Major Gifts Officer, Major & Leadership Gifts, Duke Alumni Engagement and Development

 

 

Major Gifts Officer, Duke Alumni Engagement and Development (AED)

 

Occupational Summary

 

The Major Gift Officer is responsible for the strategic identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual prospects at the $100,000+ level. S/he will manage portfolios of prospects with multiple Duke affiliations and philanthropic interests in a regionally organized program.

 

Work Performed

 

Qualify, Cultivate, Solicit and Steward Prospects

• Identify, cultivate and solicit major gift prospects in all phases of the fundraising cycles, with a focus on those with the potential capacity to make gifts above $100k. Develop and manage a portfolio of prospects and maintain active efforts to evaluate prospects identified through fieldwork, screening and research.
• Develop, execute and lead strategies for involvement, cultivation and solicitation of single and multi-interest donors, including appropriate referrals to and/or joint work with colleagues in schools and units.
• Clear and efficient use of language skills to learn qualification information and invite prospects into collaborative discussions. Manage a disciplined approach to confirming details of a proposal verbally with prospects by asking clarifying questions. Ensure that the giving conversation is grounded in the measurable and emotional impacts a gift/donor can have on a priority.
• Strategically utilize resources for cultivation and solicitation. Collaborate with higher-level Duke representatives and effectively leverage other donor stories to illustrate the ways in which others partner with Duke.
• Demonstrate decisiveness and sound judgment to predict how a decision will affect individuals and groups in the department or university and develop strategies to build support for the decision.
• Develop thoughtful stewardship plans for key donors; initiatives involve high-level impact reports, dedications and special events. Maintain a focus on re-qualifying donors when they move from stewardship back into the donor engagement process.
• Create, evaluate and refine plans and timetables for regional, departmental or theme assignments; assist with planning and/or directing cultivation events or programs.
• Maintain a robust knowledge of University-wide funding priorities, and a general knowledge of school and unit funding priorities. Assist administrators and faculty in the recognition and prioritization of institutional and departmental funding needs; keep abreast of institutional and departmental priorities, programs, personalities and events.

 

Volunteer and Relationship Management

• Identify, staff and train individual volunteers and volunteer committees, encouraging their placement on school or unit boards or other activities, involving Duke representatives as appropriate. Suggest changes to strengthen membership of existing volunteer boards or organizations.
• Facilitates collaboration among various functional or stakeholder groups.
• Maintain active communication with development officers throughout Duke to coordinate prospect activity and to make and "take" referrals.
• Maintain a working knowledge of Duke's regional volunteer and prospect base and regional activities.

 

• Sophisticated understanding of the entire university and effectively communicate the greatest needs, top priorities and practices. Independently manage relationships with key faculty, chairs, etc.

 

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

 

Preferred Qualifications
Seven to ten years fundraising experience, preferably in major gifts for an academic environment.   

Additional Qualifications: 

 

Must be willing to travel.

Ability to plan and implement a fundraising plan for a metropolitan area of strategic importance to

Duke University; knowledge of Duke University and metropolitan areas highly desirable.

       Ability to understand the needs and interests of leadership and prospects in order to align those with Duke priorities. Interest in all aspects of education and a dedication to promoting Duke’s fundraising priorities.

Demonstrates a high probability of gift closure.

Strong collaborative abilities and enthusiasm for working in teams.

Significant experience staffing major gift volunteers; campaign volunteer management preferred.

Demonstrated ability to handle multiple, complex fundraising activities simultaneously.

Excellent oral and written communication skills; demonstrates active listening.

High level of creativity, initiative, and motivation.

Maintain a high level of confidentiality with respect to prospects and donors.

 

Required Behavioral Compete