Philanthropic Engagement Officer

ROME GROUP; Illinois; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

McKendree University is seeking a Philanthropic Engagement Officer to lead its major gift fundraising efforts. This role focuses on building relationships with alumni and securing financial support for university objectives. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in fundraising, superb communication skills, and the ability to engage a diverse audience, contributing to the mission of the University through effective engagement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of experience in major gift fundraising, preferably in an educational environment.
• Track record of success in identifying and cultivating major gifts.
• Understanding of moves management in professional fundraising.

Responsibilities

• Manage a donor portfolio emphasizing gifts of $25,000 or more.
• Plan and lead the major and planned gift program.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donor prospects.

Skills

Relationship Building

Fundraising Strategy Development

Communication

Flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM or relational database (e.g., Advance, Raiser’s Edge)

Job description

McKendree University, located in Lebanon, IL and home of the Bearcats, invites qualified applicants to join our team. McKendree University offers a competitive compensation and benefits package and the opportunity to influence the future leaders of tomorrow.

The mission of McKendree University is to provide a high-quality educational experience to outstanding students. We guide our students in the pursuit of academic excellence, which will prepare them for leadership roles in our society. To achieve this end we encourage broader vision, enriched purpose, engagement with community, commitment to responsible citizenship, openness to new ideas and dedication to lifelong learning. In keeping with our history and traditions, we provide our students with a rigorous, broadly based liberal arts curriculum joined with specialization in a specific discipline.

Position Summary and Key Responsibilities

The Philanthropic Engagement Officer is responsible for achieving our major gift fundraising and planned giving program objectives.This is a key University advancement position that will serve as a full partner with colleagues from the Office of Development, Alumni, and Parent Relations, the President’s Cabinet, and the campus community to advance the mission of McKendree University by building lifelong relationships with its alumni and friends, inspiring support for its strategic initiatives, and stewarding its resources.The Philanthropic Engagement Officer will establish and foster enduring relationships with a vast range of constituents bypartnering with them in their philanthropy and securing private support for university priorities through the solicitation of major outright and deferred gifts.

This involves prospect research and developing effective solicitation strategies as well as stewarding donors throughout the major and planned giving process. The Philanthropic Engagement Officer will manage a donor portfolio and emphasize gifts and pledges of $25,000 or greater.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and lead the major and planned gift program for McKendree University in developing meaningful connections with alumni, parents, community members and friends of the school while developing strategies to move them across the donor continuum to result in stronger engagement and philanthropic support (securing of outright gifts).
• Cultivates and leverages campus and community partnerships to increase opportunities for engagement among alumni, career services, faculty, staff, and students.
• Act as philanthropic partner in a comprehensive major gift and gift planning program for the University by facilitating active relationships for assigned prospects while endeavoring to match University funding needs with prospects’ interests. Involve colleagues, faculty and staff in strategy development and prospect activities to foster multiple points of contact for each prospect.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donor prospects to McKendree University. Major gifts are defined as gifts of $5,000 or more annually or campaign pledges of $25,000 or more.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 125 prospects within an assigned region as determined by the VP for Institutional Advancement.
  • Conduct an average of 12 face-to-face visits per month.
  • Complete contact reports after every donor visit, update prospect database information. and conduct follow-up communication.
  • Research major gift donor prospects and conduct discovery visits.
  • Grow relationships with major and planned gift donors.
  • Develop a donor solicitation strategy for major and planned gift prospects.
  • Acknowledge major donors through public and private recognition.
  • ln collaboration with colleagues, identify, develop, and cultivate a healthy prospects pipeline as
    part of the organization’s evolving fundraising strategy.
  • Ensure that all assigned prospects are solicited for the McKendree Annual Fund each year.
  • Coordinate and execute marketing efforts for planned giving.
  • Assist in the planning and implementation of key donor recognition and campaign events.
  • Other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Institutional Advancement.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum of two years of experience in major gift fundraising, preferably in an educational environment.
• A proven and verifiable track record of success in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gifts.
• Experience in professional sales or another similar field will also be considered.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Clear understanding of moves management in professional fundraising.
• Proven ability to successfully identify and build relationships to connect interests with opportunities.
• Basic understanding of planned gift concepts.
• A demonstrated ability to engage and effectively communicate with diverse audiences.
• Ability to effectively articulate and persuasively communicate institutional mission and the need for financial support.
• Strong work ethic and self-awareness.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, the ability to obtain a driver’s license, or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.
• Flexibility and willingness to periodically travel independently and work extended workdays and occasional weekends as needed to meet desired objectives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to develop and execute fundraising plans with strong support of metrics.
• High level of creativity, initiative, and motivation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of all facets of fundraising, including annual fund, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, stewardship, major gift fundraising, etc.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with academic and administrative leaders in a collaborative environment to conceive and implement innovative ideas.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience working in a CRM or other relational database such as Advance or Raiser’s Edge.
• Knowledge of best practices in alumni engagement, board and volunteer cultivation and development, project implementation and evaluation.

Work Conditions
Office environment; 40 hours per week; normally 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; some evening and weekend work required.

Required Application Materials
Cover Letter
Resume/CV

Apply at: https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/mckendree/jobs/4962439/philanthropic-engagement-officer

Equal Opportunity Employer

McKendree University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and other statuses protected by law. This extends to all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruiting, hiring, training, on-the-job treatment, promotion, layoff, and termination.