Reporting to the Senior Associate Director of Major Gifts, the primary responsibilities for the Major Gift Officer (MGO) include developing long-term philanthropic relationships with an assigned group of approximately 120+ prospects and donors, most of whom are alumni, friends, and family or parents of current Skidmore students. They also are responsible for the solicitation of gifts with emphasis on those sized $50,000 and higher; and recruiting/managing fundraising volunteers.  
The MGO will work with their supervisor in consultation with the Research Department to identify new prospects, oversee ask amounts for annual and non-annual gifts for their assignments, and will be responsible for setting up individual stewardship plans for their donors. These responsibilities entail not only working with the Advancement staff but also with volunteers, administrators, and faculty across campus.

Primary Job Duties

• Maintain and execute appropriate strategies throughout the donor engagement cycle, for each prospect/donor in assigned portfolio. 
• Solicit $50,000+ gifts to achieve or exceed annual goals and assist the Office of Advancement in reaching revenue goal of raising approximately $36M per year. 
• Record prospect/donor interaction and strategy in database immediately and effectively. Demonstrate the ability to pull reports and manipulate data.
• Plan and execute extensive travel to build and maintain philanthropic relationships with constituents. Ability to work nights and weekends is a must. 
• Conduct effective meetings both in-person and virtually with prospects/donors. Must be comfortable cold-calling prospects.
• Facilitate thoughtful interactions between prospects/donors and key administrators, faculty, and volunteers.
• Collaborate closely with Skidmore Fund colleagues to manage reunion class prospects appropriately, ensuring engagement and solicitation expectations are met. 
• Collaborate with fellow Advancement staff, especially as their work pertains to prospect management, cultivation, stewardship, and strategy related to major gifts.
• 5% of duties as needed/assigned.

Judgment, Discretion and Complexity

Interact with broad array of prospects and donors and assess their capacity and interaction to give. Collaborate with all Advancement departments demonstrating an understanding of their work. Understanding of the Skidmore Fund, Gift Planning, and building a donor pipeline is critical. Analyze and establish goals and strategize on donor engagement process. Mastery of database management and utilization. 

Relationships and Resource Management

Must possess the ability to collaborate with colleagues across campus, faculty, senior administrators, and volunteers. Manage personal travel budget with mindful discretion. Must work effectively with support staff members who share responsibilities with other offices. Able to interact with Alumni Association board members and members of the Board of Trustees.

Qualifications and Competencies

Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Experience: Requires three to five years of experience in major gift fundraising or related field.

• A combination of major gift, annual fund, capital, and planned giving experience preferred. 
• Strong interpersonal and volunteer management skills.
• Excellent public speaking, writing, time management, judgment and decision making, and strong computer skills.
• This position requires a professional whose background is characterized by initiative, leadership, creative energy, refined organizational skills, and proven experience as a fundraiser.  
• Works well with varied constituents, including alumni, parents, friends, senior leadership, and staff. 
• The MGO must appreciate the important traditions of higher education and be able to articulate the mission and needs of the College. They must be able to make independent decisions, manage projects, work productively with colleagues and independent-minded volunteers, and inspire confidence among associates. 
• Discretion and ability to maintain confidence and confidential material is a must.   

Work is conducted in an office setting on campus and via travel to/from regional territories. Travel 50% of the time and conduct virtual visits.

Pay range: $65,000 - $85,000

Required documents needed to apply:

• On-line application
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• List of Three References

 

EEO STATEMENT

Skidmore College is committed to being an inclusive campus community and, as an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, dating violence, or stalking, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Employment at Skidmore College is contingent upon an acceptable background check result.

CREATIVE THOUGHT MATTERS.