Senior Philanthropic Officer, Major Gifts

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

Department

Alumnae Relations & Development

Job Description

Job Summary

As part of a collaborative team working toward a shared goal, manage a geographically assigned pool of 125 to 200 prospective donors through the fund-raising continuum from discovery, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, focusing on rated major gift ($100K+) prospects. Travel frequently in geographically assigned territory to engage and solicit Smith alumnae, parents and friends. Gift conversations will include annual fund, endowed, capital, current restricted and planned gift components. Work with and support the president, vice president, board members and other key fundraising volunteers in their fundraising efforts and goals. Plan and implement events focused on College’s strategic initiatives and on expanding a culture of philanthropy.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

#ALMDEV

Essential Functions

Major Gift Fundraising (80%):

• Manage a portfolio of individual major gift prospects in assigned region(s), maintaining frequent personalized contact, often traveling to meet the donors. Qualify, cultivate and solicit donors for funding to meet institutional priorities and specific fundraising goals.
• Design and implement effective and donor-centric strategies to actively engage donors and lead to solicitation.
• Conduct annual gift solicitation for all assigned prospects.
• Work with donors and College leadership to match the priority needs of the College with a donor’s philanthropic vision.
• Spearhead creative and strategic thinking for innovative approaches that inspire donors to make major level gifts, and formally close the gift process according to the Gift Acceptance policy and other practices and procedures.
• Become fluent and knowledgeable about the college, its fundraising priorities, practices and procedures, its strategic plan and future vision, its values and its history. Articulate these persuasively and compellingly to individuals and groups.
• As needed, provide strategic and tactical support to involve the president, vice president, other senior cabinet members, key faculty, and volunteer leadership in developing individual major gift prospect relationships.
• Participate when required, in strategic planning for the president’s development travel schedule and review of presidential prospects.
• Produce pre-visit briefing materials, and post-visit follow-up communications and proposal plans.
• Meet or exceed established metrics and goals for visits, solicitations, gifts and other meaningful contact with assigned prospects.
• Promptly record contact reports and carry out other essential follow up activities and ensure accurate documentation of prospect strategies, solicitation plans and contacts and their entry into the college’s prospect management system.
• Analyze activities to achieve progress towards stated goals.
• Effectively utilize administrative support and support the work of other colleagues to achieve established goals.
• Collaborate effectively with other frontline fundraisers, Donor Relations, Gift Planning, Events, Smith Fund and Class Managers to ensure effective, individualized strategies for each prospect.
• Serve as creative problem solver, prospect strategist, and collaborative support to the Major Gifts team.
• Strategize, support and participate in prospect-focused and alumnae-related events in assigned region, on-campus, and virtually.

Departmental Projects (10%):

• Assist the Director of Major Gifts and/or the Associate Vice President for Development with departmental projects or priorties as directed.
• May include serving as Development liaison to signature on-campus program/s and/or coordinating particular initiatives to further strategic plans within Alumnae Relations and Development.

Support Leadership Fundraising and Regional Strategies (5%):

• Participate in strategic planning for the president’s development travel schedule.
• Organize and staff the president, and other senior leaders and faculty, on meetings with key gift prospects in the assigned territory.
• Produce pre-visit briefing materials, and post-visit contact reports, follow-up communications and proposal plans.
• Liaise with Principal and Leadership Gifts and alumnae vol