Leadership Annual Giving Officer

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Center (AL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee is seeking a Leadership Annual Giving Officer who identifies and cultivates donor prospects, develops fundraising plans, and collaborates with Advancement staff to reach gift goals.

The role manages a portfolio of up to 200 mid‑capacity prospects, uses data‑driven approaches and AI tools, and works with University Advancement and UWM Foundation to maximize revenue.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience in client service professions such as advancement or non-profit management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with computers and standard applications.

Responsibilities

• Identify and cultivate donor prospects at leadership annual giving levels and develop fundraising plans.
• Manage a portfolio of up to 200 donors and prospects.
• Develop custom strategies to engage and solicit donors under management.
• Engage prospects through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to meet goals.

Skills

Relationship building

Communication skills

Client service experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CRM software

Database solutions

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title

Leadership Annual Giving Officer

Job Category

Academic Staff

Employment Type

Regular

Job Profile

Gift Officer I

Job Duties

The Gift Officer I – Leadership Annual Giving Officer identifies and cultivates relationships with donor prospects at leadership annual giving levels, develops and implements fundraising plans, and works collaboratively with other Advancement staff to meet predefined gift contribution goals.

This position is a member of the frontline development team whose primary responsibility is revenue generation through relationship-based fundraising activities. This individual manages a portfolio of up to 200 mid-capacity prospects and develops a strategy for each prospect moving them closer to gift solicitation. This individual is strategic, thoughtful, and has strong relationship development skills. They work always to meet metrics as set forth by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development, being as productive as possible while employing efficient strategies for success.

The primary job responsibilities include:

• Managing a portfolio of up to 200 donors and prospects;
• Working with UA leadership to set goals;
• Developing custom strategies to successfully engage and solicit donors and prospects under management;
• Engaging prospects and donors through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activity to meet goals and maintain long‑term relationships while growing future fundraising opportunities.

The Gift Officer will need to demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in using database solutions to execute strategies with prospects and donors and to track relationship status. It is critical that the individual embraces UWM’s University Advancement’s data‑driven culture. Much of the portfolio management will be tracked and optimized through utilization of AI‑assisted data solutions and qualified candidates will need extensive database and technological skills.

The Gift Officer will need to adopt a team‑centric approach and create partnerships and strong relationships with members of the University Advancement team, colleagues, and academic leaders working in divisions across UWM’s campus and staff and colleagues at the UWM Foundation, Inc., UWM’s closely affiliated non‑profit foundation.

The Gift Officer must demonstrate independent, proactive, creative, and strategic thinking when approaching their work. They must have strong communication skills and be eager to use database solutions to create efficient and productive results. The Gift Officer will be a key member of the team of fundraisers, must manage multiple, simultaneous assignments, and meet deadlines without compromising quality in a service‑oriented environment.

Additional Responsibilities

• Identifies, promotes, and maintains donor relationships and identifies solicitation opportunities specifically designed for the generation of gifts to reach program funding goals.
• Develops and delivers targeted fundraising and communication programs and materials specific to gift contributions in alignment with strategic initiatives.
• Works with Prospect Management Team to develop and update prospect portfolios and evaluate existing strategies.
• Serves as a front‑facing member of the University Advancement team providing information to donors and prospects and representing the interests of the institution.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Serves as a unit liaison to internal and external constituencies, provides information and represents the interests of the institution
• Identifies, promotes, and maintains donor relationships and identifies solicitation opportunities specifically designed for the generation of gifts to reach program funding goals
• Develops and delivers targeted fundraising and communication programs and materials specific to gift contributions in alignment with strategic initiatives
• Develops and updates prospect portfolios, evaluates existing strategy and recommends improvements to leadership

Department

University Advancement

Compensation

$60,000 - $70,000

(Final salary offer will be determined based on qualifications and experience)

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience working in a client service profession such as advancement, development, non‑profit management, or a related field
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency with computers and standard applications (Microsoft Office, Adobe, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated track record of successful annual gift solicitation, sponsorship solicitations, or equivalent measurable achievement in another profession
• Broad‑based fundraising experience in annual giving, proposal and report preparation, event and/or meeting planning
• Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) software applications and/or database solutions for event management or marketing, etc.
• Experience in conceiving and managing projects from inception to delivery, including tracking and reporting results
• Experience working in large, complex institutions like universities, hospitals, or government agencies

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.