Leadership Annual Gifts Officer - HSoM, Arts Engagement

at  Appalachian State University

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Two or more years of successful experience in sales, fundraising, advancement/development, event management, or arts related efforts.
• Ability to understand the needs and interests of potential donors and donors in order to develop relationships between them and colleges or areas
• Demonstrated strong organizing skills and the ability to successfully multi-task
• Successful experience in making cold calls as well as developing cultivation and solicitation strategies
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated record of completing assignments
• Must be willing to work evenings, some weekends, and travel up to 20% of the time
• Ability to manage competing priorities consulting with supervisor as necessary and meet tight deadlines
• Interest in all aspects of education and a dedication to promoting Appalachian’s fundraising priorities through developing excellent relationships with faculty, senior leaders, trustees, alumni, volunteers, and the advancement office team

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• The position requires the ability to prepare written proposals to solicit prospects for gifts in support of the University to promote visionary gift opportunities.
• An aggressive understanding of the priorities and case for support for areas across campus is expected.
• The ability to work collaboratively with fundraising colleagues in central development and constituent schools and units is necessary.
• Travel and attendance at events are priorities in this position requiring flexibility in work hours to include evenings and travel as needed to accomplish objectives and satisfy goals.

The Leadership Annual Gifts Officer is responsible for working with donors and donor
prospects in prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, closure, and stewardship. Donor acquisition, retention, upgrades, and events are essential elements of raising critical current philanthropic resources, in addition to building the pipeline for the major gifts program. Additionally, one of the greatest opportunities is the management of special events and discovery/qualification with the intent of acquiring new donors. The Leadership Annual Gifts Officer will balance responsibilities between managing events, raising funds, and performing discovery/qualification calls with alumni and friends who are yet to be engaged.
This position will be expected to meet specific annual metrics focused on fundraising, cultivation, stewardship and discovery of new prospects. In addition, this position will also be responsible for all oversight of Annual Giving efforts. This person will also help with stewardship efforts and tasks to help the Hayes School of Music, and Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources Advancement teams.
The Leadership Annual Gifts Officer will serve as a liaison between the Hayes School of Music, Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts and the Appalachian State University Foundation. Serving as one of the primary fundraisers for the above-mentioned areas, this position is responsible for raising annual fund gifts to enable the units to fulfill their mission and implement programs and initiatives. In addition to annual giving, this position will support stewardship, project/event based efforts and fundraising oversight. This position responsibilities will be split 50/50 between raising Annual Gifts and raising money for special project support (like iBackAPP, Holiday Concert, An Appalachian Summer Festival, APPlause!, Cannon Music Camp, TCVA Membership, Schaefer Center Presents, etc..). They will also support the overall development efforts, strategies, and goals of University Advancement and priorities set by the Dean of the Hayes School of Music and the Executive Director for the Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources. Specific responsibilities include donor cultivation; solicitation and stewardship; and donor prospect identification and management.

Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding alumni, corporate partners, parents, foundations, and friends of the institution capable of making gifts.
• Implement new strategies to acquire new donors/members.
• Transition former Annual Giving donors into new Major Gift donors.
• Work with their supervisor to recommend and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies for individual prospects.
• Under supervision, prepare written proposals to solicit prospects for gifts in support of the University and college; use of persuasive language to promote visionary gift opportunities.
• Coordinate with the Office of Gift Processing to ensure effective collecting, recording, accounting, acknowledgement and follow-up on all gifts.
• Record monthly contact reports, moves and prospect management activities.
• Develop a pipeline to meet increasing annual fundraising goals by working with Prospect Management and the Advancement Research team.
• Frequent travel and attendance at events after normal business hours is a priority in this position requiring flexibility in work hours to include evenings and travel as needed to accomplish objectives and satisfy goals.
• On a regular basis, meet with the Director of Development, Executive Director of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources, Dean of the Hayes School of Music, and attend staff/team meetings of the areas represented as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with administration, faculty, center directors, volunteers, advisory council members, and other advancement staff as appropriate.
• As appropriate, refer donors and potential donors to other development staff members.