Major Gifts Officer

OVERVIEW: Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, and multicultural institution of higher education dedicated to the intellectual and professional advancement of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world. As part of the university, the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center is a federally funded center that operates exemplary elementary and secondary education programs for deaf and hard of hearing students as well as national outreach programs which develop and disseminate innovative curricula, instructional techniques, and products nationwide, and provide information, training, and technical assistance to parents and professionals serving children from birth through age 21.

 

Major Gifts Officer

Regular

 

Pay Type:

Salary

 

Exempt Status:

Yes

 

Compensation Grade (Track/Level):

P3

 

Hiring Range (Commensurate with experience and qualifications):

$85,095.00-$113,425.00

 

Salary Ranges:

All Compensation Grades

 

Supervisory Organization (Department):

Fundraising

 

Summary:

Reporting to the Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, the Major Gifts Officer plans, initiates and manages appropriate activities for securing gifts from individual major donors.

 

Job Description:

• Consults and determines fundraising goals for the fiscal year and establishes activities and strategies to achieve these goals based on a portfolio of major donors that includes corporations, foundations, and individuals; and ensures focus on acquiring private support is directly tied to Gallaudet priorities that are currently outlined in the Gallaudet Strategic Plan.
• Identifies prospects on an ongoing basis; works with guidance and direction from the Executive Director to design and implement strategies to move donors through the investment cycle toward solicitation by identifying, qualifying, cultivating, and stewarding them.
• Leads the university’s legacy gifts program including oversight of the Abraham Lincoln Society which works on estate gifts, bequests, insurance beneficiaries, charitable annuities and more; and serves as the department subject matter expert on Planned Giving.
• Assumes the responsibility for the stewardship of the executive team and other leadership members on campus.
• Acts as the department’s lead campus visit officer; and works to ensure a positive and high-quality campus visit experience for visiting constituents.
• Works as the division liaison with the finance office and other vendors to execute paperwork and compliance of planned gifts.
• Writes proposals for solicitation as well as reports and other stewardship activities.
• Identifies and qualifies new major donors and plans giving prospects and keeps prospects in the pipeline.
• Acts as liaison to the campus community to ensure that relationships with major donors are being stewarded appropriately.
• Forecasts and sets annual department goals for securing major gifts to the University.
• Devises appropriate engagement strategies to strengthen relationships with potential and current major donors to the University and advises others in the office on strategic engagement as needed.
• Provides the leadership in organizing special engagement events specific to major donors and prospects as needed.
• Makes presentations to major gift constituencies about Gallaudet, its needs for private support, and related topics.
• Manages some sponsorship opportunities for the University with guidance from the Executive Director.
• Conducts personal visits and substantive actions to move prospects towards solicitation as determined in cooperation with the Executive Director on an annual basis and based on national averages and expectations.
• Prepares timely acknowledgement letters; and prepares acknowledgement letters as needed for the Executive Director and the President.
• Prepares briefing materials for donor visits; and prepares briefing materials for the Executive Director and President as necessary.
• Establishes and maintains a positive and supportive working relationship with co-workers and supervisors.
• Demonstrates a genuine commitment to belonging in the workplace and participates in activities and workshops to foster continuous learning.
• Serves as a mandatory reporter under Title IX; and commits to completing Title IX training and other compliance requirements on an annual basis.
• Prioritizes safety in the workplace as a collective responsibility for the well-being of employees and fosters a culture of safety that is integral to our success, including strict adherence to safety procedures and protocols, as well as promptly reporting any safety hazards or incidents.
• Performs related and other duties as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• A minimum of four years of professional experience with fundraising, marketing and communication, or a related field. 
• Ability to communicate in American Sign Language.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a higher education setting.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities:

• Strong writing and organizational skills.
• Strong knowledge of Gallaudet and the deaf community.
• Strong skills with basic data management systems and basic computer applications (e.g., Word, Excel).
• Strong ability to synthesize and articulate the priorities of the University and match them with the values and interests of major donors and prospects.
• Strong willingness to understand and promote the mission, philosophy, and vision of Gallaudet University.
• Demonstrated experience soliciting and acquiring planned gifts.
• Demonstrated experience in face-to-face solicitation of meaningful gifts and familiarity with the process of major gift cultivation. 
• Demonstrated experience with closing of gifts of five figures or more.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and across University departments, outside constituents and groups.

Additional Job Details:

• This is a revenue-funded position. 

 

Other Important Information:

• The successful candidate will undergo a background check that must be cleared prior to working at Gallaudet University.

 

Current Employees (Regular Status and Extended Temporary)
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https://www.myworkday.com/gallaudet/d/inst/1$9925/9925$2707.htmld

 

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Gallaudet University is an equal opportunity employer/educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion, age, hearing status, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, place of business or residence, pregnancy, childbirth, or any other unlawful basis. This policy is in compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, and other applicable laws and applies to all procedures affecting applicants and employees including, but not necessarily limited to: recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, reassignment, reappointment, tenure, demotion, selection for training, layoff, furlough, and termination, compensation, and all other conditions or privileges of employment.