Development Officer, School of the Arts

SAMFORD UNIVERSITY; Homewood (AL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Samford University is seeking a Development Officer to lead relationship-based fundraising for the School of the Arts. You will identify major gift prospects, manage a growing portfolio, and conduct extensive in-person visits to secure gifts of $25,000+.

You’ll collaborate with deans and leaders, support the advancement team, and maintain active prospect records in Blackbaud FPM. A Christian mission commitment is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum three (3) years of relevant professional experience.
• Ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and exercise prudent judgment in a fast-paced environment.
• Computer literacy and ability to use university systems/databases for routine work.
• Assist the Dean of the School of the Arts in identification and recruitment strategies for new advisory board members.
• Maintain prospect activity in Blackbaud FPM.
• Donor-centric approach and collaboration with university colleagues.
• Commitment to the Christian mission of Samford University.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a development officer for the School of the Arts.
• Identify major gift prospects through prospect research, goal tracking, and data analysis in the university database.
• Manage and grow a portfolio of prospects to secure major gifts of $25,000+.
• Complete a minimum of 120 in-person visits per year to qualify or disqualify major gift prospects.
• Develop strategies for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift proposals.
• Coordinate involvement of deans and academic leaders in interactions with prospects and constituents as needed.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Vice President for Development and advancement team to support Samford’s mission and goals.
• Refer estate, trust, and planned giving prospects to the Director of Gift and Estate Planning.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Communication

Independent worker

Fundraising experience

Database literacy

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Blackbaud FPM

Job description

The Development Officer is responsible for seeking major gifts through relationship-based fundraising efforts for Samford University and the School of the Arts. Performance is measured by a set of personalized university specific and industry informed metrics, including visits, contacts, calls, submitted proposals and secured gifts.

• Serve as a development officer representing the School of the Arts.

• Identify major gift prospects by maintaining individual prospect activity, performing prospect research, tracking goals, and analyzing data in the University’s database which is currently Blackbaud’s Fundraiser Performance Management.
• Manage and grow a portfolio prospects to secure major gifts of $25,000+.
• Complete a minimum of 120 in-person visits per year to qualify or disqualify major gift prospects.
• Develop strategies for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of a pre-determined number of major gift proposals per year from assigned prospects to secure support for Samford University.
• Coordinate involvement of the deans and academic leaders in meaningful interactions with prospects and other constituents as needed.
• Work closely with the Assistant Vice President for Development and other members of the advancement team to support and advance the mission, vision, and goals of Samford University.

• Responsible for identifying and referring estate, trust and planned giving prospects to the Director of Gift and Estate Planning for Samford University.

• Collaborate as a part of a dynamic development team to advance shared fundraising priorities for the university.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum three (3) years of relevant professional experience.
• Ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and exercise prudent judgment in a fast-paced environment.
• Computer literacy.
• Possess technical competency to the level of being able to use the computer systems and databases for routine work.
• Assist the Dean of the School of the Arts in identification and recruitment strategies for new advisory board members.
• Maintain individual prospect activity in the university’s database which is currently Blackbaud FPM.
• Perform job duties with a positive and donor-centric approach and collaborate with university colleagues in a courteous and professional manner.
• A commitment to the Christian mission of Samford University.

• Ability to establish, cultivate and steward strong professional relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to occasionally lift or move boxes and office materials weighing up to 15 pounds.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for extended periods as required to perform job duties.
• Must have reliable transportation and be willing to travel regionally and nationally as well as to perform weekend, evening and holiday work as needed.
• Air travel required.

• Experience in higher education or non-profit fundraising.
• Demonstrated track record securing major gifts.