Development Officer

Marywood University; Scranton (Lackawanna County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Marywood University is seeking a Development Officer to build and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects capable of gifts of $25,000 or more. You will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors across alumni, parents, friends, and stakeholders, advancing the University's mission through strategic fundraising.

Responsibilities include managing a portfolio of 100–150 prospects with travel, developing solicitation plans, and collaborating with university leadership to realize annual,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required and 3–5 years fundraising experience.
• Ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; strong donor-centric approach.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100–150 major gift prospects and design strategic solicitation plans; travel locally, regionally, and nationally.
• Cultivate and sustain long-term donor relationships with clearly defined fundraising metrics and revenue goals.
• Lead all stages of the donor engagement cycle: identify, qualify, solicit, and steward donors; secure face‑to‑face meetings and meaningful commitments.
• Prepare tailored funding proposals, letters of intent, and gift agreements; craft stewardship communications.
• Develop innovative donor engagement approaches in collaboration with University leadership and volunteers.
• Recruit, train, and coordinate volunteer leadership and committees; partner with Alumni Engagement for events and activities.
• Maintain comprehensive donor activity in the CRM (Raiser’s Edge/NXT) and contribute to annual fundraising planning.
• Represent the University at events and advocate its priorities and core values.
• Complete additional projects as directed to support Advancement priorities.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Prospect management

Travel

Communication

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Raiser's Edge/NXT

Job description

The Development Officer is responsible for building and managing relationships with major donor prospects capable of making gifts of $25,000 or more in support of Marywood University’s priorities, including annual, capital, and endowment initiatives. The Development Officer develops and executes strategic fundraising plans to secure philanthropic support from a defined portfolio of prospects. This includes identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift donors on behalf of the University. The role engages a diverse constituency base, including alumni, parents, friends, and other stakeholders, with the goal of advancing the University’s mission through meaningful and sustained philanthropic partnerships.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Develop and personally manage a portfolio of approximately 100–150 major gift prospects, and design and implement strategic solicitation plans that lead to significant philanthropic support. This role requires local, regional, and national travel.
• Cultivate and sustain long-term donor relationships, guided by clearly defined and appropriately ambitious fundraising metrics. Consistently meet or exceed assigned activity and revenue goals.

For the assigned prospect portfolio, lead and execute all stages of the donor engagement cycle, including but not limited to:

• Identifying and initiating contact with prospective and current donors. This includes coordinating travel, scheduling visits, and conducting outreach to secure face‑to‑face meetings with benefactors. The Development Officer is expected to complete a minimum of 120 meaningful donor contacts annually, including at least 100 in‑person visits.
• Develop and implement tailored donor cultivation strategies for prospective and current benefactors, in collaboration with University leadership, faculty, staff, and volunteers as appropriate. Identify and create meaningful opportunities to deepen donor engagement with the University’s mission, programs, and priorities.
• Advance prospective donors through the full engagement cycle in a thoughtful and timely manner, leading toward solicitation and gift closure. Leverage both current and planned giving strategies to align philanthropic opportunities with donor interests, capacity, and intent.
• Execute comprehensive stewardship activities to ensure consistent, meaningful donor recognition, reporting, and relationship management that promotes long‑term engagement and retention.
• Prepare and customize a range of development materials for assigned prospects, including funding proposals, letters of intent, gift agreements, briefing documents, and stewardship communications.
• Develop innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to donor engagement that enhance philanthropic support for the University. Collaborate closely with University Advancement colleagues, campus partners, and volunteers to design and implement effective fundraising strategies.
• Recruit, train, and support volunteer leadership and committees engaged in fundraising initiatives. Partner with the Alumni Engagement team to support constituent outreach, events, and development activities, providing assistance as needed to advance shared goals.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive documentation of all donor interactions, communications, and activities within the CRM system (Raiser’s Edge/NXT).
• Contribute to the Advancement team’s annual fundraising planning process, including goal setting, strategy development, and related initiatives as requested.
• Serve as an ambassador for the University and articulate its priorities and core values. Attend University and community events/activities.
• Complete additional projects and assignments as directed in support of Advancement and University priorities.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

• Experience in fundraising, sales, or another field involving personally cultivating and soliciting prospects - or a demonstrated ability to build relationships and make direct, effective asks.
• Ability to articulate a compelling case for support, or strong potential to learn and deliver one with training.
• Comfortable discussing money directly and attuned to donors' different financial perspectives and motivations, and able to translate that understanding into direct, successful asks for gifts.
• Understanding of the needs and interests of donors to develop mutually beneficial relationships between donors and the University. Possess solid relationship‑building skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, problem‑solving, research, project management, and written and verbal communication skills with a strong customer service donor‑centered approach.
• Ability to work individually and in a team environment.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Three to five years successful fundraising experience, or a comparable combination of relevant experience and demonstrated success in securing financial support.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree preferred.
• Proven experience in individual major gift, or other strategic fundraising, preferably within a higher education or nonprofit environment.
• Demonstrated success developing and stewarding relationships with donors and other key stakeholders.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Sitting for extended periods of time; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard; seeing to read a variety of materials; hearing and speaking to exchange information; drive, walk, stand, and reach.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Must have a strong commitment to the mission and goals of Marywood and the desire to assist this University in achieving these goals. Must be able to travel as needed. Must have valid driver's license. Weekends and evening work will be required.