Professional/Administrative

Leadership Gifts Officer

Full Time

Office of Advancement

Annual Giving

Colgate University, a top-ranked liberal arts college, is seeking a dynamic Leadership Gifts Officer to play an integral role in helping to grow a successful leadership gifts program. Founded in 1819, Colgate is a small, highly selective residential liberal arts college for students of talent who are preparing for lives of leadership and productive citizenship.

Colgate University has now entered its Third Century and the strong tradition of philanthropy and engagement continues. On an annual basis, more than 56% of Colgate’s alumni engage with the University through philanthropy, volunteering, or engaging at online and in person programs, including signature events like Reunion that draws in more than 2500 alumni and guests. This tradition of philanthropy paired with strong levels of alumni affinity position Colgate well for even greater success, as the Vice President and his team prepare to lead the community into a historic and comprehensive campaign to help execute the Third Century Plan.

The Third-Century Plan represents the largest and most important transformation in the history of Colgate. It will both complete our physical campus and fully realize our potential to become one of the great institutions in the nation — and, perhaps, one of the most important undergraduate colleges in the country.

The person in this role will be responsible for cultivating a portfolio of leadership giving prospects with the capability to contribute up to $20,000 annually. The person in this position will play a key role in driving significant support for the Colgate Fund, the University’s unrestricted fund. In each of the past several years, the University has secured record breaking levels of Colgate Fund support. The successful candidate will possess strong communication and customer service skills, and demonstrate a strong understanding and proven track record of success in fundraising and/or sales, preferably in a higher education setting.

Accountable for effectively developing and maintaining relationships with key leadership gift (and prospective leadership gift) constituents as assigned. Ensures effective qualification, cultivation, and stewardship of constituents, including face to face, quality visits with assigned prospects. Responsible for increasing levels of annual and long-term engagement and giving within assigned constituents. Accountable for positively representing all aspects of the university at all times.

Responsible for demonstrating respect for people and their differences as well as the benefits of a diverse workforce, and the value of open and collegial dialogue.

Responsible for effectively accessing and navigating relevant technology systems used in advancement, and utilizing data as a resource in decision-making while maintaining respect for the security of private or confidential information. Responsible for developing strong working relationships with Office of Advancement colleagues, University administrators, faculty and staff to professionally address both opportunities and concerns.

Data Synthesis and Use

Demonstrated expertise in relevant datasets sufficient to identify errors and inconsistencies in reports and data tables. Demonstrated expertise in data analysis sufficient to leverage effectiveness in the department’s pursuit of advancement goals. Demonstrated ability to identify key metrics, specify requirements in building these metrics and inform key decisions based upon the results of same.

Opportunity Closing

Demonstrated ability to generate fundraising and/or engagement opportunities, and identify and execute the steps to close the opportunities in defined area for defined targets including Parents Fund, Planned Giving, Corporate, Foundation and Government Relations, Major Gifts and Annual Giving.

Proposal Advancement

Demonstrated ability to create and execute proposals, events, and programs that consistently achieve targeted goals and objectives of an assigned area(s). Demonstrated ability to identify and successfully pursue opportunities (and/or engagement) with assigned constituents (e.g. parents, alumni, foundations) and level (e.g. leadership level donor).
Demonstrated ability to consistently craft proposals and influence constituents to contribute and/or engage toward key institutional priorities.

Relationship Building/Management

Demonstrated ability to build and execute a relationship building model for a specifically defined and assigned function within IA including Alumni Relations, Parents’ Fund, Special Events, Planned Giving, Corporate Foundation & Government Relations, Alumni Relations, Major Gifts, and Annual Giving.

Project Management

Demonstrated ability to organize, plan, and effectively execute one or more fundraising and/or engagement projects such as mini-campaigns and signature events. Demonstrated ability to collaborate with stakeholders to achieve specifically defined project goals.

Technology

Demonstrated ability to effectively access and navigate relevant technology systems used in advancement such as databases, CRMs, etc.

Personal Accountability for Results

Takes responsibility for decisions, performance, and outcomes; behaves in a responsible manner with a positive attitude; shows self-awareness and openness to feedback.

Effective Communication

Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills; shares information and seeks input from others; adapts communication to diverse audiences; protects private and confidential information.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

Analyzes and prioritizes situations to identify and solve problems; generates solutions to improve efficiency and quality; involves others in solving problems and making decisions; factors organizational goals into decisions; makes clear, transparent, and timely decisions.

Change Management

Responds positively to changing university initiatives and readily adapts behavior to maintain effective performance; understands the long-term direction of the university and can relate this to departmental area; adapts to new methodologies; identifies and acts on areas where change is appropriate.

Leadership and Teamwork

Applies skills and knowledge to provide a climate to achieve departmental and organizational success; balances individual and department goals; helps others perform at their best; builds productive relationships to enhance individual and organizational effectiveness; treats others with respect; resolves conflicts among team members.

Creativity and Innovation

Generates, explores, encourages, and implements innovative ways of creating strategic value for the university, division, department, and individual level; critically assesses the effectiveness of new initiatives.

Diversity and Inclusion

Demonstrates respect for people and their differences; understands the benefits of a diverse workforce; earns the trust and respect of others; includes and welcomes others; works to understand the perspective of others; promotes opportunities to experience diversity within our community.

Sustainability

Understands the impact of decision making and personal behavior in achieving the university’s commitment to a sustainable and carbon-neutral campus; supports and advances the university’s sustainability initiatives; influences others to use sustainable practices.

• 3-5 years experience in higher education fundraising, sales, marketing, or non-profit management or a related field with a preference for experience in educational fundraising.
• The professionalism, insight and sound judgment necessary for interacting with Alumni, board, trustees, administrative and academic leadership, faculty, and staff.
• An understanding of the important role of diversity, inclusion, and equity to institutional advancement.
• Ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to collaborate closely with colleagues in development and across departments.
• Proficiency in CRMs and/or databases is required. Experience with Blackbaud products appreciated.
• Strategic, organized, enthusiastic, team player, and willingness to travel is a must.

A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree is required or a combination of education and experience from which comparable skills are attained is required.

Colgate has a diverse student, faculty, staff, and alumni population representing a variety of races, gender identities, social economic status, sexual orientations, languages, national origins, etc. Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Plan presents a framework for continuing the creation of an inclusive campus and engaging the Colgate community in this effort in the years ahead.

Please describe how you would connect and work with a diverse community. The statement can be any length (e.g. paragraph or page). You can upload the statement under the Diversity Statement document heading. For information on how to write a diversity statement, see our Guidance on Crafting Diversity Statements.

2022S006Posting

No

Weekdays, with occasional evenings, overnights and weekends.

02/03/2022

Yes

It is the policy of Colgate University not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of their race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, disability, protected Veterans status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, being or having been victims of domestic violence or stalking, familial status, or any other categories covered by law. Colgate is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups, women, persons with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.

CAMPUS CRIME REPORTING AND STATISTICS
The Campus Safety Department will provide upon request a copy of Colgate’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education for the previous three years concerning reported: 1. crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Colgate University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus and 2. fires that occurred in student housing facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and fire safety, such as policies concerning sexual assault, life safety systems, and other related matters. To obtain a copy, contact the Campus Safety Compliance Manager via e-mail at cusafety@colgate.edu. You may also access the report from the Campus Safety web page at: www.colgate.edu/offices/support/campussafety.