About Us - Values Overview:

Department Summary

The Division of University Advancement strives to transform lives and unlock potential through the power of philanthropy and engagement by awakening and stewarding pride and loyalty for the University of North Texas.

Established in 1890, the University of North Texas is a place where students transform their lives through education and opportunity. With more than 46,000 students from across the state, nation, and world, UNT offers 240 academic programs — many nationally and internationally recognized. A Tier One research university and designated a Hispanic- and Minority-Serving Institution, UNT has a legacy of excellence in education, music, the arts, business and social sciences, with growing strengths in science and engineering. Last year, students earned nearly 13,000 degrees and joined UNT's network of 480,000 alumni, fueling progress and innovation.

Position Overview

The Principal Gift Officer will play a key role – individually and collectively – in cultivating long-term relationships with donors who have the capacity to make transformative gifts, while leveraging the relationships and vision of university leaders to secure support for strategic university priorities and initiatives. The Principal Gift Officer will be a seasoned and exceptional team-oriented fundraising professional with a demonstrated successful track record in securing multi-million-dollar philanthropic gifts.

The individual will provide creative and visionary management and coordination of fundraising endeavors for university-wide programs. They will convene campus partners and advise on the development of coordinated strategies aimed at maximizing the life-time engagement and support of a portfolio of high-net-worth households. They will help assemble key university members together with prospects around cross-cutting strategic funding priorities.

This role has three defining dimensions:

• The disciplined management of approximately 50 relationships with consistent focus and high-touch engagement, cultivation and stewardship that leads to successful solicitations strategies.
• The ability to work closely with academic leaders, fundraising colleagues, faculty, and volunteers to shape compelling ideas that will attract transformational gifts based on institutional initiatives and presidential priorities.
• The ability to work in tandem with colleagues in the University Principal Gifts program and with officers of other schools to coordinate cultivation and solicitation of prospects where there are multiple interests.

Principal gift work requires understanding of the university’s overarching strategic priorities, as well as the programs and aspirations of the colleges and units where Principal Gifts are needed. Consultation, coordination and collaboration with regional and unit-based colleagues as well as the Vice President of Advancement is essential.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in related field and eight years of increasingly responsible leadership and/or management experience or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Understand key global and local issues effecting higher education.
• Strong knowledge of tax law changes.
• Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures.
• Experience in effectively planning, analyzing, and coordinating activities.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and with many diverse constituencies.
• Experience in developing, implementing and monitoring strategic plans.
• Demonstrated success in executing fundraising activities, identifying prospects, developing strong relationships, cultivating support and stewarding gifts.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of donor information.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in any rigorous academic field and a minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience as a proven fundraising leader in a complex, decentralized, comprehensive university environment is preferred.
• Experience with high-net-worth individuals, planned giving or wealth management, work in CFR or work in STEM highly valued.
• Experience managing a major/principal gift portfolio utilizing metrics, systems, and relationship building skills to maximize strategic cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of $5 million plus donors and transformational gifts.
• A deep understanding of and commitment to an integrated advancement program; and experience in a complex major research university environment.
• Keen understanding of the natural tension that exists when working with a multitude of colleges, departments, and programs with varying priorities is essential.
• Experience working to sustain strong working relationships with staff, donors, faculty, volunteers and academic leadership is imperative.
• A strong ability to develop sincere, productive relationships and to build trust both with internal colleagues and external constituencies is a must.
• Clear and effective written and oral communication and presentation skills, including individual and large groups.
• Keen sense of requirements necessary to foster a team-centric culture and environment.
• Proven success at developing and implementing creative solicitation strategies for transformational philanthropic gifts in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.
• Superior interpersonal and listening skills and exceptional negotiation skills and proven ability to make independent decisions.

Job Duties:

Fundraising

• Working with approximately 50 high potential individual prospects through the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship cycles. Forge long-term relationships with these individuals to cultivate their interest in UNT that will lead to seven and eight-figure solicitations.
• Actively maintain a portfolio of principal gift level prospects, particularly where there are multiple complex university relationships and the opportunity exists to have university-wide impact that requires thoughtful, experienced, prospect management.
• Oversee the preparation of funding proposals, talking points and scripts, assessments of potential support, briefings, gift agreements, endowments and stewardship reports for assigned prospects. Ensures that all interested parties are involved in key efforts focused on specific prospects.
• Promotes deferred giving and has an understanding and expertise in deferred vehicles and the role they can play in supporting visionary gifts.
• Advise key university officers on opportunities for their involvement with specific fundraising and engagement events and initiatives with top prospects.
• Provide staff assistance to President, Deans and other university leadership in direct solicitations and interactions with top donor prospects.
• Travel as necessary to meet with donors/prospects and execute strategic moves.

Strategic Management

• Strong ability to maintain confidentiality and set pace around donor moves.
• Model a collaborative style of leadership to facilitate and guide creative principal gift level donor relationship strategies in concert with colleagues.
• Develop and execute a thoughtful plan to ensure that UNT can rely on an increasing and sustainable flow of philanthropic support from the highest level of donors/prospects.
• Support the work of the President’s office, Vice President for University Advancement, and is in alignment with the University’s goals in educational innovation, student success, and workforce development.
• Foster diversity at all levels of the organization, including the professional staff, the volunteer corps and the constituencies served.
• Facilitate internal coordination to align initiatives and projects with foundation funding priorities.

Proposal Development

• Oversee the development of compelling proposals, ensuring alignment with University interests and priorities.
• Monitor compliance and reporting requirements, maintaining positive relationships with funding partners.

University Representation

• Represent the University in foundation-related events, meetings, and convenings, articulating the institution’s vision and impact effectively.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and partner to University leadership, providing insights and strategies for engaging with foundation partners.

Metrics and Evaluation

• Establish measurable goals and track progress of securing philanthropic support.
• Provide regular updates to University leadership on principal gift-related activities, outcomes, and strategic opportunities.

Work Schedule:

Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm; Nights and weekends, plus some overnight travel, will be necessary. Hybrid work opportunities possible.

Driving University Vehicle:

Yes

Security Sensitive:

This is a Security Sensitive Position.

Special Instructions:

Applicants must submit a minimum of two professional references as part of their application. If needed, additional references can be added after the application has been submitted. 

Benefits:

For information regarding our Benefits, click here.

EEO Statement:

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit -- and takes actions to prevent -- discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking) and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application, employment practices and facilities; nor permits race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or sex discrimination and harassment in its admissions processes, and educational programs and activities, facilities and employment practices. The University of North Texas System promptly investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment and related retaliation and takes remedial action when appropriate. The University of North Texas System also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose any form of harassment or discriminatory practice, file a charge or report, or testify, assist or participate in an investigative proceeding or hearing.