Leadership Gift Officer | Connecticut College - Military Veterans

The Leadership Gift Officer will be committed to the values and mission of Connecticut College and responsible for cultivating and soliciting gifts in excess of $50,000 from alumni, parents and friends of the College. Manage relationships with approximately 150-200 regionally assigned leadership gift prospects. Expected to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward prospects in their portfolio and have the ability to discover new potential prospects from a general prospecting pool. Work collaboratively with and in support of volunteers, other Advancement staff, and other College representatives to cultivate and solicit donors for College-wide priorities. Must be a highly energetic professional with a track record of building donor relationships and closing gifts in the six- and seven-figure range. Travel extensively alone and with the President and Senior Administrators on prospect calls and to events. Conduct stages of the Donor Engagement Process via virtual methods in between or in lieu of in-person meetings.

Manage a portfolio of leadership prospects capable of making gifts of $50,000 or more in assigned territories. Qualify additional leadership prospects from a general prospecting pool.

Establish strong relationships with prospective donors with an eye toward meeting College and personal fundraising goals.

Participate in all aspects of the gift cycle:

Identify new potential donors for the College

Conduct identification and initiate contact with potential leadership gift donors

Develop appropriate cultivation strategies for prospects, including collaborating with volunteers

Move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure

Solicit potential donors for annual, capital, endowment and planned gifts of $50,000 or more

Maintain stewardship contact with donors

Conduct at least 120 in-person and virtual donor meetings each year.

Adhere to the highest ethical standards; express empathetic disposition and perseverance; reflect optimistic and positive attitude, and convey sensitivity to needs of the donors; demonstrate good judgment in all donor related activities.

Develop strong internal relationships within Advancement as well as throughout the College in order to bring information and resources to cultivation and solicitation efforts. Offer prospect strategy counsel to the President, Vice President for College Advancement, and Advancement staff who are managing other prospects. Be a resource for Advancement staff, from identifying potential volunteer connections to knowing about meeting and event spaces in key locations.

Participate in on-campus and regional events.

Bachelors degree and 3-5 years of relevant work experience; proven record of successfully soliciting and closing leadership gifts preferred

Excellent oral and written communication skills; excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated record of completing assignments

Ability to understand the needs and interests of leadership gift donors in order to develop relationships between them and the College

Interest in all aspects of education and a dedication to promoting the Colleges fundraising priorities through developing excellent relationships with faculty, senior academic leaders, trustees, volunteers, Communications and Advancement colleagues

Collaborative spirit, entrepreneurial nature, ability to work independently and as part of a team, and creativity in cultivating donors

Demonstrated leadership and the ability to successfully manage multi-functional or diverse areas

Successful experience in making cold calls as well as developing cultivation and solicitation strategies

Ability to handle confidential information with impeccable discretion

Attention to detail and ability to balance multiple priorities

Experience working on a capital/endowment or comprehensive campaign preferred

Extensive travel and some weekend and evening work required