Development Officer

Lycoming College•Williamsport, PA

11h

About The Position

Lycoming College is hiring a Development Officer to work as a member of the major and planned gift team The Development Officer (DO) works as a front-line fundraiser to support all areas of Lycoming College by soliciting individuals and organizations for annual, major, and planned gifts. The DO will work collaboratively with advancement operations and alumni engagement to help build the major and planned gift pipeline through the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of prospects with the capacity to be donors at the leadership annual level ($1,812 - $4,999). The DO will also work closely with the Interim Vice President for Advancement to manage an assigned portfolio of prospects with the express goal of converting leadership annual donors to major and/or planned gift donors. This is a full-time position that requires flexible hours, primarily Monday through Friday 8a-4:30pm but with a mixture of evenings and weekends based on travel needs and requires travel. Who We Are: Founded in 1812, Lycoming College is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected liberal arts colleges. Today, our community of 1,200 active learners from 26 states and territories and 13 countries comprises a student body that is 31 percent domestic students of the global majority or international, all of whom work with our renowned scholars to craft customized combinations of market-driven majors, minors and concentrations across our 52+ academic programs. Students compete in 20 NCAA Division III sports, participate in faculty-driven research, thrive in a robust program of internship experiences, and study abroad in more than two dozen countries. Lycoming College has one of the highest endowment-per-student ratios in the country. The institution is a member of the Annapolis Group of Liberal Arts Colleges and is recognized by U.S. News as a top 100 National Liberal Arts College and the No. 21 Best Value School. Lycoming College is dedicated to providing a high-quality liberal arts and sciences education for all students. Learn more at https://www.lycoming.edu . The College proudly celebrates and values the principles of inclusive excellence. In its 2021 Strategic Plan, Lycoming College committed to recruiting more faculty and staff from historically underrepresented groups. The community works to foster an inclusive campus community and to support the success of all faculty, staff and students. The College recognizes that a community formed of a wide range of backgrounds and experiences benefits all its members and serves to advance Lycoming’s goal of preparing graduates to become ethical, informed, and engaged individuals Lycoming College is an equal opportunity employer.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
Proven success in fundraising, sales, or similar client relationship-based field; 3+ years’ experience preferred; higher education experience preferred
Excellent written and oral communication skills, especially listening skills for discerning donors’ interests and concerns
High motivation for success coupled with diplomacy, tact, and consistent follow through
Ability to forge strong working relationships with others and a capacity for engaging confidence and trust among prospects and donors
Understanding and appreciation for the mission of a small, residential, liberal arts and sciences college
Willingness and ability to work both independently and as a member of a team
Willingness and ability to travel
Computer skills essential (knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel; experience using email and internet)
Demonstrates professionalism and contributes to fostering a positive work/learning environment
Demonstrates effective organizational and time management skills
Demonstrates effective conflict resolution and problem-solving skills
Exercises self-control and perseverance when dealing with students, employees, co-workers
Exhibits consistency, resourcefulness and resilience
Ability and willingness to work occasional evening and weekend hours in addition to the regular workday
A valid PA driver’s license and a driving record acceptable to the College’s insurer is required

Responsibilities

Conduct 100+ personal or virtual visits annually from a portfolio of up to 150 assigned prospects to cultivate their interest in and increase their support of the College.
Solicit leadership annual gifts of $1,812+ for the Lycoming Fund, capital needs, special projects, and endowments.
Identify leadership annual donors with the capacity to become major/planned gift donors ($25,000+) and work with the Interim Vice President for Advancement to development a cultivation strategy to advance those relationships.
Conduct discovery visits with qualified prospects as identified by the Senior Director of Advancement Operations to determine their philanthropic interests and their gift capacity, while also soliciting a gift in support of the College.
Keep detailed and accurate records of contact with all prospects and work closely with advancement operations to gather meaningful information on prospects.
Spend 75% of time with or working on prospects and generally cultivating increased engagement with alumni and friends of the College.
Assist in the implementation and execution of capital campaigns, fundraising strategies and initiatives, development events, management of volunteers, and special projects as directed by the Interim Vice President for Advancement.
Collaborate with the Interim Vice President for Advancement and the Senior Director of Advancement Operations to prepare annual goals that identify priorities; set strategies for moves management expectations of assigned portfolio; and identify professional development opportunities to improve knowledge and skills and stay current with trends in development
Attend staff meetings and participate in planning process for the development program.
Efficient and responsible management of travel scheduling and use of Major and Planned Gifts budget.
Contact a variety of alumni and friends of Lycoming in addition to assigned prospects through written correspondence, telephone calls, and participation in special events such as Homecoming, Alumni & Reunion Weekend, donor appreciation events, volunteer committee meetings, and regional alumni activities.
Occasionally participate in the planning and management of such events.
Represent Lycoming College at a variety of internal and external events.
Collaborate with other gift officers with regard to current trends in leadership annual and major/planned giving, personal solicitation strategies, and donor cultivation utilizing various publications, networking with peers at other institutions, and attending conferences.

Benefits

Health insurance – with a wide variety of health plan options available
Dental insurance, including orthodontia coverage.
Vision insurance
Flexible spending accounts for medical expenses and dependent care expenses
Life & accidental death and dismemberment insurance
Long-term disability insurance
Short-term disability insurance
Cancer insurance
Personal accident insurance
Wellness program
Employee assistance program
403(b) retirement plan with up to 8% contributions from the College
Free tuition for employees, spouses, and eligible dependents at Lycoming College
Free tuition for eligible dependents at over 600 colleges nationwide through Tuition Exchange, Inc.
Free tuition for employees, spouses, and eligible dependents at the Pennsylvania College of Technology
Generous paid time off (PTO)
Paid Parental Leave
14 holidays per year
Summer hours
15% discount at the campus bookstore, excluding textbooks and snacks.
Reduced rates for meal packages for on-campus dining facilities.
Use of the campus recreations center and gym facilities for employees.
Use of the campus Library.