Regional Gift Officer

Description

Reporting to the Director of Regional Gift Programs, the Regional Gift Officer is part of a team that supports the pipeline development and qualification goals of the OSU Foundation (OSUF) on behalf of Oregon State University (OSU).

The Regional Gift Officer is responsible for assessing the suitability and willingness of individuals to become valued contributors to OSU by engaging with the university and/or becoming a donor. This role will provide information that deepens the potential donors’ understanding and connection to the university, connects them to engagement opportunities and qualifies them for future giving capacity.

The Regional Gift Officer plays a critical role in the university’s fundraising efforts by accurately identifying donors and assessing their propensity and inclination to contribute. Achieving the metrics outlined in this job description directly impacts the financial sustainability and growth of the institution. A well-qualified and engaged donor base is essential for funding scholarships, research, infrastructure development, and various academic programs, which ultimately enhances the university’s reputation and impact.

This role is instrumental in building and sustaining relationships with donors, aligning their interests with the university’s needs, and securing the necessary resources for future initiatives. The Regional Gift Officer acts as the bridge between the university’s mission and the philanthropic community, helping to shape a brighter future for OSU.

The Regional Gift Officer will be expected to devote 85% of work time to qualification activities and 15% of work time to administrative responsibilities.

Work Location

The location for this position is the OSU Foundation’s Corvallis, Oregon office.

The Foundation offers a program called Core Work Days, a hybrid approach combining remote and in office work days. Unless traveling for work, Foundation employees are in office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and work remotely, if preferred, on Monday and Friday.

Key Partners

• Pipeline Development
• Annual Giving
• Development
• Alumni Engagement

Measures of Success

• The Regional Gift Officer will engage and build relationships with individuals who have the potential to financially support the University
• The Regional Gift Officer will qualify 250 potential donors per year, utilizing existing technology and processes
• Assuming a 10% positive qualification rate, the Regional Gift Officer will refer 25 new potential donors per year to Donor Experience Officers (DXO), mid-level and major gift officer portfolios
• Annually make 40-50 solicitations of $1,000 or more
• Secure 15-25 gifts of $1,000 or more
• The Regional Gift Officer will help build the volunteer pipeline in partnership with Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement teams

Major Duties

Manage a portfolio of 500-1,000 potential donors based primarily on the West Coast.

Qualify potential donors primarily through in‐person visits but also through a variety of modern sales enablement approaches and methods including email, video conferencing, phone, social media, and texting.

Promote OSU Foundation philanthropic opportunities, such as university and college giving priorities, cause‐based initiatives, crowdfunding projects, Dam Proud Day, alumni association lifetime memberships.

Identify potential leadership annual giving ($1,000 ‐ $49,999) or major gift ($50K , including potential planned gift donors) and, depending on capacity, work with the Pipeline Development team who will assign to Donor Experience Officer or Major Gift team.

Connect potential donors with engagement opportunities that deepen their involvement with the university, for example, regional events, student mentoring and career development support, or college‐based alumni activities.

Collaborate with college/university external relations colleagues to broaden and deepen the engagement of alumni, parents and friends across the institution.

Travel from Corvallis frequently with a focus on Washington, Oregon and California.

Perform related administrative duties, including contact reports, coordinating engagement activities, and setting up prospective donor visits.

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to articulate a strong and compelling case for support
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to create strong professional relationships with colleagues at the Foundation, OSU Alumni Association, Our Beaver Nation and the university
• Handle interpersonal relationships maturely, thoughtfully and empathetically, including the ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to effectively represent the interests and fundraising priorities of various colleges/units, while also maintaining a high degree of enterprise perspective by acting in the best interests of the foundation and the university at all times
• Strategic, hardworking, and able to work with a high degree of flexibility in a highly-collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented environment
• Ability to apply creative and entrepreneurial thinking, while applying sound judgment and conducting oneself with integrity
• Ability to approach work assuming the best of intentions from Foundation and campus colleagues

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years of experience in development, communications, sales, or another related field, ideally in higher education. Education and experience equivalencies will be considered. Candidates must possess a valid driver’s license and must be able to travel by varying modes of transportation.

Core Values

We strive to be one of the best places to work in the country. We know that our success depends in large part on the people who carry out our mission. It’s what we do– and how we do it -- that makes the difference. Our core values reflect our approach to work and to each other, and we are committed to conduct consistent with these values.

• collaborative
• responsible
• respectful
• inclusive
• innovative

What We Offer: $65,000 Annual Salary

FLSA Status: Exempt

Comprehensive Benefits:

• a comprehensive total compensation package, which includes:
• A monthly employer contribution towards benefits
• A monthly employer match for a health savings account
• An impressive 17% employer contribution to retirement plan (based on qualified earnings)
• A generous Paid Time Off (PTO) program
• A robust Educational Assistance program
• Two exceptional employee discount programs

Professional Growth: At OSU Foundation, we believe in investing in our employees' development. We provide ongoing training and opportunities for advancement.

Innovative Work Environment: Join a team of talented professionals in a stimulating and collaborative work atmosphere