Major Gift Officer / Senior Major Gift Officer

Denison University; Granville (OH); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established institution is seeking a Major Gift Officer/Senior Major Gift Officer to enhance philanthropic support through strategic engagement with donors. This role involves soliciting significant contributions to support the university's mission and priorities. You will collaborate with university leaders and manage a diverse portfolio of prospects, ensuring that funding aligns with campaign goals. The ideal candidate will possess strong fundraising experience, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to the liberal arts mission. Join a vibrant community dedicated to making a meaningful impact through education.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 2-5 years fundraising experience.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Solicit donors for funding University priorities.
• Manage a portfolio of prospects through the giving cycle.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

MS Word proficiency

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Major Gift Officer / Senior Major Gift Officer

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

This posting is for one position; candidates will be considered for either a title of Major Gift Officer or Senior Major Gift Officer based on years of fundraising related experiences and qualifications.

Job Posting Information

Position Type

Position Type Administrative Staff

Classification Title

Classification Title Administrative Staff

Position Title

Position Title Major Gift Officer / Senior Major Gift Officer

Position Number

Position Number A00409

Pay Grade Level AD 01

Salary $85,000 - $110,000

Department

Department Major and Planned Giving

Posting Number

Posting Number S 121301424

Full or Part Time

Full or Part Time Full Time

Number of Months

Position End Date

FTE

FTE 1

Work Schedule

Basic Function

Develop and foster comprehensive philanthropic support for Denison University through a systematic program of identification, engagement, solicitation and stewardship of individual prospects in partnership with colleagues across the college, including the Institutional Advancement leadership team, the President, the faculty and Trustees.

Essential Job Functions

• Solicit donors to provide funding for University priorities including leadership annual fund, major gifts to current use funds and endowment and planned giving. Generate $1-3 million annually for Major Gift Officer and $3-5 million for Sr. Major Gift Officer in signed, documented commitments.
• Identify and qualify Denison alumni, parents and friends who have the capacity to become leadership donors to the University.
• Manage and travel within a geographic territory, including staffing university leaders, including the President, coordinating donor meetings during university travel to the area, and assisting in the invitations for alumni events in the region, including large receptions and smaller dialogue dinners.
• Collaborate with the Director of Prospect Management to move a portfolio of ~75 prospects through the giving cycle from identification through stewardship.
• Maintain a basic knowledge of projects and programs that are the funding objectives for the University and share Denison’s vision with donors; align solicitations with campaign priorities when appropriate.
• Work with others on campus to develop well articulated cases for support and fully-developed written proposals to present to prospective donors. Prepare contact reports and necessary follow-up materials.
• Collaborate with Annual Fund and Planned Giving staff to develop comprehensive philanthropic plans for major gift prospects which would include operating support, endowed/capital initiatives and deferred commitments.
• Work with the Assistant Director for Stewardship to appropriately steward donors and their gifts.
• Support activities which will bring potential donors closer to the University through volunteer engagement activities, and participate in community-wide events such as Big Red Weekend, Reunion Weekend, and campus events when appropriate.
• Demonstrate the efficient use of budget and time, and support the goals and objectives of the division of Institutional Advancement.
• Perform other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Major Gift Officer:
A bachelor’s degree.
A minimum of two years of relevant fundraising experience or a related field such as non-profit management, sales, or marketing.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Must be able to work independently and as part of a cohesive team to achieve goals.
Proficiency in MS Word and Excel. Must understand and be able to commit to a liberal arts mission and become an active member of the University community.

Senior Major Gift Officer:
A bachelor’s degree.
A minimum of five years of relevant fundraising experience or a related field such as non-profit management, sales, or marketing.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Must be able to work independently and as part of a cohesive team to achieve goals.
Proficiency in MS Word and Excel. Must understand and be able to commit to a liberal arts mission and become an active member of the University community.

Preferred Qualifications

Fundraising experience in higher education. Experience fundraising with gifts of $50,000 or more.

Physical Demands

Contact(s)

Contact Phone/Extension

Contact Email

Open Date

Open Date 01/09/2025

Close Date

Open Until Filled No

Special Instructions to Applicants

This posting is for one position; candidates will be considered for either a title of Major Gift Officer or Senior Major Gift Officer based on years of fundraising related experiences and qualifications.

Additional Information

Denison University Background Check Statement

The final candidate will undergo a background check as a conditional offer of employment.

Denison University EEO Statement

Denison is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Title IX Notice: Sex discrimination is prohibited by federal law through Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Denison does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education programs or activities that it operates including admissions and employment. For Denison’s official Notice of Non-Discrimination, please visit https://denison.edu/forms/non-discrimination-notice . You can learn more about Title IX at Denison at https://denison.edu/campus/title-ix .

Job seekers who may need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should contact the Office of Human Resources at [phone] or by email at [e-mail].

Posting Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Required Documents

Resume

Cover Letter/Letter of Application

List of 3 Professional References and Contact Information

Optional Documents