Major and Foundation Gifts Officer
The University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States
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Department
Development
Job Summary
Job Description
POSITION SUMMARY:
This position is responsible for the creation and management of a well-coordinated, strategic development plan to cultivate major gift prospects with support from private and corporate foundations.
This person works under the leadership of the Chief Development Officer to establish long-term partnerships, strengthen existing relationships, and initiate new contacts with private and corporate foundations. To complete their work, the individual must work collaboratively across the Development Office, Alumni Relations, and Senior Leadership to identify and steward high-capacity donors as well as navigate the established donor pool to secure gifts of $10,000 or greater.
This person will serve as a development liaison and work closely with an assigned Dean on identifying philanthropic support and coordinating the Dean's philanthropic activities.
The desired candidate will provide the expertise to advance the interests of UNO by researching and identifying sources of support, proactively seeking opportunities to generate new proposals based on corporate and foundation guidelines and interests, and by maintaining strong communication ties with corporate and foundation donors and prospects.
Gift Officers are held accountable for managing their time appropriately to achieve activity metrics and move management targets in advancing the collective donor pool. They work with a high degree of independence and must adhere to utmost professionalism, meticulous follow-through and due diligence, prospect clearance, and communications protocols to advance collective institutional goals.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Private & Corporate Foundations (40%)
- Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward private and corporate foundation donors at the five-figure level and above.
- Conduct research to determine interest and giving potential of private and corporate foundation prospects.
- Develops and manages an annual calendar to ensure all proposals and follow-ups are completed in a timely fashion.
- Prepare and submit private and corporate foundation proposals, reports, and letters of intent.
- Meets regularly with top private and corporate foundation donors to establish rapport and maintain relationships.
- Develops and maintains a solid cross-functional working relationship with department staff to ensure that the grants are meeting internal needs and expectations.
- Ensures compliance with all grant reporting as required by private and corporate foundation donors.
- Create solicitation and cultivation plans targeted to meet fundraising goals and help move the College donors, of the assigned Dean, towards higher giving levels; develop associated fundraising strategies to support portfolio prospect moves management.
- Meet activity metrics and revenue goals through face-to-face solicitations, prepare written solicitation letters, strategic donor briefings/visits, formal proposals/correspondences, pledge documents, and other engagement methodologies as appropriate.
- Build and manage a portfolio of 50-100 qualified major gift donors and prospects.
- Utilize systematic, collaborative, and data-driven prospecting, relationship building, and networking to strengthen the pipeline of major gift donors and prospects with the capacity for five-figure gifts and above.
- Work with the Development Staff, Alumni Relations, and Senior Leadership to ensure transparent, coordinated, and collaborative approaches with team members and volunteers to augment the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and prospects. Must adhere to all prospect clearance, operations, and communications protocols to maximize collective success.
- As a contributing team member, work independently and proactively - employ creative approaches to solving complex problems and building strategic solutions utilizing available resources, due diligence, and utmost professionalism.
- Maintain strong and accurate records of activities as directed by team protocol using Raiser's Edge while maintaining confidentiality of donor information.
- Regularly monitor, evaluate, and report on progress and outcomes against agreed-upon goals.
- Work with the Chief Development Officer and Senior Leadership on regular portfolio reviews and adjust assignments based on captured feedback on prospect qualification, current level of donor activity, or high-priority assignments.
- Respond to all leads and newly assigned prospects with timely follow-up. Handle other major and corporate/foundation gift responsibilities as needed.
- Contributes to and participates in the activities of the Development and Alumni Relations program, most notably events involving major gift prospects, private and corporate foundation donors.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
- A bachelor's degree and 3 - 5 years of progressively responsible development, marketing, accounting, financial planning, or legal experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Experience with Microsoft Office programs and use of relational databases such as Raiser's Edge.
- Preference will be given to candidates with successful corporate or foundation experience.
- Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies and techniques, particularly in private and corporate foundation fundraising techniques.
- Demonstrated ability in proposal writing for varied proposal development.
- Demonstrated knowledge of methods, practices, and procedures for obtaining information about the giving programs of private and corporate foundations.
- Self-motivation and discipline to regularly set and achieve work goals.
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and networking skills with individuals and groups.
- Ability to maintain a high level of poise and professionalism in all circumstances.
- Ability to initiate and build relationships with prospective private and corporate foundation donors and interact via telephone and in person with institutional representatives.
- Demonstrated record of success in generating significant commitments from donors, corporations, and foundations.
- Flexibility and willingness to travel to build donor relationships and University awareness.
- Must be flexible regarding work schedule, with the ability to work evening and/or weekend hours, when required.
- Advanced degree.
- Expertise with presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint) and social media communications
- Proficiency in the use of donor relational databases and prospect research tools, e.g., Raiser's Edge, LexisNexis, Wealth Engine
- Experience working with alumni, alumni boards, advisory boards, and volunteers.
- Strong teamwork and project management experience
Please upload the following documents in the Resume/Cover Letter section.
- Detailed resume listing relevant qualifications and experience;
- Cover Letter indicating why you are a good fit for the position and University of Louisiana Systems;
- Names and contact information of three references;
- Diversity Statement (required for all Faculty positions and any Staff position of Assistant Manager and higher).
See Diversity Statement instructions by clicking this link: https://www.uno.edu/careers/diversity-instructions
Applications that do not include the required uploaded documents may not be considered.
Posting Close Date
This position will remain open until filled.
Note to Applicant:
Applicants should fully describe their qualifications and experience with specific reference to each of the minimum and preferred qualifications in their cover letter. The search committee will use this information during the initial review of application materials.
References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.
This position may require a criminal background check to be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.
As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions at the University of New Orleans may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.
The University of New Orleans is an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected Veteran status, age if 40 or older, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.