Major Gift Officer

La Salle University Applicant Site•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

Serving as a key member of the University Advancement team, the Major Gift Officer (MGO) is responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors. The MGO develops and manages a portfolio, builds a sustainable pipeline, secures donor meetings, creates and executes individualized engagement and solicitation strategies, develops proposals, makes asks, and closes major gifts in support of La Salle University priorities. Personally developing and managing their assigned portfolio, the MGO is responsible for securing major gifts of $50,000 or more, with a particular focus on gifts of $100,000 and above, in support of the University’s strategic priorities. Each MGO will be assigned one or more areas of focus based on University fundraising priorities. Assignments may include, but are not limited to, one of the University’s schools, Athletics, the Honors Program, a geographic market, a special initiative, and/or a portfolio of otherwise unassigned prospects. Focus areas may be adjusted as institutional priorities and fundraising opportunities evolve. Regardless of assignment, all MGOs are University Advancement employees, report through University Advancement, and are accountable to Advancement’s goals, strategies, standards, and performance expectations. The MGO builds strong, consistent partnerships with University leaders, deans, faculty, coaches, staff, and other campus colleagues. The MGO brings knowledge of each prospect’s capacity, giving history, interests, relationships, and fundraising strategy, while campus partners provide insight into academic, athletic, programmatic, and institutional priorities and opportunities for meaningful engagement. The MGO connects these elements and is responsible for moving donor relationships toward philanthropic support.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, development, relationship management, sales, or a related field, with demonstrated success advancing relationships toward measurable financial or philanthropic outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to secure meetings, build relationships, make persuasive presentations or solicitations, and achieve measurable results.
Excellent verbal, written, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to articulate compelling cases for support to varied audiences.
Ability to manage a portfolio and multiple priorities independently while collaborating effectively in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.
Strategic judgment and the ability to understand institutional priorities, navigate complexity, and work effectively with donors, alumni, volunteers, University leaders, deans, faculty, coaches, and staff.
Discretion, professionalism, sound judgment, and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
Strong attention to detail, follow-through, project management, research, and data-management skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience with Salesforce or a comparable CRM or donor database, or the ability to learn new systems quickly.
Entrepreneurial initiative, persistence, integrity, and a results-oriented approach to developing and strengthening relationships.
Ability to develop positive working relationships with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.
Knowledge of and commitment to the mission of La Salle University.

Nice To Haves

Fundraising and direct solicitation experience, particularly in higher education or a similarly complex, mission-driven organization.
Experience managing a major gift portfolio and developing donor strategies, proposals, and solicitations.
Familiarity with comprehensive campaigns, academic or athletic fundraising, geographic portfolios, or affinity-based fundraising programs.

Responsibilities

Identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors.
Developing and managing a portfolio of major gift prospects.
Building a sustainable pipeline of potential donors.
Securing donor meetings.
Creating and executing individualized engagement and solicitation strategies.
Developing proposals for major gifts.
Making asks for major gifts.
Closing major gifts of $50,000 or more, with a focus on gifts of $100,000 and above.
Building strong partnerships with University leaders, deans, faculty, coaches, staff, and other campus colleagues.
Connecting prospect knowledge with institutional priorities to drive philanthropic support.