As part of UA, the Development Officer, Parent & Family Philanthropy is dedicated to maximizing Parent & Family giving to Bucknell University and identifying potential leadership parent donors through the use of personal solicitations, stewardship, and relationship building with individual donors and volunteer networks.

The Development Officer identifies and solicits donors, maintains a portfolio of parent leadership prospects, collaborates with parent volunteers, and works with the Director to set the vision and strategy for a comprehensive family philanthropy program. The Development Officer reports to the Director of the Parent & Family Philanthropy and Family Programs.

The Development Officer works closely with peers to support the overall vision and goals of the Parent & Family Philanthropy programs to deliver an integrated, successful program. Responsibilities include the following:

Portfolio Management and Fundraising

• Collaborates with the Director in the development of the fundraising plan, including, but not limited to, developing goals and strategies and achievement of metrics.
• Generates support toward financial goals with the solicitation of an assigned portfolio of prospects through face-to-face visits (100-125 per year), email, and telephone. Financial goals will include both annual unrestricted and endowment targets.
• Personally solicits parents capable of making six figure gifts and 125+ parent prospects for annual gifts each fiscal year. Manages a leadership portfolio of up to 25-30 parent prospects.
• Organizes efficient trips for the purpose of meaningful and strategic donor interactions each fiscal year while staying within an allotted travel budget. Travel should be focused on individual solicitation and donor qualification.
• Develops and implements strategies to ensure proper cultivation and solicitation of assigned prospects, directing stewardship activities as gift commitments and payments are received.
• Participates in regular individual portfolio review and group sessions related to portfolio management and strategic travel.
• Works closely with Director and collaborates with internal departments including, but not limited, to Annual Fund, Leadership Giving, Gift Planning, Prospect Research, and CAFE, to develop comprehensive strategies for assigned prospects.
• Works creatively, thoughtfully, and strategically to ask and secure increased gifts from an assigned portfolio and to develop a prospect pipeline of parents to be considered as leadership and planned giving targets.

Documentation

• Develops proficiency with database tools.
• Maintains up-to-date contact reports and information in the database on significant prospect calls and visits (including rating recommendations, prospect interests, and other important prospect management data), solicitations, volunteer assignments, and evaluations.

General

• Works in conjunction with peers and parent volunteers to focus on strategies that increase parent participation.
• Ensures that all efforts communicate consistent messaging to pre-defined audiences and is done in collaboration with the Parents Fund communications, marketing, and outreach team.
• Occasionally serves as liaison to one or more volunteer groups such as the Development Committee of the Parents Association
• Attends appropriate donor and constituent events both on and off campus.
• Participates in division-wide and university-wide events, committees, and project teams to advance priority projects of the University.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Other Requirements
This position requires occasional evening and weekend work to support UA’s events including blocks of time for major events such as Family Weekend, Commencement Weekend, Reunion, and Homecoming, and other event support as required. Staff should mark their calendars for major events and events in their department. Exceptions require supervisory approval.

Also required is a commitment to attend, participate, facilitate or lead on-campus and off-campus events/activities outside of normal business hours as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and three or more years of fundraising experience or equivalent sales/marketing experience (an equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable)
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of the principles of fundraising
• Experience and proficiency in technology such as the Microsoft Word and Excel, database functions/reports, internet, email, etc.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license

  The successful candidate has the ability to set clear priorities and manage time well, work independently and make sound judgments, handle sensitive data appropriately, collaborate and work effectively in a team, and manage projects without close day-to-day supervision. Also works with and commands the respect of colleagues, volunteers, and donors. The successful candidate is organized, has superior written and oral communication skills, and is willing to travel extensively (including air travel and travel to major metropolitan areas).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated record of solicitation success
• Experience in higher education fundraising