Leadership Annual Giving Officer

Wingate University is a teaching-focused institution serving more than 3,600 students across two campuses. Located on a beautiful 500+ acre main campus, Wingate offers a close-knit, supportive community where employees can grow, contribute, and thrive. As an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, Wingate is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and welcomes applicants who are excited to join our mission and make an impact. Learn more at University in Charlotte, NC | Quick Facts About Wingate. The mission of Wingate University is to develop educated, ethical and productive global citizens. Following its Judeo-Christian heritage, the university seeks to cultivate the following in its students: Faith, Knowledge and Service.  The University’s Mission statement can be found here.

Wingate University seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven fundraising professional to join its Advancement Team as a Leadership Annual Giving Officer (LAGO). This front-line fundraising position is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of 200 or more leadership annual giving prospects capable of making gifts in the $1,000–$10,000 range through the University’s annual giving program.

The LAGO serves as a bridge between the annual fund and major gifts pipelines, engaging donors whose capacity and affinity position them for deeper investment in Wingate’s mission. With a minimum expectation of 200 face-to-face visits annually, this officer will travel regionally to build authentic, lasting relationships that result in increased donor retention, upgrade, and pipeline development.

The Leadership Annual Giving Officer reports directly to the Assistant Vice President for Development and works in close collaboration with the broader Advancement team, including annual giving, major gifts, alumni engagement, and advancement services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities-

Portfolio Management and Frontline Fundraising:

• Manage an active, assigned portfolio of 200 or more leadership annual giving prospects and donors, with a primary focus on those capable of making gifts of $1,000 or more.

• Conduct a minimum of 200 meaningful, face-to-face visits annually with prospects and donors, including discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship meetings.

• Develop and execute individualized engagement strategies for each portfolio constituent, moving donors through a structured donor pipeline aligned with institutional priorities.

• Solicit leadership annual gifts through personal visits, proposals, and strategic asks, meeting or exceeding established annual revenue goals and visit metrics.

• Partner with the Assistant Vice President for Development on portfolio reviews, strategy sessions, and pipeline development on a regular basis.

Pipeline Development and Discovery:

• Proactively identify, qualify, and engage new prospects through discovery visits, referrals, screening initiatives, and alumni events.

• Collaborate with the major gifts team to transfer high-capacity donors into the major gifts pipeline, ensuring smooth and relationship-centered handoffs.

• Participate in prospect management processes including Moves Management, portfolio review meetings, and regular reporting through the University’s CRM.

Stewardship and Donor Engagement:

• Design and implement meaningful stewardship touchpoints for portfolio donors, reinforcing the impact of their gifts and deepening their connection to Wingate.

• Represent Wingate University at alumni events, athletic events, regional gatherings, and campus programs as an ambassador for the Division of University Advancement.

• Collaborate with the alumni engagement and annual giving teams to convert annual fund donors into leadership annual giving donors and long-term major gift prospects.

Data, Reporting and Administrative Responsibilities:

• Maintain accurate, timely, and detailed contact reports, donor strategies, and gift documentation in the University’s constituent relationship management (CRM) system.

• Provide regular progress reports to the AVP for Development on portfolio metrics, visit activity, pipeline status, and gift revenue.

• Adhere to institutional gift acceptance policies, confidentiality standards, and CASE/AFP ethical fundraising guidelines in all aspects of the role.

• Assist in the development of case statements, gift proposals, and other fundraising materials as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• Minimum of two (2) to three (3) years of experience in frontline fundraising, donor relations, advancement, sales, or a related field with demonstrated success in relationship management and goal attainment.

• Demonstrated ability to engage, inspire, and solicit gifts from a diverse group of donors and prospects.

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills with the ability to represent Wingate University with professionalism and authenticity.

• Proven ability to manage a high volume of activity — including 200 or more face-to-face visits annually — with strong organizational skills and personal accountability.

• Ability and willingness to travel regionally on a frequent basis, including occasional evenings and weekends for donor events.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience working with a CRM or prospect management database (experience with Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar platform preferred).

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education fundraising or alumni engagement.

• Familiarity with annual giving principles, donor upgrade and retention strategies, and moves management.

• Demonstrated ability to build and navigate complex institutional relationships across advancement, academic, and athletics contexts.

• Passion for the mission of private higher education and an affinity for Wingate University.

• Experience with planned giving awareness, leadership giving societies, or recognition programs.

Core Competencies:

• Relationship Builder — Able to develop authentic, lasting connections with donors, colleagues, and campus partners across diverse backgrounds and constituencies.

• Self-Motivated & Accountable — Driven to meet and exceed performance expectations with minimal supervision; takes ownership of portfolio results.

• Strategic Thinker — Approaches donor engagement with intentionality and creativity, tailoring strategies to individual interests and capacity.

• Collaborative Team Member — Partners effectively across Advancement and with university leadership, athletics, and academic units to advance shared fundraising goals.

• Confident Solicitor — Comfortable making direct, meaningful asks and navigating donor conversations with confidence, empathy, and tact.

• Detail-Oriented — Maintains thorough documentation and manages a high volume of activity with discipline and precision.

Performance Expectations:

Success in this role will be evaluated against the following annual benchmarks:

• Complete a minimum of 200 face-to-face visits per fiscal year.

• Manage a portfolio of 200 or more qualified leadership annual giving prospects.

• Meet or exceed established revenue goals for the leadership annual giving portfolio.

• Retain and upgrade existing leadership annual fund donors year over year.

• Qualify and transfer a defined number of high-capacity prospects to the major gifts pipeline annually.

• Maintain complete and current CRM records for all portfolio activity and donor interactions.

Benefits and Employee Experience:

Wingate University is committed to supporting employees both personally and professionally through a comprehensive benefits package and a collaborative campus community. Full-time employees are eligible for medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement plan with institutional contribution; paid time off and holidays; tuition benefits for employees and eligible dependents; and access to campus facilities, wellness resources, and professional development opportunities.

Application Instructions:

Thank you for your interest in joining the Wingate University community. Please complete all sections of the application and upload all required documents. A résumé is required for all positions, and a curriculum vitae (CV) is requested for faculty roles or other positions where applicable.

Special Instructions:

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In compliance with applicable law and University policies, Wingate University prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, sexual orientation or gender identity), age, genetic information, disability and veteran status and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.  At this time, we are currently seeking candidates with legal authorization to work in the U.S.