Leadership Giving Officer

Job Description

The Leadership Giving Officer at Wentworth Institute of Technology is pivotal in driving the advancement of our institution's fundraising ambitions. This dynamic role is dedicated to strategically expanding our donor base by engaging with individuals and fostering their journey toward making financial contributions at the leadership-giving level of $1,000-$15,000. The officer will be instrumental in bolstering the Institute's capacity for securing leadership gifts by managing a robust portfolio of potential donors, from identification through cultivation to the final solicitation stages.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prospect Development and Identification: Proactively identify, assess, and engage individuals as prospective leadership gift donors. In partnership with Advancement Services, utilize advanced research techniques to develop strategic outreach, and detailed cultivation practices to build a strong pipeline of potential supporters. Discovery work to uncover qualified/disqualified donors, long-term engagement of annual donors, and obtain new annual donors of $1000+.
• Strategy Implementation: Craft and execute tailored engagement and solicitation strategies for each prospect, ensuring alignment with both the donor's passions and the Institute's strategic priorities under the leadership of the Senior Major Gifts Officer.
• Portfolio Management: Effectively maintain, update, and manage a comprehensive portfolio of donors and prospects. Regularly review and refine engagement strategies based on ongoing interactions and donor feedback to optimize fundraising efforts. Set clear, measurable goals for each donor segment to ensure targeted and strategic outreach, enhancing the potential for successful leadership gifts acquisition.
• Collaboration and Integration: Collaborate extensively with the development team and other institute stakeholders to seamlessly integrate leadership giving prospects into the broader major gifts pipeline, enhancing overall fundraising efficacy.
• Resource Matching: Liaise with faculty and key staff to pinpoint and articulate funding needs and opportunities that align with prospective donors’ interests, facilitating impactful contributions.
• Events: Assist the events team in the outreach of prospects to solicit them to attend events. Attend and actively participate in a variety of events and activities designed to engage and solidify relationships with potential  donors, enhancing their commitment to the Institute’s mission.

Reporting

This individual will report directly to the Senior Major Gifts Officer and have a secondary, dotted-line reporting relationship with the Executive Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving to ensure collaboration between the development and annual giving divisions within Institutional Advancement and External Relations at Wentworth.

Required Qualifications:

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree required
• Professional Experience: At least 3 years of demonstrated experience in fundraising or sales. Experience in a similar academic, nonprofit, or for-profit environment will be highly regarded.
• Proven Success: A track record of successfully identifying, engaging, and securing meetings with individuals to discuss   philanthropic support.
• Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional ability to communicate and interact effectively with diverse groups, building long-lasting relationships with stakeholders across various levels.
• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with modern fundraising databases and CRM systems, demonstrating proficiency in managing donor information and interaction histories.

Core Competencies:

• Donor-Centric Approach: An  understanding of donor psychology with the ability to tailor interactions and strategies to meet and exceed donor expectations and motivations.
• Strategic Relationship Management: Expertise in nurturing and maintaining relationships that drive fundraising or sales success, with a knack for moving prospects along the giving continuum.
• Persuasive Communication: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, capable of compellingly articulating the Institute’s vision, mission, and funding needs.
• Innovative Engagement: Creative and strategic in approach, with a flair for conceiving and implementing innovative strategies to attract and retain donors.

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