Development Officer

University of Findlay; United States; On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Findlay is seeking a Development Officer to build and manage donor relationships and lead efforts to secure major gifts for priority university initiatives.

The role involves strategic planning, travel across regions, and collaboration with campus partners to qualify, solicit and steward alumni, parents and friends, with a focus on gifts of $25,000+ and a strong donor portfolio.

Qualifications

• Associate degree required; bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• Three years of professional fundraising experience.
• Computer literacy with internet, word processing, spreadsheets, email, scheduling and databases.
• Experience fundraising or working with volunteers; transferable skills are acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Develop an annual work plan with solicitation targets and top prospect strategies.
• Travel within assigned regions to qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors.
• Maintain and update activity in Raiser's Edge/NXT and complete travel expense reporting on time.
• Collaborate with the Wolfe Center for Alumni, Parents and Friends and campus offices on fundraising programs.
• Create tools and templates to support the major gifts program and donor recognition initiatives.
• Support university advancement events and engage alumni, parents and friends.

Skills

Fundraising

Relationship management

Communication skills

Education

Associate’s degree

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Raiser's Edge/NXT

Job description

Job Description

This posting is for a full-time, 12-month, exempt position. The Development Officer will build and manage relationships connecting those with financial capacity to strategic University priorities in their areas of interest. These gifts should target endowment, capital, annual, and programmatic projects with special emphasis on unrestricted giving. The Development Officer will develop an annual plan to qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward alumni, parents and friends for major gifts to support priority funding needs of the university. The position carries a portfolio of prospects (approx. 150 prospect households) and will utilize staff and departmental resources to focus on prospects who can have the most significant impact to the University, its students and its programs.

Essential Functions

1. The Development Officer will work with the Assistant Vice President for Development to develop an annual work plan that will include annual solicitation plans and the identification of top prospects to cultivate, solicit and steward. The Development Officer will develop strategies for each prospect being solicited in the new fiscal year, along with a schedule of $25,000+ solicitations to be completed in the fiscal year, expected number of days for prospect travel, the number of face to face meetings with major gift prospects, the number of campus visits by major gift prospects, and the cultivation and stewardship events they will plan for the year ahead.

2. The Development Officer will travel within their assigned geographic region(s) as necessary to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward financial support for the University. The Development Officer will, on average, schedule a minimum of 130 meaningful contacts (moves) per year (12-15 face-to-face visits with constituents each month). The Development Officer will be expected to solicit 15-20 gifts of $25,000 or more each fiscal year. Visits and fundraising dollar goals will vary according to University priorities and campaigns.

3. The Development Officer will work in a collaborative fashion with staff in the Wolfe Center for Alumni, Parents and Friends, and the offices of Annual Giving, Planned Giving, Corporate Engagement, Advancement Services, Marketing and Communications, Athletics, Mazza Museum, as well as academic units across the campus.

4. The Development Officer will help create a portfolio of tools for the efficient operation of the major gifts program. These will include monthly activity reports, prospect profile reports, trip report formats, briefing templates for officers and volunteers of the university, proposals for university priorities, pledge forms, and special donor recognition initiatives.

5. The Development Officer will work collaboratively with the Director of the Center for Alumni, Parents and Friends and with college deans to establish groups of alumni, parents and friends within their assigned region that help promote University engagement. Additionally, she/he will provide support for university advancement division events, as appropriate.

6. The Development Officer will ensure the timely completion of activity reporting in the advancement database system (Raiser’s Edge/NXT) and will ensure the timely completion of travel expense reporting within 25 days following each trip.

7. The Development Officer will maintain electronic records of contacts with prospects, ensuring confidentiality as defined by the University of Findlay in all aspects of the program.

8. Perform other duties deemed appropriate for the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Competencies

• Story telling.
• Collaboration Skills.
• Persuasive Presentation Skills.
• Communication Proficiency.
• Integrity.
• Flexibility.
• Organizational Skills.
• Performance Management.
• Personal Effectiveness/Credibility.
• Technical Capacity.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position may have volunteer supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms as part of the essential functions of this job. Clothing must be professional, and appropriate for the setting.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time 12-month position, and general hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Evening work and weekend meetings and events are sometimes required.

Travel

A valid US Drivers’ license with a safe driving record is required, and the energy and ability to travel 5 to 10 days a month. Some overnight travel is expected of this position.

Required Education and Experience

1. Associate’s degree required, bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of relevant experience.
2. Three years of professional experience.
3. Computer literacy, including familiarity with the internet, word processing, spreadsheet, E-Mail, scheduling and database software programs.
4. Experience in fundraising or transferable skills, prefer prior experience working with volunteers.

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Candidates with a background in higher education fund raising and a history of successfully soliciting gifts of significance is preferred. Other candidates with backgrounds in professions with transferable skills will also be considered, e.g. sales, marketing, communications, etc.
2. Three years of relevant experience.
3. Experience with Blackbaud's Raiser Edge/ NXT software.
4. Experience in development and higher education or other non-profit.
5. For optimal consideration of your applicant file, faculty applications must include a cover letter; current Resume or Curriculum Vitae; a statement of teaching philosophy; and the contact information for three professional references with your application. Staff applications must include a current Resume or Curriculum Vitae and cover letter with your application.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Findlay is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer. It is the university's policy to prohibit discrimination and provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to their race, sex (including gender identity/expression), color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, military or sexual orientation.

Diversity Statement

The mission of the University of Findlay is to equip our students for meaningful lives and productive careers. Diversity Statement University of Findlay cultivates the potential within each student through academic excellence, transformative experiences and a supportive community that is grounded in the Christian faith.

The University is known not only for science, health professions, animal science and equestrian studies programs, but also for cultivating the next generation of business leaders, educators and innovative thinkers through a dedication to experiential learning, both in and outside of the classroom. Established in 1882 through a joint partnership between the Churches of God, General Counsel and the city of Findlay, the University of Findlay has 80+ majors leading to baccalaureate degrees and offers 12 master’s degrees, a doctor of pharmacy, a doctor of education, a doctor of education in school psychology, a doctor of physical therapy and a doctor of occupational therapy. More than 3,700 students are enrolled at Findlay. In addition, our faculty and staff strive to create a supportive community in which our students grow and find their path to a meaningful life and productive career. As a member of the city of Findlay, you will have the opportunity to be a part of the top ranked micropolitan community in the United States. Our small city offers so much to professionals like yourself, including a robust business climate, active downtown, and top-rated schools and parks.

For more information on the University of Findlay, visit http://www.findlay.edu.