Principal Gifts Engagement Officer

Bucknell University; Lewisburg (Union County); On-site; USD 88,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible scheduling

Medical insurance

Tuition remission

Paid holidays

Retirement contribution

Job summary

Bucknell University is seeking a Principal Gifts Engagement Officer to design and lead engagement strategies for our highest-capacity donors and prospects. You will collaborate with principal gift officers, University Advancement leadership, and campus partners to align donor engagement with campaign priorities and ensure a high-touch Bucknell experience.

The role focuses on seven- and eight-figure opportunities, with a portfolio of engagement initiatives and events on and off campus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and four years of experience in an advancement office or related field.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with high attention to detail.
• Experience working with senior leadership, donors, and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead engagement programs for Bucknell's principal gift prospects and donors.
• Develop individualized cultivation plans coordinating multi-year engagement with solicitation goals.
• Partner with Stewardship and Donor Relations to shape distinctive stewardship experiences.

Skills

Relationship building

Discretion

Professionalism

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree + 4 years experience

Job description

Position Title

Principal Gifts Engagement Officer

Position Type

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Categories

Staff Exempt

Job Summary

The Principal Gifts Engagement Officer (PGEO) serves on the Principal Gifts team as a strategic partner responsible for designing and leading engagement strategies that strengthen relationships with Bucknell's highest-capacity prospects and donors, individuals whose transformational philanthropy will have the greatest impact on the university's campaign success. Through innovative engagement programs and highly personalized donor experiences, the PEO creates meaningful connections that deepen donor affinity, advance principal gift strategies, and inspire significant philanthropic investment. Reporting to the Director of Principal Gifts, the PGEO develops and leads a portfolio of strategic engagement initiatives that support seven- and eight-figure philanthropic opportunities. Working collaboratively with principal gift officers, University Advancement leadership, and campus partners, the PEO aligns donor engagement with solicitation strategies and institutional priorities while ensuring a seamless, high-touch experience for Bucknell's most significant donors.

Job Duties

Reporting Relationship

• Reports to Director, Principal Gifts

Work Setting/Schedule

• This is an on-campus position.
• This is a full-time role (40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year)
• Evening and weekend work may be required periodically based on events and donor engagement activities.

What You Will Do

• Principal Donor Programs: Lead the strategy, development, management, execution, and continuous enhancement of strategic engagement programs for Bucknell's highest-priority principal gift prospects and donors. Design innovative one-to-many engagement opportunities that strengthen donor affinity, build meaningful connections to the university, and advance campaign priorities. Work closely with the events team and other partners to execute event-related engagement strategies on and off campus. Ensure every engagement is strategically coordinated and executed with exceptional precision, discretion, and flawless attention to detail, delivering a seamless experience that reflects the university's highest standards and advances transformational philanthropic investment. Establish processes, tools, and best practices that strengthen the planning, coordination, and execution of principal donor engagement programs.
• Principal Donor Cultivation: Lead the design and execution of individualized engagement strategies for Bucknell's highest-priority principal gift prospects and donors. Develop, oversee, and continuously refine Individualized Cultivation Plans (ICPs) that coordinate multi-year engagement strategies aligned with solicitation goals. Design and deliver highly customized donor experiences, including concierge-level campus visits and strategic interactions with university leadership, faculty, students, and other key partners. Ensure every engagement is executed with exceptional precision, discretion, and flawless attention to detail, creating distinctive experiences that strengthen donor relationships and advance seven- and eight-figure philanthropic opportunities.
• Strategic Stewardship & Innovation: Partner with Stewardship and Donor Relations to shape and refine stewardship strategies for Bucknell's highest-priority principal gift prospects and donors. Identify opportunities to create distinctive stewardship experiences and approaches, including those connected to scholarships, named chairs and professorships, and named spaces. Establish and monitor annual engagement metrics, assess results and trends, and use insights to refine strategies and drive continued growth in principal gift engagement and philanthropic outcomes. Identify emerging opportunities and best practices and recommend enhancements that strengthen principal donor relationships and support evolving campaign priorities.

