Philanthropy Officer

Rhode Island School of Design; Providence (RI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Rhode Island School of Design is hiring Philanthropy Officers to enhance donor engagement strategies supporting their mission. The successful candidates will be responsible for managing major gift portfolios, developing personalized engagement plans, and demonstrating effective communication and relationship-building skills in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Competitive benefits package

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Five years+ of fundraising experience with major gift solicitations.
• Ability to communicate and present persuasively.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in outreach to volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Identify and cultivate new and existing donors.
• Manage a portfolio of 150 major giving donors.
• Develop and execute annual solicitation plans.

Skills

Communication

Organizational Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Relationship-Building

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Summary:

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is seeking two Philanthropy Officers to join our Institutional Advancement team to build a strong base of individual donors to support our mission. If you’re looking to join a cohesive and talented team dedicated to engaging alumni, parents and friends through creative outreach strategies, we are interested in hearing from you.

The Philanthropy Officer employs customer relationship management skills to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new and existing donors. Concentrating efforts on alumni, parents, and friends, the Philanthropy Officer cultivates and solicits a portfolio of 150 major gift prospective and current donors at the $100,000+ level. The Philanthropy Officer devises personalized engagement plans for each assigned prospect, leveraging RISD cultivation opportunities, and presenting gift opportunity proposals that speak to a donor’s philanthropic goals while supporting the mission and goals of the College and the Museum. The individual develops and implements a comprehensive multi-year plan and timeline for assessment, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of assigned prospects, meeting or exceeding personal productivity goals. The Philanthropy Officer employs the Raiser’s Edge database to manage prospective donor strategies and moves, documenting all prospect interactions in a complete and timely fashion.

Successful candidates must demonstrate a proven ability and continued commitment to work and communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of divisional and institutional colleagues, within an environment that values diversity.

As an employer, RISD offers a supportive, collegial, and inclusive work environment and a competitive benefits package.

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of assigned prospective donors through face-to-face visits, engagement events, and other means. Tasked with overseeing and/or personally executing the solicitation and closing of major gifts, including support for the RISD Museum, planned gifts, and contributions to annual, endowment, and capital funds.
• Manage and maintain a portfolio of 150 major giving prospective and current donors at the $100,000+ level.
• Develops and executes an annual solicitation plan for submitted proposals and gift closures providing gift projections of commitments.
• Identifies and qualifies prospects within assigned portfolio who may need reengagement with RISD.
• Maintain a rigorous schedule of personal contacts with assigned prospects, creating moves management plans related to them that include strategies of engagement and solicitations.
• Work with Senior Executive Director of Major and Planned Gifts to conceptualize plan and then partner with Institutional Advancement Events team to implement RISD events in assigned territory(s) that build the RISD brand and foster deeper engagement among top prospects and philanthropists in that area.
• Participate in Raiser’s Edge prospect tracking/management system, which identifies, assigns, rates, and tracks assigned prospects, complying with department policies and procedures.
• Conduct independent research through the Institutional Advancement database, Internet sources, and referrals from RISD representatives and volunteers to identify and appropriately engage assigned prospects.
  
  

Additional Functions:

• Perform related duties as requested.
• Work collaboratively with other members of Institutional Advancement to support department initiatives, plans, and projects.
• Serve as a representative of Institutional Advancement with other campus partners.
  
  

Knowledge/Skills/Experience Requires:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Five years+ of fundraising (or related sales) experience devising and executing 5-figure and 6-figure solicitations.
• Ability to communicate and present persuasively.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in outreach to volunteers and other fundraising partners.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills and a proven ability to create and foster excellent relationships between donors and an organization.
• Demonstrated ability to engage as a positive team member who establishes productive relationships, demonstrates respect and facilitates understanding by considering and integrating diverse viewpoints.
• Demonstrates effective working relationships with people who have different group identities, perspectives and circumstances.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in campaign environment
• Interest/experience in art and design
  
  

Union:

No

Work Schedule:

35 hours per week, 12 months per year

Work Modality:

Hybrid Eligible

Employment Status:

Full-time; Regular; Exempt

Grade:

550EX

Documents Needed to Apply:

Resume

Cover Letter

Salary Grade Structure

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please upload all required documents.

The successful candidate will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.

RISD recognizes diversity and inclusivity as fundamental to its learning community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

For internal use only - Job Family:

Development - Fundraising