Major Gift Officer

The University of Saint Mary is a Roman Catholic, liberal arts university located in Leavenworth, Kansas, just 25 minutes away from Kansas City. For over 100 years, the University of Saint Mary has helped students find their way to meaningful lives and careers through an education that blends the liberal arts and a focus on critical thinking with the development of key professional skills. USM serves about 1,400 students at its main campus in Leavenworth, its satellite location in Overland Park, as well as online.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Major Gift Officer is a key member of the Advancement team and supports the VP of Advancement in soliciting gifts for the university, manage a portfolio of major gift prospects with moves management, develop long term relationships with major donors, understanding donors’ interests, passions and values.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Solicit and secure major gifts
• Solicit and secure annual Gifts Development
• Solicit and secure planned gifts
• Engage and cultivate potential donors
• Manage a portfolio of between 100-125 qualified potential donors with the capability of making gifts of $5,000 or more annually.
• Complete a minimum of 100 face-to-face or virtual visits annually with qualified potential donors to engage, cultivate and solicit gifts in support of University of Saint Mary.
• Participate in at least 15 major gift solicitations the first year. This number will increase with experience.
• Serves as the chief advocate for gifts to the endowment including new endowed scholarships and endowed funds. Maintains documents for existing scholarships/funds, facilitates gift agreements, ensures proper documentation is held both digitally/physically, and prepares earnings report annually to endowment donors/notifiers.
• Manage endowed scholarship donor event
• Effectively represent University of Saint Mary mission and fundraising priorities to a variety of constituencies and stakeholders.
• When directed, engage senior administrators, faculty, trustees, and volunteers in the process of cultivating and soliciting potential donors.
• Gather data, assess prospects, and develop long- and short-range strategies and plans designed to realize the current and life-time giving potential of individual prospects.
• Write timely contact reports for prospect database following each face-to-face visit with a donor or potential donor.
• As appropriate, prepare well-written visit briefings, strategy documents, solicitation proposals, and stewardship reports, working both independently and with colleagues in Strategic Donor Engagement.
• Record all visit and donor information and keep accurate records.
• Maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of the University and the fundraising priorities across the institution, as well as Advancement Office goals and objectives.
• Ability to travel and flexibility to work nights and weekends as needed.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor degree required
• 2-3 years of related experience, 4 preferred
• Planned Giving experience, preferred
• Effective interpersonal, communication, project management, and organizational skills.
• Commitment to accuracy and detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to prioritize competing needs and deadlines.
• Proficient in MS Outlook, Word and Excel. Raiser’s Edge experience preferred.
• Affinity with the overall mission of the University of Saint Mary.

TO APPLY:
Submit a cover letter, resume and contact information for at least three current professional references.

Saint Mary is an Equal Opportunity Employer.