve work goals.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and networking skills with individuals and groups.
• Ability to maintain a high level of poise and professionalism in all circumstances.
• Ability to initiate and build relationships with prospective private and corporate foundation donors and interact via telephone and in person with institutional representatives.
• Demonstrated record of success in generating significant commitments from donors, corporations, and foundations.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel to build donor relationships and University awareness.
• Must be flexible regarding work schedule, with the ability to work evening and/or weekend hours, when required.

 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree.
• Expertise with presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint) and social media communications
• Proficiency in the use of donor relational databases and prospect research tools, e.g., Raiser’s Edge, LexisNexis, Wealth Engine
• Experience working with alumni, alumni boards, advisory boards, and volunteers.
• Strong teamwork and project management experience

 

SALARY

$75,000 – $90,000

This position is exempt, and the employee will be eligible for the University of New Orleans health and benefit plans.