The job description's listed responsibilities and task are not exhaustive, additional non-essential tasks and responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Please note that applications without a cover letter are considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Your cover letter is an opportunity to share your motivation for applying. Please describe why the Principal Gifts Engagement Officer role at Bucknell is of interest to you and how your skills and experiences connect to the responsibilities of the position. We are looking for thoughtful, genuine interest beyond a summary of your resume.

We are looking for exceptional people who will embrace our values:

• Lead with Integrity
• Embrace a Collaborative and Inclusive Spirit
• Be Open and Receptive
• Nurture Creativity and Innovation
• Foster a Culture of Empowerment and Knowledge

University Advancement is here to advance the mission of Bucknell University by engaging the Bucknell community. It is only through the support of alumni, parents and friends – by opening doors to career opportunities, engaging others to join the conversation and community, and entrusting us with their philanthropic commitments – that we can further elevate Bucknell as a leader in undergraduate education. These values illustrate how we bring, as a division, the University's strategic plan to life and exercise our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion on a daily basis.

Successful candidates are highly organized and relationship-oriented, with the ability to build trust and navigate complex relationships with discretion and professionalism. You will be comfortable working independently while also thriving in a collaborative, team-based fundraising environment. A strategic, curious mindset and a genuine interest in building meaningful relationships are essential. Above all, this role requires strong judgment, confidentiality, and professionalism both within University Advancement and across the broader University community.

We're looking for people with:

• Bachelor’s degree and four years of experience in an advancement office, frontline development, or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, including events and prospect activities, with high attention to detail
• Demonstrated experience working with senior leadership, donors and volunteers
• Demonstrated success working with colleagues across and at all levels of an organization
• Demonstrated success working with high-level clients or donors
• Evidence of creativity, high energy and innovative approaches to past work
• Superior ability to articulate a compelling case for philanthropic support of programs
• Demonstrates practical application and experience with technology such as database functions/reports, and Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Suite

Preferred:

• Project management training and/or experience
• Comprehensive campaign experience
• Event planning experience
• Higher education experience
• Persuasive writing and oral communication skills

Physical Requirements

• Office environment
• Must be able to work in a demanding environment with multiple competing deadlines

Job Exempt:

Yes

Salary Range:

88,000.00-100,000.00

The offer rate will be based on a review of the candidate's credentials compared to the qualifications of the position, internal equity, and our overall compensation philosophy.

This role is not budgeted for visa sponsorship, all candidates must be authorized to work in the US without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

Benefits:

Eligible full- and part-time employees are compensated beyond base salary through our total rewards package that includes (but is not limited to):

• Flexible scheduling options determined by role;
• Medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance options
• An outstanding 10% employer contribution to your retirement plan (no contribution requirement for non-exempt positions)
• Generous paid time off, including vacation and sick time, a community service day, and 19 paid holidays (including two full weeks off for Winter Break!)
• Full-time and part-time members of the faculty and staff are eligible for tuition remission for themselves. Additionally, full-time members of the faculty and staff are eligible for tuition remission for their spouse/spousal equivalent and are eligible for various tuition programs for their children. Credit for full-time benefits eligible employment at other institutions of higher education will be applied to waiting periods.
• A comprehensive employee wellness program including program incentives
• A myriad of other benefits, including parental leave, an employee assistance program, fitness center membership, and the power of your Bucknell ID card

To learn more about Bucknell's benefits, click here! (*Eligibility criteria and waiting periods may apply.)

Inclusive Excellence:

Bucknell is committed to fostering an environment that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion, and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports the growth and development of a diverse campus community. We endeavor to enhance our capacity to value and capitalize on the cultural richness that diversity brings. We encourage all individuals to apply and do not discriminate inadmissions, employment, educational programs and/or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, sex/gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or family status, military or veteran status, or genetic information.

If this position is approved for hybrid/remote work this position is open to candidates located in the following states: CA, CT, FL, GA, IN, MA, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC, TX, and VA.

Candidates must be physically located and authorized to work in one of these approved states by the start date of employment and throughout employment.

E-Verify

Bucknell University participates with the United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) E-Verify program. We will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

For additional information regarding Bucknell's E-Verify requirements, please contact the office of Talent, Culture & Human Resources [phone] or email [e-mail].