Montreat College, Director of Major Gifts

Company Description

Montreat College is a Christian liberal arts college accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to offer masters, bachelors, and associates degrees. The main campus is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains fifteen miles east of Asheville, North Carolina, a region recognized as one of the most attractive living environments in the United States. The College is committed to Christ centered teaching and learning, and is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.

Job Description

Salary: $100,000

The Opportunity:

Montreat College is embarking on its most ambitious fundraising effort in its history and is building a team to bring this vision to fruition over the next three to five years. Both seasoned fundraising professionals and those who desire campaign experience would thrive in this role. The position is remote with monthly visits to campus; professionals in major cities in the Southeast are welcome to apply. A vehicle is provided for use during professional duties.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, the Director of Major Gifts will work with assigned donors and prospects to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward major gifts for the College. This role is vital in advancing Montreat College’s mission and vision by engaging donors who share a passion for Christ-centered higher education and fostering generosity that supports the spiritual and academic formation of students.

Responsibilities:

1. Develop and execute a comprehensive, strategic, donor-centered major gifts program that includes specific fundraising goals and targets, with a focus on the acquisition of major gifts ($10,000+ annually) from high level prospects and donors. 
2. Manage a portfolio of 100 major prospects and donors giving $10,000+ annually. 
3. Develop and execute a personal strategic engagement plan for each donor, and collaborate with the Vice President for Advancement and President on larger major gift strategies.
4. Regularly engage with major donors and prospects through personal meetings, events, and written correspondence to build and strengthen their relationship with the College to encourage continued and increased giving.
5. Perform approximately 16-18 meaningful contacts with qualified donors per month, primarily in-person. Virtual and phone meetings will also be occasionally required.
6. Prayerfully engage with donors, demonstrating Christian stewardship principles in fundraising conversations.
7. Engage donors in conversations about planned giving and advise on legacy giving tools that enable donors to have greater impact.
8. Attend Advancement events and College functions as directed to build relationships throughout the College’s ministries.
9. Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Commitment to the mission of the College, specifically a personal commitment to Jesus Christ and affirm and support the vision, mission, statement of faith, and community life covenant of Montreat College.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Five or more years of progressive, proven experience in major giving or sales experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, including demonstrated ability to make effective oral presentations and prepare and edit written and visual presentations.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to function well as a member of a team.
• Critical thinking skills and the ability to communicate in an articulate and persuasive manner, sometimes with little preparation.
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills with ability to manage multiple priorities to meet deadlines.
• Proven track record of delivering results against metrics and objectives.
• Ability to grasp and communicate the College’s vision to a broad spectrum of constituencies.
• Self-starter with a high level of reliability, initiative, and follow-through. Comfortable working independently and meeting concurrent deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Strong biblical worldview of stewardship, modeled by Henri Nouwen’s The Spirituality of Fundraising.
• Ability to be a compelling ambassador for the College, articulating our mission, values, and impact to donors and community members across various platforms.
• Ability to network and grow relationships to build philanthropic support.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to learn and utilize Advancement software, including Raiser's Edge.
• Excellent command of English as a spoken and written language, including spelling, grammar, and proofreadi