Advancement and Giving Specialist, Four Diamonds (Gift Officer)

Penn State University; Hershey (PA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Excellent benefits package (medical, &

Job summary

Penn State University in Hershey, PA seeks an Advancement and Giving Specialist to engage donors and partners in supporting Four Diamonds, THON, and Mini-THON. The role reports to the Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations and requires occasional travel and evening/weekend availability.

Responsibilities include cultivating donors, collaborating with THON leadership, and driving annual gifts while partnering with Penn State Health and related units.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 1+ year of relevant fundraising experience.
• Experience with donor solicitation and stewardship.
• Ability to travel and work some evenings/weekends.

Responsibilities

• Engage donors, alumni, and students to solicit philanthropic support.
• Partner with THON leadership to include students in giving efforts.
• Build relationships across DDAR, Penn State Health, and College of Medicine.
• Analyze giving patterns to grow donor numbers and gift size.
• Conduct visits and secure $250,000+ annually.
• Identify prospects, move to leadership and major gifts.
• Maintain knowledge of Four Diamonds and THON.
• Collaborate on portfolio management and reporting.
• Use fundraising databases to track interactions and outcomes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Fundraising database

CRM systems

Donor tracking

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

Penn State is currently seeking a frontline fundraising professional in the role of Advancement and Giving Specialist, Four Diamonds to engage donors and prospects as partners in supporting Four Diamonds, THON, and Mini-THON. As a member of the Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DDAR), you can play an integral role in Penn State’s future and contribute to one of the most successful fundraising and alumni relations operations in the country. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, Children’s and Women’s Health, this position is based in Hershey, PA. For full consideration, applicants are asked to include a cover letter and resume/CV along with their application.

Responsibilities

• Engage key constituencies, including faculty and staff, grateful patient families, Penn State alumni, and parents of students participating in THON and Mini-THON, to solicit philanthropic support for research, patient care, and family support programs.
• Partner closely with THON leadership and student volunteers to incorporate students into donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts and strengthen the connection between donors and the Four Diamonds mission.
• Foster collaborative and productive relationships with colleagues throughout the Division of Development and Alumni Relations, Penn State Health, Penn State College of Medicine, and the University community.
• Analyze giving to determine patterns and opportunities for developing sustainable strategies to increase number of donors and number/amount of gifts to support Four Diamonds, THON and Mini-THON.
• Conduct personal visits, both in person and virtually, and execute solicitation strategies through meetings, phone calls, emails, and written correspondence to secure a minimum of $250,000 annually in philanthropic commitments.
• Identify and qualify prospects, schedule donor visits, solicit prospects for increased annual giving commitments ($1,000+), make leadership level asks, move constituents toward annual leadership and major gift solicitation, prepare and submit proposals, steward donors, and record activity and track results.
• Maintain current knowledge of Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital, Penn State College of Medicine, Four Diamonds, and THON in order to effectively communicate the impact of philanthropy and serve as an ambassador for these programs.
• Collaborate with Prospect Tracking and related partners to support portfolio management, reporting, analysis, and progress toward team goals.
• Utilize fundraising database and related systems to record donor interactions, track activity, manage prospect strategies, and evaluate results.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Successful Candidates Will Demonstrate

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project management skills;
• The ability to work effectively with a variety of constituencies, including donors, volunteers, students, patients, faculty, and staff;
• A strong commitment to achieving goals and measurable results;
• Attention to detail and the ability to complete projects within established timelines;
• A proven ability to self-motivate and work both independently and as part of a team;
• A commitment to professional development, learning, and being mentored.

This position requires some travel and a flexible work schedule, including some evening and weekend commitments. DDAR is supportive of flexible work arrangements when aligned with the ability to meet the needs of the unit and the essential duties of the position. Questions related to flexible work arrangements should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree 1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Required Certifications: None

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

• PA State Police Criminal Background Check
• PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form
• Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check
• This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties.
• A valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.

Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

SALARY & BENEFITS

Salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $54,060.00 - $78,444.00.

• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.

Location

This position is based at the College of Medicine campus, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Company Culture

If you believe in the power of higher education—and philanthropy—to shape the public good, you’ll excel right here in Penn State’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DDAR). Our organization includes more than 500 professionals engaging a community of more than 800,000 alumni who believe in the power of giving back. Across our interdisciplinary teams of fundraisers, alumni relations professionals, communicators, event planners, financial experts, and more, there is a place for you to make a difference in the lives of students and faculty while taking your own career to new heights.

Learn more about us at raise.psu.edu and explore the success of our most recent campaign at greaterpennstate.psu.edu.

Four Diamonds is a gift fund at Penn State University committed to conquering childhood cancer that mobilizes more students to raise money for this cause than any other organization in the country.

Build a Career and a Life at Penn State Across all campuses and an online World Campus, our 100,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom—it’s the positive impact made on communities across the globe.

Penn State consistently ranks among the top academic and research universities in the world: psu.edu/this-is-penn-state/facts-and-rankings.

Known as the "Sweetest Place on Earth," Hershey is just a few miles east of the state capital in Harrisburg, offering a broad range of arts, culture, entertainment, cuisine, and natural assets to enjoy: https://www.visithersheyharrisburg.org/.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473. Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.

Our values are as follows: Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community.

We Are Penn State. One Community. Impacting Many.