The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for cultivating meaningful relationships with potential and current major gift level donors to Lehigh University. The Major Gifts Officer will manage a portfolio of donors and prospective donors, and be responsible for facilitating all phases of the gift cycle, including initiating contact, cultivating and moving potential donors to solicitation and closure, making solicitations, writing proposals, and stewarding donors. The Major Gifts Officer works collaboratively with key volunteers, University leadership, Development staff, Alumni Relations staff, and other University representatives to identify, cultivate and solicit donors for University priorities. Major Gifts Officers can be assigned to a region, a project area, or to a constituent group. The Lehigh community takes seriously our commitment to antiracism and The Principles of our Equitable Community.
Position Number: S80840
This position is a Grade: 11-40 with an approximate salary range of $80,240-$97,620 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications
Lehigh University offers a comprehensive and family friendly benefits package which includes but is not limited to Health Care, Retirement and Educational benefits. Information can be found on our website at https://hr.lehigh.edu/benefits
1. Develop relationships for the university with major gift donors and prospective major gift donors to secure financial support for University priorities
*Securing a minimum of one million annually in philanthropic support for the university through the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major gift donors to the university
*Assess capacity, determine inclination and identify donors' passions for areas of support through face-to-face visits
*Develop a strategic pipeline of major gift solicitations from assigned prospects
*Arrange and/or staff campus visits, tours, cultivation events and meetings for assigned prospects or for a project/regional area
*Prepare strategic and clear briefing materials that follow standard operation procedures
*Engage senior leadership, deans, faculty and staff judiciously with prospective donors
*Prepare both customized and standardized proposals, correspondence and reports for prospective donors and donors that is accurate and compelling
2. Plans and executes strategies to qualify, cultivate and solicit major gift-rated prospects in your portfolio and region in support of institutional fundraising priorities
*Become familiar with institutional fundraising priorities, understand the case for support for each and explore opportunities for assigned alumni, parents and friends to make an impact through their philanthropic support
*Develop and execute on strategies for each major gift donor in your assigned portfolio to guide your pipeline activity and travel plans
*Track fundraising progress, monitor pipeline, LYBUNT, SYBUNT and new prospect activity in your portfolio and region
*Assist in the identification, recruitment and management of key fundraising volunteers
*Utilize alumni relations events/programming to enhance you philanthropic strategies for your major gift donors in a particular region
*Develop network within regions to drive engagement with an eye toward activity that will facilitate philanthropic cultivation
*Provide reports on pipeline and regional activity at 1:1 meetings with your manager and at department meetings as requested
3. Reporting, records and accounting
*Track all fundraising activity in development database of record in a timely manner
*Prepare pipeline updates for major gift and principal gift pipeline meetings as needed
*Provide reports on pipeline activity and performance during 1:1 meetings with your supervisor
*Effectively communicate with prospect management when gifts are booked, ensure that gifts are booked properly and in accordance with accounting standards and University policies, troubleshoot when discrepancies discovered
*Prepare and submit travel expenses in a timely manner
*Coordinate stewardship efforts for assigned prospects
*Inform colleagues of developments that impact their areas of responsibility in a timely manner
Special Considerations
Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist at inada@lehigh.edu
Weekends and evenings required
Extensive travel required
This position is responsible for driving University-owned vehicles as a routine function, therefore a valid Driver’s License and a good driving record is required
The duties of this position may allow the employee to work partially remote as deemed appropriate by their supervisor
Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience
Five to eight years of related work experience in a development position in which external relationships have been strongly established
Strong interpersonal skills; ability to create successful working relationships with major gift donors
Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position
Only complete applications will be considered therefore please complete the application in its entirety. Once the posting is removed from the website applications may no longer be allowed to be completed.
