Yale University seeks a driven and successful fundraiser to join the division of Alumni Affairs and Development. As a member of the Office of Development Leadership Giving team, the Leadership Giving Officer solicits prospective donors to Yale University for gifts of $10,000 to $250,000 and plays a central role in collaborating with colleagues in Major Gifts, the Alumni Fund, Reunion Giving, and Planned Giving to ensure prospects are solicited comprehensively. The Leadership Giving Officer carries their own portfolio of individual prospects within specific geographic regions and also functions in a discovery role. In addition to annual fundraising goals, this position will identify new major- and principal-gift prospects through superior qualification work. This position is an ideal opportunity for a high-performing, collaborative and motivated development professional to be a part of the For Humanity Campaign. Launched in October 2021, Yale’s current campaign seeks to raise $7 billion in support of all aspects of the University.

Essential Duties

• Qualifies, cultivates and solicits Yale alumni capable of making leadership annual and capital gifts to the University.
• Devises and implements cultivation and solicitation strategies and meets activity and revenue goals by planning, managing and maintaining an aggressive travel schedule. Executes cultivation methods to solicit gifts. Raises leadership annual and capital gifts to fund university priorities.
• Develops and implements retention strategies to upgrade donors. Recognizes disinterested donors and devises strategies to redirect their interests.
• Participates in execution of events and programs in support of development activities. Engages key volunteers and effectively utilizes events and other activities to move solicitations forward. Conducts appropriate stewardship activities to further enhance the relationship between assigned donors and Yale. Initiates and maintains contact to promote positive donor relations.
• Solicits leadership annual and capital gifts working with donors directly and working with department colleagues and volunteers.
• Qualifies prospects for potential major gift capacity and interest. Provides appropriate background on prospects to be assigned to Major Gift portfolios.
• Effectively communicates progress of cultivation efforts and results of visits to appropriate personnel.
• Exercises good judgment in discussing alumni, issues and results. Maintains composure and calm demeanor in difficult situations.
• Acts as liaison between various university departments and donors.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of three years of fund raising or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.

Required Skill/Ability 1:

Demonstrated ability to consistently close philanthropic gifts. Utilizes best practices and a donor-centric approach to manage a donor portfolio. Ability and willingness to travel regularly to meet prospects; includes work during evenings and weekends. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

Required Skill/Ability 2:

Active listener with successful track record of interacting with donors, volunteers, and colleagues. Ability to translate approved fundraising priorities into enticing philanthropic giving opportunities. Leverages relationships to implement strategic solicitation of donors for stretch gifts.

Required Skill/Ability 3:

Proactive, productive team contributor with a positive attitude and sense of humor. Is inspired by challenging team goals. Commitment to an inclusive workplace. Ability to engage with diverse audiences (age, gender, nationality, race/ethnicity, profession, sexual orientation, etc.).

Required Skill/Ability 4:

Demonstrates initiative and has a resourceful and data-driven work ethic. Innovative, flexible, excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills. Demonstrated ability to fulfill commitments and take responsibility for outcomes. Persistent, results oriented and driven to succeed.

Required Skill/Ability 5:

Exhibits behavioral and linguistic flexibility as well as strong intellectual and social curiosity. Demonstrated ability synthesizing and prioritizing information from a wide array of sources while maintaining an attention to detail and effectively managing overall workflow.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:

Demonstrated ability soliciting and closing 5 & 6-figure gifts. Demonstrated ability fundraising in higher education and moves management systems.