Leadership Annual Giving Officer

Wingate University; Wingate (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision coverage

Tuition benefits for employees and/or

Retirement plan

Job summary

Wingate University, a teaching-focused institution in North Carolina, seeks a dynamic Leadership Annual Giving Officer to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 200+ leadership annual giving prospects with gifts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. The role drives donor retention, upgrade, and pipeline development through regional travel and extensive frontline engagement.

The LAGO reports to the Assistant Vice President for Development and collaborates with the broader Advancement

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2–3 years frontline fundraising or related field with proven success.
• Ability to engage, inspire, and solicit gifts from a diverse group of donors.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with CRM and Microsoft Office; valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Manage an active portfolio of 200+ leadership annual giving prospects and donors.
• Conduct 200+ face-to-face visits annually with prospects and donors.
• Develop and execute individualized engagement strategies for portfolio constituents.
• Solicit leadership annual gifts through personal visits and proposals, meeting revenue goals.
• Partner with the AVP for Development on portfolio reviews and pipeline development.

Skills

Relationship building

Fundraising

Prospect management

Communication

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Salesforce

Job description

Wingate University is a teaching-focused institution serving morethan 3,600 students across two campuses. Located on a beautiful500+ acre main campus, Wingate offers a close-knit, supportivecommunity where employees can grow, contribute, and thrive. As anEqual Employment Opportunity employer, Wingate is committed tofostering an inclusive environment and welcomes applicants who areexcited to join our mission and make an impact. Learn more at University in Charlotte, NC | Quick Facts AboutWingate . The mission of Wingate University is to developeducated, ethical and productive global citizens. Following itsJudeo-Christian heritage, the university seeks to cultivate thefollowing in its students: Faith, Knowledge and Service. TheUniversity’s Mission statement can be found here.

Wingate University seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven fundraisingprofessional to join its Advancement Team as a Leadership AnnualGiving Officer (LAGO). This front-line fundraising position isresponsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, andstewarding a portfolio of 200 or more leadership annual givingprospects capable of making gifts in the $1,000–$10,000 rangethrough the University’s annual giving program.

The LAGO serves as a bridge between the annual fund and major giftspipelines, engaging donors whose capacity and affinity positionthem for deeper investment in Wingate’s mission. With a minimumexpectation of 200 face-to-face visits annually, this officer willtravel regionally to build authentic, lasting relationships thatresult in increased donor retention, upgrade, and pipelinedevelopment.

The Leadership Annual Giving Officer reports directly to theAssistant Vice President for Development and works in closecollaboration with the broader Advancement team, including annualgiving, major gifts, alumni engagement, and advancementservices.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Portfolio Management and Frontline Fundraising

• Manage an active, assigned portfolio of 200 or more leadershipannual giving prospects and donors, with a primary focus on thosecapable of making gifts of $1,000 or more.
• Conduct a minimum of 200 meaningful, face-to-face visitsannually with prospects and donors, including discovery,cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship meetings.
• Develop and execute individualized engagement strategies foreach portfolio constituent, moving donors through a structureddonor pipeline aligned with institutional priorities.
• Solicit leadership annual gifts through personal visits,proposals, and strategic asks, meeting or exceeding establishedannual revenue goals and visit metrics.
• Partner with the Assistant Vice President for Development onportfolio reviews, strategy sessions, and pipeline development on aregular basis.

Pipeline Development and Discovery

• Proactively identify, qualify, and engage new prospects throughdiscovery visits, referrals, screening initiatives, and alumnievents.
• Collaborate with the major gifts team to transfer high-capacitydonors into the major gifts pipeline, ensuring smooth andrelationship-centered handoffs.
• Participate in prospect management processes including MovesManagement, portfolio review meetings, and regular reportingthrough the University’s CRM.

Stewardship and Donor Engagement

• Design and implement meaningful stewardship touchpoints forportfolio donors, reinforcing the impact of their gifts anddeepening their connection to Wingate.
• Represent Wingate University at alumni events, athletic events,regional gatherings, and campus programs as an ambassador for theDivision of University Advancement.
• Collaborate with the alumni engagement and annual giving teamsto convert annual fund donors into leadership annual giving donorsand long-term major gift prospects.

Data, Reporting and Administrative Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate, timely, and detailed contact reports, donorstrategies, and gift documentation in the University’s constituentrelationship management (CRM) system.
• Provide regular progress reports to the AVP for Development onportfolio metrics, visit activity, pipeline status, and giftrevenue.
• Adhere to institutional gift acceptance policies,confidentiality standards, and CASE/AFP ethical fundraisingguidelines in all aspects of the role.
• Assist in the development of case statements, gift proposals,and other fundraising materials as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of two (2) to three (3) years of experience infrontline fundraising, donor relations, advancement, sales, or arelated field with demonstrated success in relationship managementand goal attainment.
• Demonstrated ability to engage, inspire, and solicit gifts froma diverse group of donors and prospects.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skillswith the ability to represent Wingate University withprofessionalism and authenticity.
• Proven ability to manage a high volume of activity — including 200 or more face-to-face visits annually — with strongorganizational skills and personal accountability.
• Ability and willingness to travel regionally on a frequentbasis, including occasional evenings and weekends for donorevents.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience workingwith a CRM or prospect management database (experience withRaiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar platform preferred).
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportationrequired.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education fundraising or alumniengagement.
• Familiarity with annual giving principles, donor upgrade andretention strategies, and moves management.
• Demonstrated ability to build and navigate complexinstitutional relationships across advancement, academic, andathletics contexts.
• Passion for the mission of private higher education and anaffinity for Wingate University.
• Experience with planned giving awareness, leadership givingsocieties, or recognition programs.

Core Competencies

• Relationship Builder — Able to develop authentic, lastingconnections with donors, colleagues, and campus partners acrossdiverse backgrounds and constituencies.
• Self-Motivated & Accountable — Driven to meet and exceedperformance expectations with minimal supervision; takes ownershipof portfolio results.
• Strategic Thinker — Approaches donor engagement withintentionality and creativity, tailoring strategies to individualinterests and capacity.
• Collaborative Team Member — Partners effectively acrossAdvancement and with university leadership, athletics, and academicunits to advance shared fundraising goals.
• Confident Solicitor — Comfortable making direct, meaningfulasks and navigating donor conversations with confidence, empathy,and tact.
• Detail-Oriented — Maintains thorough documentation and managesa high volume of activity with discipline and precision.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be evaluated against the following annualbenchmarks:

• Complete a minimum of 200 face-to-face visits per fiscalyear.
• Manage a portfolio of 200 or more qualified leadership annualgiving prospects.
• Meet or exceed established revenue goals for the leadershipannual giving portfolio.
• Retain and upgrade existing leadership annual fund donors yearover year.
• Qualify and transfer a defined number of high-capacityprospects to the major gifts pipeline annually.
• Maintain complete and current CRM records for all portfolioactivity and donor interactions.

Benefits and Employee Experience

Wingate University is committed to supporting employees bothpersonally and professionally through a comprehensive benefitspackage and a collaborative campus community. Full-time employeesare eligible for medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirementplan with institutional contribution; paid time off and holidays;tuition benefits for employees and eligible dependents; and accessto campus facilities, wellness resources, and professionaldevelopment opportunities.

In compliance with applicable law and University policies,Wingate University prohibits discrimination in its employmentpractices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin,sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medicalconditions, sexual orientation or gender identity), age, geneticinformation, disability and veteran status and encourages qualifiedcandidates across all group demographics to apply. At this time, weare currently seeking candidates with legal authorization to workin the U.S.