Principal Gift Officer

State of Virginia • Blacksburg, VA

358d

About The Position

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts, the Principal Gifts Officer is a senior development officer assigned to the highest-level prospects for Virginia Tech. The individual will serve as a visible front-line fundraiser and manage a portfolio of 15 to 35 principal gifts prospects. This position focuses on strategy development as well as staff support, planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of initiatives for individuals assigned to the prospect pool. The Principal Gifts Officer's primary emphasis is identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding high-level prospects who have the capacity to make transformative gifts of $5 million or greater to the University. The Principal Gifts Officer will work closely with the Senior Vice President for Advancement, the Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts, the President, Dean, and with other key academic leaders to set short and long-term donor centric strategies and develop initiatives to advance each prospect's meaningful connection to the college and university, setting the stage for solicitation in accordance with university priorities. The Principal Gifts Officer must champion the strategic engagement, creativity, and poise required to inspire and mobilize the aspirations of internal partners and prospective donors alike and exemplify the sophisticated stewardship essential to maintaining and expanding donor relationships.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and significant experience, or a Master's degree.
• Significant progressively responsible experience in development positions, preferably within higher education or nonprofit organizations.
• Experience with both individual and institutional principal gifts.
• Strength in developing and executing strategic fundraising plans.
• Experience working directly with senior levels of an organization and transformational donors.
• Track record of personally closing gifts at seven figures or greater.
• Familiarity with philanthropic networks related to education, arts and culture, science and technology.
• Experience identifying, nurturing, and motivating volunteers.
• Experience identifying and coaching project spokespeople.
• Familiarity with financial planning, tax and charitable gift laws, and planned giving vehicles.
• Working knowledge of modern data management practices and techniques.

Nice To Haves

• An advanced degree and strong academic credentials.
• Previous work experience in a hybrid centralized decentralized fundraising model.
• Participation in a major capital campaign.

Responsibilities

• Effectively strategize and engage various groups and constituents.
• Think strategically and shape messaging to move individuals and institutions across the spectrum of prospect development.
• Penetrate elite philanthropic networks seamlessly.
• Understand and distill complex academic and scientific topics for development audiences.
• Extract and analyze data to make effective decisions about donor strategy and process.
• Travel nationally and sometimes internationally for field research, cultivation, and solicitation of prospects.
• Work nights and weekends and participate in college or university programs when possible.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees