Development Officer

Universities of Wisconsin • Menomonie, WI

1d • $75,000

About The Position

The UW-Stout Polytechnic Foundation and Alumni Association, Inc. at the University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic seeks a full-time Development Officer to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major current and deferred gifts for the university’s colleges, departments, and programs. The officer complements the fundraising efforts of the Chancellor and Development team and works with faculty, staff, the Foundation’s Board of Directors, alumni, friends, and foundations to understand philanthropic interests and secure gifts aligned with the university’s strategic fundraising priorities.

The position manages a portfolio of prospects and donors, develops individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies, and supports timely gift closure and stewardship. It also contributes to fundraising communications, donor database accuracy and analysis, volunteer board support, and development activities and events. The role involves travel to key geographic areas to qualify and cultivate donors.

The Foundation and Alumni Association advances the university’s mission by building relationships with alumni, friends, and industry partners and acquiring and stewarding philanthropic resources. The minimum starting salary is $75,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position is a terminal (fixed-term) appointment. Final employment is contingent on background and reference checks and, where applicable, passing an essential job function test.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in professional or higher education fundraising, financial services, public relations, marketing, or sales.
• Demonstrated communication and interpersonal skills and success working in a team setting.
• Commitment to higher education and a strong desire to champion the mission of the University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of professional development experience, with demonstrated ability to promote and successfully solicit major and planned gifts by identifying prospects, managing portfolios, designing and implementing cultivation and solicitation strategies, and ensuring follow-up and stewardship.
• Experience in higher education.
• Experience with comprehensive fundraising strategies, major-gift fundraising, and estate or planned-giving tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain knowledge of assigned colleges and programs, their missions, needs, and fundraising priorities.
• Collaborate with deans, department chairs, program directors, faculty, and volunteers on strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors.
• Develop and implement strategies for individual prospects, including opportunities to increase donor and prospect involvement in university activities.
• Conceive, write, and edit fundraising proposals.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date development actions in the donor database system.
• Analyze research reports and database information about assigned donors and prospects.
• Develop and maintain prospect lists with annual goals for visits and dollars raised.
• Coordinate development activities and manage a portfolio of prospects and donors to ensure timely solicitation, gift closure, and stewardship.
• Plan and conduct trips in key geographic areas to qualify and cultivate donors, coordinating with alumni and development staff, deans, and faculty as appropriate.
• Use current and planned gift opportunities to meet donors’ needs, interests, and financial giving capabilities.
• Ensure the Chancellor, deans, and volunteers receive appropriate support for their fundraising activities.
• Represent assigned areas of focus at college and university development meetings and events.
• Provide leadership and support to volunteer boards or groups established for fundraising projects.
• Represent the Foundation at college, university, and Alumni Association events.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of external communications for stewardship and donor and prospect recognition and engagement.
• Carry out other stewardship activities for major and planned-giving donors.

Benefits

• Participation in the Wisconsin State retirement plan.
• An excellent employee benefits package; details are provided through the Universities of Wisconsin employee benefits information.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level