Major Gift Officer - Hybrid

Wellesley College • Wellesley, MA

17d • $130,000 - $135,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Major Gift Officer will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects rated $250,000 to $1,000,000 or more, including alumnae, parents, and friends of the College. The Major Gift Officer will be responsible for developing personalized strategies for engagement and solicitation that maximize each individual’s philanthropic capacity and support for the College’s funding priorities, as well as broad-based engagement, qualification, and cultivation strategies for pool segments as a whole. The Major Gift Officer will collaborate across the department to move prospects and donors through the pipeline and solicit gifts, working closely with frontline colleagues in The Wellesley Fund, Gift Planning, and the Principal Gifts team. In addition to managing an assigned portfolio of prospects, the Major Gift Officer will be responsible for a special assignment to a particular Friends, affinity group, or strategic priority, serving as the captain, both building support for and serving as liaison with campus partners and bringing back to the Department information and updates.

Requirements

• 5-7 years of front-line fundraising or comparable experience, including conducting solicitations and closing gifts, as well as having familiarity with reunion giving and/or alumni/ae development experience, preferably in an academic setting
• Experience developing, closing, and stewarding prospects rated $250,000 or more and donors making gifts of 6 figures or more
• Experience working with a wide-spectrum of volunteers and donors in an outward facing capacity
• A commitment to the mission of Wellesley College—to provide an excellent liberal arts education to women who will make a difference in the world—and a desire to embrace Wellesley’s distinct traditions, values, and vision
• Experience developing, closing, and stewarding prospects of high-net-worth
• Experience working with a wide spectrum of volunteers and donors in an outward facing capacity
• Excellent project management skills
• An ability to complete complex tasks and multiple projects simultaneously, working both independently and as a member of a team
• Superior written and oral communication skills, including presentation skills appropriate for engaging prospects and members of the campus community
• Strategic thinking and analytical skills, including an ability to draw informed conclusions from data
• An ability to adapt to changing circumstances
• Comfort with ambiguity and an ability to pivot
• An innovative and creative temperament
• Excellent interpersonal skills, an ability to work collaboratively, and an orientation toward customer service
• A commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and discretion
• The comfort with technology needed to communicate and share information confidently, as well as experience with a prospect database

Responsibilities

• Cultivate and solicit Wellesley alumnae, parents, and friends with the capacity to make gifts of $250,000 or more to support College priorities, employing appropriate strategies and tactics in prospect and portfolio management that meet donor interaction and dollar goals including traveling to meet with prospects and donors.
• Collaborate with other frontline colleagues in the department to identify prospects for the principal gifts team, The Wellesley Fund, and Gift Planning, as well as those who might be principal gift prospects.
• Create and execute strategies and plans for an assigned portfolio of alumnae, parents, and friends of the College, traveling nationally and internationally across multiple geographic regions.
• Participate in events on campus, as well as other national and international events as scheduled throughout the year at which alumnae, parents, and friends are present, such as Family & Friends Weekend, Commencement, and Reunion.
• Work with Donor Relations and Development Marketing to identify and create cultivation and stewardship collateral as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation
• Exceptional Benefits Package: Access a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision and pre-tax saving benefits, life insurance, disability coverage, and more to safeguard your health and that of your loved ones.
• Commuting and Transportation: Enjoy the convenience of free parking on our picturesque campus, easily accessible from major roadways. We are also accessible via the MBTA commuter rail.
• Paid Time Off: Take advantage of paid vacations, personal days, sick time, and holidays to recharge and maintain a healthy work-life harmony.
• Retirement Savings: Plan for the future with our retirement savings plan. Wellesley College contributes up to 10.5% towards your 403(b) plan for eligible employees
• Work/Life and Wellness: A hybrid work environment for select positions (additional details will be provided during the interview process), caregiving support through Wellthy, legal plan insurance, pet insurance discount and a variety of other resources including retirement planning, and access to cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.
• Professional Development: Enhance your skills and explore growth opportunities through continuing training and pathways for growth within our supportive environment.
• Tuition and Education Benefits: Invest in your education with tuition benefits, and access resources to navigate student loan forgiveness, reinforcing our commitment to your ongoing learning.
• Campus Privileges: Enjoy free use of our state-of-the-art athletic and fitness facilities with onsite fitness classes, Library resources, and seize opportunities to attend diverse campus events that contribute to a vibrant community.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed