Major Gift Officer (Finance)

Job Description

Impact Giving Officer/Major Gifts Officer

Reporting to the Director of Impact Giving, the Impact Giving Officer is critical to growing the number of qualified prospects who can support Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT) at the major gifts level. This candidate will focus on identifying and qualifying alumni, parents, and friends who have the potential to make high-level leadership gifts, multi-year leadership commitments, and major gifts of $100,000 and above. This individual will solicit major, planned, and leadership annual gifts. Primary performance goals include the number of prospect qualifications, major gift solicitations, and new gifts and commitments. This candidate must be technologically savvy and understand how to leverage their resources to reach all donors and engage the community in Stevens' development efforts.

This position will be based in Hoboken, New Jersey, at the main campus of Stevens Institute of Technology, with a flexible work arrangement as set by the Division of Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE).

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in all aspects of the gift cycle: (1) identify, initiate contacts with, and qualify potential major donors; (2) develop appropriate cultivation strategies for them, including participation of volunteers; (3) move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure; (4) make solicitations when appropriate; and (5) maintain stewardship contacts with donors
• With the goal of building and adding to your major gift portfolio, undertake efforts to systematically identify and qualify new prospects capable of making major gift contributions in support of Stevens; develop strong working relationships with undergraduate alumni, graduate alumni, parents, and friends to identify prospects who have the capacity, potential, and inclination to support Stevens
• Guide and support academic and administrative leaders in the donor engagement process; educate them on funding goals and priorities; and ensure their time is well spent, highly productive, and personally rewarding
• Ensure that stewardship of donors makes supporting the school a personally fulfilling experience; conveys to donors that Stevens and its leaders care deeply about its supporters and appreciate what they have done for SIT; and demonstrates the impact their contributions have on the institution
• Formulate a keen understanding of the research initiatives within Stevens, the vision of the president, and the aspirations of key faculty members and leaders; identify stories that will elevate awareness and understanding of funding priorities; and communicate those stories in clear and compelling terms with multiple internal and external audiences
• Partner with the director of planned giving on complex and blended gift opportunities; provide advice to prospects on deferred giving vehicles as a means of making a contribution to Stevens
• Foster strong collaborative working relationships with colleagues in development and alumni engagement; leverage the power of that collaborative approach to identify new donors, facilitate volunteer opportunities for prospects, and ensure alumni are meaningfully engaged in the life of Stevens
• Maintain consistent and appropriate contact with prospects and travel to meet them, either alone or with SIT representatives
• Strengthen prospects' interest in Stevens through substantive campus visits and engagement opportunities, such as alumni events, exposure to academic and research initiatives, and meetings with faculty, students, and senior leaders
• Assist with SIT's overall donor and alumni participation efforts in addition to meeting mutually agreed upon, individual metrics and goals
• Diligently track prospect and donor contact, status, and next steps in a donor relationship management database
• Maintain professionalism in all departmental activities and outreach while promoting confidentiality of privileged information

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of four years of experience in philanthropic fundraising, preferably in higher education; a demonstrated ability to design and implement effective cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for five- and six-figure gifts
• A highly motivated, goal-oriented, self-starter who uses an innovative approach to engage prospects and reach out to a broader community to promote the mission of an institution
• Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to engage comfortably and effectively with faculty, leadership, professional and administrative staff, donors, alumni, and board members; comfort working with science, technology, and engineering professionals
• Exceptional communication skills with the intellectual depth and curiosity necessary to understand and translate academic, technical, and research information for all audiences; clarity, crispness, and persuasiveness in written and oral presentations
• The ability to listen carefully, respond thoughtfully, and influence and persuade others
• A keen understanding for how all areas of institutional advancement—alumni relations, donor relations, advancement services, and annual, major, and planned giving—work together to ensure the meaningful engagement of prospects; promote the mission, goals, and aspirations of an institution of higher education; and optimize the lifelong giving of donors
• The ability to analyze information and think strategically, critically, and creatively
• Ability to work in a system that emphasizes measurable objectives, including mutually agreed-upon targets for major gifts; flexibility to work in an ever-changing environment
• Ability to plan effectively and manage multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining disciplined adherence to annual and long-term goals
• A desire to be part of a collaborative team committed to advancing an institutional mission and a strategic plan

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree is required. An advanced degree will be viewed favorably.
• Willingness to travel, up to 25% of staff time, and to work nights and weekends as needed. A valid driver's license is required.

This position is a fixed-term role and is part-time with a maximum of 25 hours per week.

Department

Major Gifts

EEO Statement: