Senior Major Gift Officer

at  Centre College

DESCRIPTION

Centre College is a premier national liberal arts college that serves approximately 1,400 students and provides a supportive community and a flexible, personal academic path to a meaningful life and career. Founded in 1819, Centre accomplishes its goals in an atmosphere of caring and respectful relationships among faculty, students, and staff. The College has an endowment in excess of $420 million and an operating budget of more than $65 million.
Centre welcomes and supports diversity. The College strives to create an environment where differences are celebrated, where individuals can exchange ideas and share in the richness of mutual experiences. Please view our Statement of Community.

JOB SKILLS / REQUIREMENTS

Centre College seeks a creative, energetic and dedicated individual who excels at building relationships to serve as a Senior Major Gift Officer.
The successful candidate will be an accomplished individual with a track record of success as an advancement professional, preferably in a higher education institution. Key qualifications include superb skills and demonstrated success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship at major and principal gift levels; experience developing and implementing effective fundraising and engagement strategies; excellent communication skills; proven ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment; and an ability to embrace the culture and values of Centre College.
The Senior Major Gift Officer plays an essential role in building philanthropic partnerships with alumni, individuals and families in support of Centre College’s major gift program and individual giving efforts. Reporting to the Executive Director of Major Gifts and the Vice President of Development, the Senior Major Gift Officer is primarily responsible for meeting annual engagement, solicitation and income metrics through data-driven, relationship-based frontline fundraising work with individual donors. This work will require close collaboration with the Development team as well as institutional stakeholders.
The Senior Major Gift Officer will be expected to manage a giving pipeline and associated portfolio of alumni, parents and supporters, with a priority on those capable of making 6- and 7-figure gifts and multi-year commitments. With a mature portfolio, this position is expected to raise approximately $1 million annually through personally managed solicitations. This position will aid prospects in making their most impactful and transformational gifts to Centre College through annual, major, and planned giving vehicles.
The successful candidate will demonstrate an appreciation of and commitment to further an inclusive culture for those of diverse backgrounds such as ability, age, class, ethnicity, faith background, gender expression, gender identity, geographic region, national origin, neurodiversity, race, and sexual orientation that comprise individual and group expressions of identity.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college·
• Five to ten years of direct .fundraising experience, specific to major gifts.
• Proven history of personally soliciting and securing gifts of six and seven figures from individuals, preferably within the higher education setting.
• Strong ability to use and adapt to a variety of software and productivity tools, including Microsoft Office, collaboration software and various CRM systems (including Raisers Edge, Millennium, Blackbaud FPM, Salesforce, or similar tools).
• Ability to travel locally and nationally to meet with donors and achieve the objectives of this position.
• Ability to work nights and weekends in order to staff college and donor cultivation events. Valid driver’s license.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Thorough understanding and command of annual giving and major gift fundraising and moves-management concepts, principles, techniques, procedures, and practices. Requiring a highly developed attention to detail, pipeline management, and organizational skills.
• Outstanding written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including effective listening, emotional intelligence and political acumen, in order to build and maintain effective working relationships internally and externally. In order to effectively discern the interests and concerns of a diverse community of donors and constituency groups.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, discretion, and excellent judgement in handling sensitive information.
• Analytical and critical thinking skills, including skills in creative and effective decision-making, problem solving, and conflict resolution.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Limited pushing, pulling, lifting. Lifting would not exceed 15 lbs.
• Mobility on campus and ability to travel necessary.
  Education Requirements (Any)
  Bachelor’s Degree and 5-10 years of Direct Fundraising Specific to Major Gifts.

TO APPLY:

Full Job Descriptions will be listed on the Centre College Human Resources site at Employment at Centre | Centre College
Centre College uses Interfolio as their Applicant Tracking Software to review all applications for employment. From the Apply button on the Centre Employment Page, you will be linked to create an Interfolio Account. You will then set up a Dossier Account following the software instructions. For the I am Question, select Other for Staff Openings. Agree to Terms of usage and then Create your Profile. Once your account is set up, you will select your opportunity from your Home Page, Complete Application Questions, Upload Cover Letter, CV/Resume/ and References. Once the application and uploads are complete you will Submit your application. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. If you need any assistance with the application process, please contact christy.mcguire@centre.edu.

Please refer the Job description for details