Development Officer

Santa Fe College•Gainesville, FL

About The Position

The application deadline for this position is 11:59pm EST on April 23, 2026. The Office for Advancement at Santa Fe College (SF) provides leadership and coordination in developing activities and external support associated with gifts to enhance student recruitment/retention and create institutional impacts through philanthropic support. This includes cultivating philanthropic partnerships and individual giving; planning and directing fundraising campaigns; promoting annual giving; planning and coordinating comprehensive and capital campaigns; coordinating planned and deferred gifts; promoting employee and Alumni stewardship; and facilitating donor recognition events. Additionally, the Office for Advancement provides administrative support to the Foundation, which encourages and sustains long-term relationships with compassionate alumni, friends and businesses with generous hearts. SF’s generous donors support the mission and vision of the college, and as such bring about tranSFormational change throughout our communities. Reporting to the Director of Development, the Development Officer supports the college’s fundraising and donor engagement efforts by cultivating relationships with alumni, community partners, and philanthropic supporters of the college. This position manages a portfolio of prospects and donors, conducts outreach and solicitation activities, and supports strategies that strengthen philanthropic investment in the college’s mission and strategic planning. Given the nature of this work, this position will be required to travel, work at various locations, and work some weekends and evenings as required.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in business management, higher education, or related areas with two (2) years of experience in fundraising, major gifts, prospect management, campaign management, nonprofit experience, and/or related fields.
A combination of education and/or experience equal to six (6) years will be considered.
A criminal background check will be conducted.
Applicants must have a valid Florida Class E Operator (driver’s) license and be authorized to drive for the college.
Must have the ability to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed.

Nice To Haves

A master’s degree with experience in higher education or academic settings.
Demonstrated success in securing major gifts and managing donor relationships, as well as familiarity with donor database systems.

Responsibilities

Manages a portfolio of existing and prospective donors by identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individuals with a range of giving capacity to support the college’s fundraising goals.
Builds and maintains meaningful relationships through personalized outreach, including in-person and virtual meetings, campus visits, and ongoing engagement with donors, alumni, and community stakeholders.
Supports the creation of meaningful donor engagement opportunities, including events, campus visits, and personalized interactions that strengthen relationships and encourage continued philanthropic support.
Solicits leadership-level gifts and assists with the cultivation and solicitation of major gifts under the guidance of the Director of Development.
Assists in the development and preparation of donor proposals, gift requests, and supporting materials to advance cultivation and solicitation strategies.
Executes donor cultivation and solicitation strategies developed by the Director of Development to ensure consistency and alignment with fundraising goals; provides feedback to support the continuous refinement of fundraising efforts.
Ensures donors receive a positive and meaningful philanthropic experience through thoughtful stewardship, timely acknowledgement of gifts, and communication demonstrating the impact of donor support on students, programs, and college initiatives.
Works with internal partners to identify and share stories demonstrating the impact of donor contributions to support stewardship and future fundraising efforts.
Collaborates with the Director, Special Events Manager, and advancement colleagues to plan and participate in events and initiatives that strengthen donor relationships and advance fundraising efforts.
Maintains accurate and timely records of donor engagement in the donor management system, including interactions, cultivation activities, proposals, solicitations, and stewardship actions.
Tracks fundraising activity and key performance indicators such as donor visits, solicitations, and dollars raised; prepares periodic reports and updates for the Director of Development to maintain transparency and keep leadership informed.
Utilizes prospect research, donor data, and analytics to support the identification and qualification of new prospects and to inform cultivation strategies.
Works collaboratively with advancement colleagues and internal partners to align donor interests with the college’s strategic priorities and support integrated fundraising initiatives.
Participates in development team meetings and other advancement-related activities to support the overall mission and fundraising objectives of the college.
Provides service to the college through participation in events, committees, and other college activities.
Complies with all published College Rules, procedures, guidelines, and laws/regulations governing public employees, including but not limited to those related to document retention and destruction, FERPA, and confidentiality.
Strictly honors the privacy, security, and confidentiality of records and other sensitive information according to appropriate state, federal, and college regulations, policies, and procedures.
Provides service excellence through courteous, informed, accessible, and professional engagement.
Performs other duties as assigned.