Philanthropy Officer

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Bowie (MD); On-site; USD 74,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Paid sick leave

Tuition remission

Job summary

Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland is seeking a Philanthropy Officer to manage donor relationships and solicit gifts. The successful candidate will have a background in fundraising, excellent interpersonal skills, and a bachelor's degree. Key responsibilities include managing a portfolio of donors and meeting fundraising goals.

This position requires strong communication and negotiation skills, as well as the ability to collaborate with faculty and university leaders. Benefits include medical insurance, paid leave, and tuition remission.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three (3) years of progressive success in major gift or planned giving fundraising.
• Ability to build relationships with major gift donors.
• Track record of achieving ambitious fundraising goals.

Responsibilities

• Solicit gifts primarily from individuals, including alumni.
• Manage relationships with 75-100 prospective donors.
• Meet established financial goals for each fiscal year.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Posting: JR101902 Philanthropy Officer (Open)

Department: Institutional Effectiveness, PM

Position Type: Regular

Open Date: 06-12-2026

Close Date: $74,000 - $84,000

Job Description: This position is responsible for the solicitation of gifts primarily from individuals including friends, and alumni of the university, to provide financial support for funding priorities as identified by leadership. In addition, assist when needed in soliciting corporations and foundations. Manage relationships with approximately 75-100 prospective donors and identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward these very important alumni and friends of BSU. Meet established financial goal set for each fiscal year. Manage a portfolio, with a set number of yearly and monthly solicitations, and engagement activities (i.e. visits, phone calls, proposals etc.) with qualified prospects.

Responsibilities

• Ability to identify and understand the needs and interests of major gift donors in order to develop relationships between them and BSU.
• Responsible for making cold calls, developing, cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure.
• Maintain stewardship contacts with donors, adhering to the highest ethical standards.
• Demonstrate empathetic disposition and perseverance reflect an optimistic and positive attitude and convey sensitivity to needs of the donors. Work collaboratively with fellow advancement team members, volunteers and other university representatives to cultivate and solicit donors for institution-wide priorities.
• Maintain an interest in all aspects of education and a dedication to promoting BSU fundraising priorities by developing excellent relationships with faculty, senior academic leaders, volunteers, and the advancement office team.
• Ensure that all donors’ records and interactions are well documented and updated in the donor database.
• Demonstrated leadership and the ability to successfully manage multi-functional or diverse areas.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated record of completing assignments.
• Proven ability and drive to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.
• Track record of building strong donor relationships and closing major gifts.
• Demonstrated ability to participate meaningfully and creatively in goal setting, long- and short-term strategic planning, and problem solving.
• Excellent oral, written communication and organizational skills.
• Negotiation, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• High degree of integrity, initiative, and professionalism as well as sound judgment.
• Self-starter with a resourceful and entrepreneurial spirit and an ability to act decisively.
• Ability and willingness to work outside of standard business hours, including some weekends and evenings, and to travel on occasion.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of three (3) years plus of demonstrated progressive success in major gift and/or planned giving fundraising, preferably in higher education.
• Must adhere to the Code of Ethical Principles of the Association of fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
• Must be a highly energetic professional with a track record of building donor relationships and closing gifts in the six-figure range.
• Ability to understand the needs and interests of major gift donors in order to develop relationships between them and strategic priorities.
• A dedication to promoting the universities fundraising through collaboration with faculty, senior academic leaders, volunteers, and Philanthropic Engagement team.
• Experience with fundraising campaigns.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated record of completing assignments and managing competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability and drive to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.
• Track record of building strong donor relationships and closing major gifts.
• Demonstrated ability to participate meaningfully and creatively in goal setting, long- and short-term strategic planning, and problem solving.
• Excellent oral, written communication and organizational skills.
• Negotiation, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• High degree of integrity, initiative, and professionalism as well as sound judgment.
• Self-starter with a resourceful and entrepreneurial spirit and an ability to act decisively.

Conditions of Employment

• Not Currently Available

Additional Job Information

Benefits include medical, dental, prescription, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and life insurance; paid time for paid sick leave, annual leave, and personal leave; 12 paid holidays per year, tuition remission; employer-funded pension and supplemental retirement accounts.

Bowie State University shall not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital status or veteran status. All policies, programs, and activities of Bowie State University are and shall be in conformity with all pertinent Federal and state laws of nondiscrimination including, but not limited to: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination Act, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Federal Executive Order No. 11375, and Article 49B of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This commitment applies in all areas and embraces faculty, staff, and students. Equal opportunity of access to academic and related programs shall be extended to all persons. Bowie State University shall have as its firm objective equal opportunity in recruitment and hiring, rate of pay, all other promotions, training, retention and dismissals, for all employees and applicants for employment. The University will stress equal access for employees and applicants for employment to all programs and services provided by the University both on and off campus. The University will also provide equal opportunity and an atmosphere of nondiscrimination with respect to women and members of minority groups in all its operations. In addition, the University shall promote equal opportunity and equal treatment through a positive and continuing affirmative action program. The University makes, and will continue to make, reasonable accommodations to promote the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the University's business. In addition, employees and applicants will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination because they have engaged in, or may have engaged in, activities such as filing a complaint, assisting or participating in an investigation, compliance review or hearing, or opposing any act or practice made unlawful, or exercising any other right protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended or the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended.