Major Gift Officer

Salem College; High Point (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in North Carolina is seeking a Major Gifts Officer to manage donor relationships and drive fundraising efforts. The role involves engaging with prospects, developing strategies, and collaborating with leadership to support the institution's mission of accessible education. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in fundraising, excellent interpersonal skills, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of professional fundraising experience preferred.
• Proven track record of soliciting and closing major gifts.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Manage a substantial prospect portfolio of individual donors.
• Develop strategies and prepare proposals for major gift prospects.
• Collaborate with the Institutional Advancement team on fundraising goals.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Organizational Skills

Presentation Skills

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Raisers’ Edge

Zoom

Google Meets

Job description

Salem Academy and College is the oldest continuously operating educational institution for girls and women in the country. Since 1772, the institution has engaged in transformational change to innovate women’s education. Founded with the mission of making education accessible to all, Salem has a rich 252-year-old history and a long-standing track record of educating students who are prepared to make a bold impact locally, nationally and globally through liberal arts education.

Salem Academy is a boarding and day college preparatory school with focus on interdisciplinary learning using STEAM, wellness and leadership. Salem College is the nation’s only liberal arts college exclusively dedicated to developing the next generation of health leaders. Salem College has more than 40 full-time faculty and over 150 staff members who support approximately 500 students including full-time undergraduates, part-time students and graduate students. In 2023, Salem received a second $5M anonymous philanthropic gift equaling its largest in history focused on enabling our health leadership transformation. Our graduates are committed to making the world a better, healthier and more equitable place.

Niche lists Salem Academy as the No. 1 boarding school in North Carolina; No. 5 college prep high school in North Carolina as well as the No. 1 college prep school in the Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem, NC area. Salem Academy has students from more than 10 states and 5 countries. Over 85% of the faculty and staff have a master’s degree or higher. Courses are taught at the college prep, honors, AP and dual enrollment levels. The unique partnership and shared campus with Salem College allows for collaboration with college faculty/staff on curriculum ideas, club activities and more.

Recognized by the U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, and the New York Times Magazine as a top liberal arts college in the nation, Salem College continues to lead among liberal arts colleges in social mobility and economic diversity. In 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked Salem College #2 among all national liberal arts colleges in America as a top performer for social mobility. Salem performed as one of the best liberal arts colleges with the highest percentage of Pell-eligible students graduating in four years. Out of 286 colleges in the country, the New York Times Magazine ranked Salem College as #2 for economic diversity – enrolling more economically disadvantaged students than its peers. This ranking is a reflection of Salem’s commitment to making education accessible and affordable for all students. In another 2023 national ranking, Washington Monthly ranked Salem College as #4 in the nation for Pell-eligible graduation rate, #8 in the country for earning performance, #14 best bang for your buck college in the southeast, and #24 best liberal arts college in the U.S.

Salem Academy and College is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a vibrant college town known as the “City of Arts and Innovation”. Winston-Salem is a lively academic community, home to six institutions of higher education and more than 26,000 students. Winston Salem has a collaborative and engaged academic community with strong private and public schools, excellent healthcare systems, and affordable housing. The Winston-Salem area also offers a rich variety of cultural opportunities and has a vibrant art and restaurant scene. Within a few hours of campus are mountains for skiing, camping, or hiking; rivers for whitewater rafting; and the beautiful ports and beaches of North and South Carolina.

Position Summary:

The Major Gifts Officer at Salem Academy & College (“Salem”) will manage a substantial prospect portfolio of individual donors whose gifts and grants will directly impact the development of Salem’s distinctive mission and programs. Responsibilities will include researching and identifying prospects, engaging these prospects through phone calls, remote meetings, face to face meetings, invitations to campus, and introductions to faculty, students and administrators. As a member of the Institutional Advancement Office, the Major Gifts Officer will work in conjunction with team members to further the direction, planning, implementation, and evaluation of philanthropy-related activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Research and identify major prospects (within the current donor base and new donor prospects);
• Build and manage a portfolio of individuals to secure maximum support;
• Develop strategies and prepare proposals for major gift prospects whose philanthropic purposes most closely parallel Salem’s mission and foci;
• Work closely with campaign counsel and volunteer boards around fundraising strategies;
• Identify common priorities and work to align the prospective donor’s philanthropic philosophy with Salem’s institutional priorities;
• Encourage and prepare campus site visits (or appropriate virtual meetings) for major gift prospects;
• Work closely with the Academy and College leadership to include the President, Head of School, Vice Presidents, Deans, and volunteers on leadership prospect cultivation, solicitation, and strategies for achieving institutional priorities;
• Collaborate with the Institutional Advancement team on the development and execution of fundraising goals;
• Help develop the vision and annual strategic plan for the Institutional Advancement Office;
• Work in concert with the Institutional Advancement team, campaign counsel and volunteer leadership to increase the number of donors and the level of campaign and annual giving;
• Promote a positive image and positive external relations for the institution by communicating and interacting with donors and potential donors in matters related to Advancement Services;
• Represent the institution in various activities and events near and far designed to promote the institution in particular and higher education in general, serving on appropriate boards and committees;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and a minimum of at least five (5) years of professional fundraising experience, with emphasis on major gifts, is preferred;
• A proven successful track record of soliciting and closing major gifts, recruiting and managing volunteers, and cultivation of major donors and donor prospects, is highly desirable;
• Proven record of successful leadership and performance at an equivalent level within an organization;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; must possess the skills to collaborate, communicate and cooperatively work with faculty, staff and administration;
• Strong organizational and planning skills, attention to detail and ability to prioritize and meet deadlines;
• Strong written and presentation skills with proven success in soliciting funds;
• Strong computer skills to include: Word, Excel, Zoom, Google Meets, and/or other online meeting tools, and the ability to conduct Internet research;
• Skilled use of Microsoft Office software, as well as presentation and website applications expected. Experience with Raisers’ Edge is preferred;
• Commitment to the values and environment of an educational institution and its mission and goals;
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Demonstrated ability to exercise effective independent judgment and efficiently manage tasks and time;
• Ability to be analytical, use and generate statistical information for tracking and reporting on overall donor activity and giving results;
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment with fluctuating priorities and deadlines;
• Ability to deal effectively with confidential information;
• Ability to travel extensively. If driving a personal or a Salem vehicle on institutional business, a valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record are required.

Physical Functions:

• While performing the responsibilities of the Major Gifts Officer , the employee is required to sit for varying lengths of time; bend, reach, lift, push, and pull up to 25 pounds; occasionally stand, walk, and kneel and regularly ascend/descend stairs; use hands and fingers to handle or feel and manipulate keys on a keyboard; perform extended periods of work at a computer workstation, view a computer monitor; perceive sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and receive detailed information through oral communication; express and exchange ideas by means of spoken word; and work in an office setting.

Salem Academy and College is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law in its employment practices.

For questions, please contact Kathy Barnes, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at [e-mail]