This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Leadership Gifts Officer II is responsible for developing, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding a portfolio of approximately 250 alumni and other constituents (parents, faculty, staff, current students and friends) with the potential to provide annual operational giving support at the $5k-$99k level. The Officer will collaborate with DEA colleagues to maximize prospects’ giving potential, moving them to major gift prospects in the future. The Officer will also be responsible for qualification of prospective donors who may indicate potential to support the University at increased levels.

Essential Functions:

• Engage in prospect management to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of up to 250 prospects at the $5K -$99K level with specific focus in the 50K-99K range. Maintains the goal of ensuring consistent and increased giving while cultivating donors toward major gifts and/or volunteer roles as appropriate. Maintain frequent contact with assigned prospects through visits and other correspondence with a goal of 10-15 visits/month.

• Collaborate with other colleagues to receive and qualify approximately 80 discovery prospects annually (including unrated prospects who are currently giving to operational giving funds), determining creative cultivation and solicitation strategies by phone, mail, email and in person visits.

• Work closely with Research and Prospect Management, Records and Gift Administration, internal department colleagues and Donor Relations to appropriately manage prospects, providing accurate records of visits, efforts, strategies, progress and involvement of all assigned prospects in SMU’s database.
  Maintain strong communication links with University colleagues to ensure a coordinated approach.

• Solicit gifts for university priorities including Giving Day, with an additional focus on donor retention and acquisition as well as reactivation of lapsed donors.

• Maintain working knowledge of the major areas for included in fundraising for operational support, including schools, units, student aid, student life, libraries, and athletics.

• Assist with and attend Annual Giving Office events aimed at cultivation and donor stewardship, as appropriate, i.e. signature weekends including Homecoming, Family Weekend, and Commencement.

• Other duties as assigned

• Position requires occasional evening and/or weekend work and occasional travel for work.
  

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree is required.  A degree in Sales, Nonprofit Management, Fundraising, Communications, or Marketing preferred. 

A minimum of three years of work experience in fundraising or sales is required. 

College or University advancement experience working with alumni, parents, and volunteers is highly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks in an organized fashion. 

Candidate must have the ability to articulate a persuasive case for support, develop appropriate cultivation strategies, solicit donors in a timely fashion, and communicate effectively.  

Candidate must have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office. Experience working with or a working knowledge of a constituent database/CRM (i.e. Blackbaud/Raiser’s Edge, etc) for prospect management is highly preferred. 

Knowledge of SMU culture or University fundraising and an understanding of marketing and marketing strategies toward a fundraising or sales objective preferred. Knowledge of social media is a plus. 

Certifications in Microsoft and Fundraising are preferred.