Development Officer, Major Gifts
About The Position
The Development Officer, Major Gifts, serves as a frontline fundraising professional responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors capable of making transformational investments in Florida Polytechnic University. This position requires a highly visible, externally focused fundraiser who actively engages alumni, parents, friends, corporations, foundations, and community leaders to advance the University's strategic priorities. The incumbent is expected to maintain a dynamic portfolio of major gift prospects, travel extensively to build and strengthen donor relationships, and independently manage the full fundraising cycle from qualification through stewardship. Success in this role is measured through achievement of annual fundraising goals, prospect activity metrics, and the development of a sustainable pipeline of future donors. The Development Officer is expected to consistently meet or exceed established annual performance expectations, including major gift revenue targets, donor visits, solicitations, and proposal activity. Evening and weekend work, as well as frequent local, regional, and national travel, are essential components of the position.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education
- Six years of direct fundraising and working on a campaign
- Must possess a valid driver’s license.
- Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree plus three years of directly related experience.
- Experience in higher education fundraising preferred.
- Experience utilizing CRM systems preferred.
Responsibilities
- Manage and actively engage a portfolio of approximately 100–125 major gift prospects with the capacity to make significant philanthropic investments.
- Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies designed to maximize philanthropic support and long-term engagement.
- Conduct face-to-face donor visits throughout Florida and nationally, utilizing in-person meetings as the primary strategy for advancing relationships.
- Maintain an active travel schedule to strengthen relationships with alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, and friends of the University.
- Prepare and present compelling major gift proposals aligned with institutional priorities and donor interests.
- Identify, qualify, and cultivate new prospects to ensure a robust and sustainable donor pipeline.
- Collaborate with University leadership, faculty, deans, and Advancement colleagues to develop strategies that lead to major gift commitments.
- Secure philanthropic commitments supporting the University's strategic initiatives, academic programs, scholarships, capital projects, and emerging priorities.
- Participate in donor recognition activities and stewardship initiatives to strengthen donor loyalty and encourage continued investment.
- Represent Florida Polytechnic University at donor events, alumni functions, community engagements, and professional meetings.
- Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan with measurable goals, strategies, timelines, and accountability measures.
- Utilize the University's CRM system to document donor interactions, contact reports, strategies, proposals, and outcomes within established timeframes.
- Prepare regular reports demonstrating progress toward annual fundraising metrics and goals.
- Analyze prospect activity and pipeline performance to adjust strategies and improve fundraising effectiveness.
- Participate in professional development opportunities to remain current on fundraising best practices and emerging trends.
- Collaborate with University leadership to strengthen major giving to support significant initiatives.
- Collaborate with Advancement leadership to strengthen alumni engagement and annual giving initiatives.
- Develop innovative strategies that increase participation and philanthropic support among alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the University.
- Provide support for annual giving campaigns, including Giving Day, year-end appeals, faculty and staff campaigns, and alumni initiatives.
- Foster a culture of philanthropy across the University by serving as an ambassador and advocating for institutional advancement.
Benefits
- flexible spending accounts
- medical and life insurance
- worker's compensation
- paid time off
- paid holidays
- Sick Leave
- Employee Assistant Program (EAP)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
