Development Officer - Salve Regina University

Salve Regina University; Newport (RI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

403(b) retirement plan

Life insurance

Tuition assistance

Wellness program

Parental leave

Job summary

Salve Regina University in Newport, RI seeks a Development Officer to secure support for scholarships, student life, and institutional priorities. The role focuses on front-line donor engagement, relationship-based development, and regional donor visits to advance the university's mission and campaign goals.

The ideal candidate will have entrepreneurial mindset, strong fundraising experience, and ability to build a dynamic portfolio of alumni, parents, and partners with travel and events across

Qualifications

• Hold a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of three years' experience in fundraising (or comparable experience in a university or similar organization).
• Thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with interpersonal skills, collaboration, adaptability, creativity, and a service mindset.
• Exhibit strong work ethic with commitment and follow-through and alignment with Salve Regina's mission and values.
• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, verbal, and written communication skills to engage at all levels.
• Willingness to travel regularly and participate in on- and off-campus events and activities.

Responsibilities

• Foster a collaborative work environment rooted in Salve Regina University's Mercy mission and empower team members.
• Manage a portfolio of 150+ alumni, parents, and friends; conduct 125–135 visits annually; meet revenue targets.
• Partner with Advancement and University leadership to articulate funding goals and opportunities.
• Solicit and steward parents for membership in the Parents Leadership Giving Society (PLGS).
• Develop strategies to increase engagement and investment in the University.
• Recruit alumni and parent volunteers to secure leadership gifts and introductions.
• Collaborate with Alumni Engagement Team on fundraising initiatives and events.
• Provide regular written contact reports and input constituent activity into Raiser's Edge NXT (CRM).
• Monitor fundraising data and provide reports on progress and donor engagement metrics.
• Leverage university events and lectures to generate donor leads.
• Meet annual goals for visits, solicitations, and dollars raised as part of the Advancement Team.

Job description

Salve Regina University, ranked as one of the most transformative colleges in the United States by Money Magazine, is a comprehensive Catholic University located in the scenic coastal community of Newport, Rhode Island. The University's commitment to academic success and personal discovery extends beyond its historic campus into a dynamic world where the application of higher thinking and skill are most valued. Salve Regina offers bachelor's and master's degree programs, graduate certificates, and doctoral programs in humanities, international relations and nursing. Enrollment includes more than 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students from across the U.S. and around the world.

Job Description:

This position is eligible for up to one day remote work per week.

JOB SUMMARY:
It is an exciting time in Salve Regina University's distinguished history. As we near the conclusion of Our Mission. Our Moment., the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in the University's history, we are already seeing its transformational impact. The campaign has differentiated Salve in higher education by fueling academic innovation, elevating the student experience, and positioning the University for long-term success. At the same time, Salve's recent conference affiliations joining the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference and the Conference of New England for hockey?along with the highly visible work of Salve's Pell Center deepen our regional and national profile. These developments create compelling new opportunities to engage donors around the University's most impactful priorities.

To sustain and accelerate this momentum, Salve Regina is seeking a Development Officer to serve as a front-line gifts officer with primary responsibility for securing support for scholarships, student life, experiential learning, and other institutional priorities. The ideal candidate brings an entrepreneurial mindset and excels in relationship-based business development. For the right professional, this role offers meaningful growth and advancement opportunities within the Salve team.

BASIC FUNCTION:

The Development Officer serves as one of Salve Regina University's front-line gifts officers, driving the identification, qualification, cultivation, and solicitation of prospective donors in support of scholarships, student life, experiential learning, and other institutional priorities. This role builds and manages a dynamic portfolio of alumni, parents, friends, and community partners whose inspired investments will strengthen academic programs, student success, and institutional excellence.

