Leadership Gift Officer-Southeast

West Point Association of Graduates•West Point, NY

About The Position

West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG), the alumni association and foundation for the United States Military Academy, seeks a Leadership Gift Officer to serve as a lead front-line fundraiser on its 48-member Development Team. The officer is responsible for the Southeast region, including Virginia (including the DC area), North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida, and must reside within the assigned region. Reporting to the Director of Major and Leadership Gifts, the officer solicits leadership gifts of at least five figures from alumni and non-alumni friends. The role manages relationships with 150 prospects and donors capable of making annual gifts of $10,000 or more and oversees every phase of the gift cycle: identifying, qualifying and evaluating, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors. The officer collaborates with development colleagues, volunteer alumni leaders, and other strategic partners, and develops a thorough understanding of Academy and WPAOG funding needs to advocate effectively for those priorities. The position also involves presenting appropriate gift vehicles, including planned giving options, and, when appropriate, soliciting Annual and Class Gifts from assigned prospects. The position requires extensive travel to meet prospects and donors, estimated at 40%–50% of the time, and occasional weekend duty. The officer must be comfortable using CRM software and related technology to track fundraising activity. WPAOG offers excellent benefits and a pleasant working environment. The salary range is $75,000–$80,000, depending on skills and experience.

Requirements

Must reside within the assigned Southeast geographic region.
Strong organizational and analytical abilities.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Goal-oriented and comfortable in a competitive but collegial environment.
Willing and able to travel extensively, approximately 40%–50% of the time, and be available for occasional weekend duty as required.
Comfort using CRM software for tracking fundraising activities and the technology that supports it.
Thorough knowledge of fundraising or relevant transferable skills in a related field.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Three to five years of fundraising experience and familiarity with USMA and the Army are strongly preferred.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.
Knowledge of capital giving programs and planned giving vehicles.
Three to five years of fundraising experience and familiarity with USMA and the Army.

Responsibilities

Solicit leadership gifts of at least five figures from alumni and non-alumni friends.
Manage relationships with 150 prospects and donors with the capacity to make annual gifts of $10,000 or more.
Manage all phases of the gift cycle: identifying, qualifying and evaluating, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects and donors.
Work collaboratively with development team members, volunteer alumni leaders, and other strategic partners in cultivation and solicitation efforts.
Become fully versed in Academy and WPAOG funding needs and advocate for those priorities.
Present appropriate donor gift vehicles, including planned giving vehicles.
Solicit Annual and Class Gifts from managed prospects when appropriate.
Travel extensively to meet prospects and donors, estimated at 40%–50% of the time.