Reporting to the Executive Director of Development & Strategic Initiatives, the Major Gifts Officer seeks to increase participation in annual, major, and planned giving from alumni, parents, and friends of Fordham University’s School of Law. Working closely with faculty, senior administrators, and volunteers, the Major Gifts Officer seeks to secure leadership commitments at the $100,000+ level. The Major Gifts Officer staffs a portfolio of approximately 150 leadership-level Law School donors, prospects, and volunteers who can make significant commitments at the leadership level to the Law School.

This position may require some evening/weekend work and travel to assigned geographical regions to accomplish the Law School’s fundraising objectives.

Essential Functions         

• Manages a portfolio comprising approximately 150 prospects and donors who can make gifts of $100,000+.
• Completes 150+ visits annually with assigned prospects.
• Meets solicitation metrics:
  • Year 1: Solicit $1 million, close $500,000
  • Year 2: Solicit $2 million, close $1 million
  • Year 3: Solicit $3 million, close $1.5 million
• Gathers data, assesses prospects, and develops and executes strategies designed to realize the current and lifetime giving potential of prospects to achieve individual and departmental goals.

Essential Functions Note

This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.

Management Responsibilities   

Guides work of other employees who perform essentially the same work and/or student workers. Organizes, sets priorities, schedules and reviews work, but is generally not responsible for final decisions in hiring, performance management or compensation.

Additional Functions       

• Travels to assigned geographical regions to accomplish the Law School’s fundraising objectives.
• Makes persuasive verbal and written cases for supporting Fordham Law’s key priorities, effectively matching prospects’ interests to specific projects and programs needing support and ensuring effective stewardship of donor relationships.
• Records information about prospects and donors utilizing appropriate University databases; reports activity and monitors resources and expenditures associated with his/her program and portfolio.
• Assists in setting priorities for multiple short-term and long-term projects based upon established goals for the Law School major gifts team.
• Works closely with the development team and senior administration at the Law School to identify new funding opportunities and projects for donors.
• Participates in advancement activities and events, including dinners, receptions, and alumni campus visits.
• Develops and maintains relationships with faculty, staff, and volunteers associated with his/her portfolios/programs; meets with colleagues across campus to coordinate and execute strategies, utilizing experience and knowledge to resolve conflicts and build consensus.

Required Qualifications: Education and Experience         

• Bachelor’s Degree in liberal arts, business, communications, or related field
• Minimum of three years of successful fundraising experience and a proven track record of closing five, six, and seven-figure gifts; or, in lieu of a degree
• Minimum of five years experience in development or related field, preferably in a higher education setting.

Required Qualifications: Knowledge and Skills      

• Strong interpersonal skills, both written and oral, as well as a high level of sophistication and maturity in social and professional settings.
• Curiosity and analytical thinking, global perspective, complex problem solving; ability to organize, prioritize, and complete multiple projects simultaneously with close attention to detail, meet deadlines, and work in a fast-paced environment.
• A general level of comfort when dealing with high-net-worth individuals, an ability to maintain discretion, and a high level of confidentiality when dealing with significant benefactors.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in a team environment; an ability and willingness to quickly learn the Law School’s and University’s history, mission, demographics, faculty, current programs, and departments, as well as University culture.
• Comfort with using personal computers, tablets, and software programs for retrieving, organizing, researching, and presenting appropriate donor/prospect information; proficiency with MS Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education.

Preferred Qualifications  

• Advanced degree, such as J.D. or LL.M
• Experience working with trusts, estates, and estate planning products; this experience can be within a university setting, other not-for-profit, or in the private sector; private sector experience in wealth management or accounting is relevant.
• Prior capital campaign experience.
• Experience with Banner or Blackbaud.

Minimum Starting Salary: $94,000

 Maximum Starting Salary: $111,000

 Note: Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.

Fordham University has an excellent reputation as a dynamic institution located in New York City.  Founded in 1841, Fordham enrolls more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students in its 9 Colleges and Schools. 

• Fordham University offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to its employees, which includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• We offer tuition remission for employees and their dependents 
• A generous employer match towards a 403(b) retirement plan.
• As a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Fordham is considered a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, a federal program designed to forgive student loan debt for employees of certain public and certain nonprofit employers.
• As part of its work-life balance program, the University provides generous PTO including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 2 personal days, 6 summer Fridays, and holidays that include paid time off between Christmas and New year.  
• University employees have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP provides no-cost, professional, and confidential services, to help employees and family members address a variety of personal, family, life, and work-related issues.

Hybrid Policy:        

Please review the Hybrid Policy here.

https://www.fordham.edu/human-resources/policies-guides-and-agreements/hybridremote-work-policy-for-administrators/