Working in close partnership with Advancement and campus leaders across academic and co-curricular areas, the Development Officer secures philanthropic support that advances Salve's vision and mission. The officer fosters a culture of philanthropy across the university community, engaging constituents through personalized meetings, regional and national travel for donor visits?with a primary focus on the Northeast?and strategic engagement events that inspire lasting support. Occasional travel beyond the Northeast will be required to meet key donors and represent Salve at important institutional gatherings.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Foster a collaborative and empowering work environment rooted in Salve Regina University's Mercy mission: demonstrate empathic leadership through the positive engagement of Advancement team members, campus partners, and volunteers.
• Manage a portfolio of 150+ alumni, parent, and friend prospects Conduct an average of 125-135 visits annually. Meet revenue and participation targets set with the Senior Director of Development.
• Partner with Advancement and University leadership, faculty and volunteers to clearly articulate and align funding goals and opportunities.
• Solicit and steward parents for membership in the Parents Leadership Giving Society (PLGS). Collaborate with the Senior Director of Development to set donor strategies and annual goals for PLGS.
• Develop strategies that will increase engagement and investment in the University.
• Recruit alumni and parent volunteers who can make leadership gifts, make introductions to peers, and communicate with peers about fundraising initiatives and events.
• Collaborate with the Alumni Engagement Team in support of fundraising initiatives such as Seahawks Take Flight, Day of Giving, and help at all levels on Reunion Weekend and Fall Parents & Alumni Weekend.
• Provide regular written contact reports to summarize meetings and accurately input constituent activity into Raiser's Edge NXT (CRM database).
• Monitor and analyze fundraising data to assess the effectiveness of solicitation strategies. Provide regular reports to university leadership on fundraising progress, donor engagement metrics, and areas for improvement.
• Leverage university events, including athletic competitions, community events, and lectures, to create opportunities to generate donor leads.
• Annually meet individual goals and metrics for visits, solicitations, and dollars raised meeting overall Advancement goals as part of the Advancement Team.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As assigned by the Senior Director of Development and Vice President of University Advancement.

LICENSES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT:

Valid driver's license is required.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The incumbent is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Flexible work hours and hybrid work options are available.
• Willingness to travel as a representative of the university.
• Requires occasional nights and weekends work.

Requirements:

Required:

• Hold a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of three years' experience in fundraising (or comparable experience in a university or similar organization), or equivalent professional experience in sales, recruitment, marketing, business development, or public relations.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment by demonstrating deft interpersonal skills, collaborative instincts, high adaptability, creativity, intellectual curiosity, and a service mindset aligned with advancing the University's mission.
• Exhibit a strong work ethic marked by commitment, follow-through, and a deep dedication to Salve Regina's mission and values.
• Possess exceptional interpersonal, organizational, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all levels of the University and with all external constituents.
• Demonstrate the ability to work successfully with ethnically, culturally, and socially diverse students, staff, faculty, and other constituencies.
• Maintain willingness to travel regularly and participate in on- and off-campus events and activities.
• Embrace an environment that emphasizes measurable objectives, including mutually agreed-upon individual goals and team-wide goals for annual, major, and planned gifts.
• Demonstrate adept technology skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
• Salve Regina alumni are strongly encouraged to apply.

Preferred:

• Hold five years of fundraising experience in a university setting
• Demonstrate experience with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT or a comparable CRM platform.
• Maintain familiarity with Salve's Mercy Mission and/or hold status as a Salve Regina University alumnus/a.

Additional Information:

Salve Regina University offers generous benefits to eligible employees including (waiting periods apply):

• health, dental and vision coverage available on the first of the month following date of hire
• 403(b) retirement plan throughTIAAwith employee and employer contributions as well as access to advising services
• long-term disability coverage
• employer-paid life and AD&D insurance
• up to 100% free tuition at Salve for eligible employees and qualified dependents
• robust wellness program and free access to the on-campus Fitness Center

Other available benefits include:

• supplemental life insurance for employees and dependents
• supplemental insurance coverage through Aflac
• Tuition Exchangescholarship program. Application available for qualified dependents of eligible employees working full-time
• discounted pet insurance through ASPCA
• student loan forgiveness assistance program (SAVI)
• employee Assistance Program through Health Advocate
• flexible spending health and dependent care accounts
• health savings accounts
• 529 collegebound saver program
• paid parental leave and adoption assistance

Salve Regina University strives to cultivate belonging values through diversity, equity inclusion in order to foster a welcoming culture for our staff, faculty and students, as well as the wider community. Salve Regina University embraces all people with grace. No matter the path traveled to get here, the University acknowledges that many identities will intersect. Salve Regina belongs to all in its community.