Major Gifts Officer

The Major Gifts Officer works as part of the Development team within University Advancement at JBU to build relationships with alumni, parents, and friends in an effort to further involve them as a donor to the university through annual gifts, major gifts, and planned gifts. Considerable travel (approximately 40-60 nights annually) is required to identify, cultivate, solicit, steward and manage current donors and donor prospects in an assigned region that includes a "home" and "regional" territory. ### Role qualifications - Ability to create good will with donors and alumni, as well as students, staff, and faculty. - Trustworthy with confidential information. - Commitment to the Articles of Faith, Mission, and Objectives of the University; and desires to be a role model for students by demonstrating an active Christian faith in personal example and in work related responsibilities. ### Position Responsibilities - Consults with team to develop and implement appropriate donor cultivation and solicitation strategies for assigned region. - Builds relationships with donors and donor prospects in assigned region through face-to-face visits, phone calls, emails, and mailings. - Solicits annual fund gifts and major gifts (defined as $10,000 or larger) for the University. - Introduces planned giving vehicles (including charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and revocable estate gifts) to appropriate donor prospects and works with the Senior Director of Planned Giving to prepare planned giving instruments. - Pursues educational opportunities about fundraising techniques and donor relations by attending conferences, reading books, and subscribing to applicable magazines. - Represents the University at alumni gatherings and other special events in assigned region and on campus. - Attends regularly scheduled team meetings on campus. - Consults with University Advancement team members to set goals and metrics. - Assumes responsibility for meeting goals and metrics. ### Essential Skills and Experience - A demonstrated track record in a previous position such as fundraising, sales, or an area that demonstrated a high level of interpersonal and communication skills. (Extremely high 'people skills') - Ability to relate well to a wide variety of personalities, ages, and careers. - Ability to articulate an understanding of Christian higher education. - "Internal" motivation to accomplish objectives and tasks (a "self-starter"). - Ability to work independently of daily supervision. - Financial acumen and the ability to understand financial, business, and legal concepts. - Demonstrates professionalism, persistence, initiative, and tact in building and maintaining relationships. - Ability to ask and bring closure to annual, major, and planned gifts. - Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel) and Raiser's Edge NXT ### Education Bachelor's degree required (preferably in a business related major). Master's preferred. ### Physical demands and work environment **Physical demands:** While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to walk; stand; sit; use hands; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. **Work environment:** The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all University policies.