Job Description:

Basic Function and Responsibility:

Responsible for leading the fundraising strategy for the Oakton Educational Foundation to advance and deepen philanthropic relationships for the benefit of the College.  Designs and executes the individual major gifts and planned gifts programs, coordinating moves management process and donor portfolios between lead fundraisers while maintaining an active portfolio of 75 or more donor prospects and obtaining private major and planned gifts at the highest level while supporting the priorities identified by the College.  The position works in close collaboration with the Foundation’s executive director and engages with College leadership and Foundation Board members and volunteers.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

• Directs the friend-raising and fundraising strategy for the Oakton Educational Foundation to build long-term relationships and maximize philanthropic potential and optimize performance across the portfolio.  This includes major giving, planning giving, campaign development, and the supervision of the annual giving and friend-raising functions through alumni relations and affinity group development.
• Designs, coordinates and executes major and planned giving program, including prospect pool identification and oversight, prospect management tracking, moves management system and reporting, campaign planning and execution, and stewardship for private donors and organizations with capacity to give $10,000 or more. Develop a comprehensive plan which outlines measurable objectives and courses of action for all significant activity during the year. Works closely with executive director to determine cultivation strategy and ensure a coordinated approach to high potential donors.
• Identifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards portfolio of no less than 75 active, individual major and planned gift prospects.  Designs moves management strategy for each and tracks progress and next steps utilizing Raisers Edge constituent relationship management database.  Recommends high level major gift donor prospects to executive director and coordinates interaction for braided and seamless engagement.
• Conducts prospect research and writes proposals to advance the development of the Foundation’s entire portfolio of prospects and donors.
• Organizes and supports small- and large-scale distinguished events that cultivate major and planned giving prospects.
• Develops and presents programs and materials (print and electronic) to educate potential donors about major and planned gifts, including techniques, issues, new developments in planned giving, and tax issues, including the use of direct mail and articles in publications where appropriate
• Directs stewardship strategy to ensure past donors are properly stewarded and re-solicited when appropriate.
• Provides oversight to department in the absence of the executive director.  Coordinates and runs staff meetings, hires and supervises student workers, and oversees and recommends updates to Foundation policy and operational procedures as needed.
• Identifies key performance indicators for fundraising success and, collaboration with the database manager, measure and reports progress regularly.  Utilizes data to inform program adjustments as needed to maximize short and long-term fundraising health.
• Builds and manages the fundraising budgets, maximizing return on investment in all activities to ensure responsible and effective utilization of financial resources.
• Serves as primary staff partner to Foundation Board fundraising committee chairs, informing, guiding, and aligning their activities to support the fundraising work of the Foundation.
• Plans, trains, and prepares college officials and volunteers to perform their role in the fundraising process, including face-to-face solicitations.
• Attend Foundation Quarterly Meetings, identified committee meetings, and special events.
• Serves as liaison to institutional committees when appropriate.
• Represent the College at various functions and community activities as assigned.
• Perform other job related duties as assigned.

Supervision Received:

Administrative supervision is received from the Chief Advancement Officer who serves as the Executive Director of the Foundation.

Supervision Exercised:

Administrative supervision exercised over the Senior Manager of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations and student workers hired to support this functional area.

Requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in Business, Communications, Marketing, Philanthropy, or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Five years of major gift and planned gift fundraising experience with a minimum three years working with senior level volunteers is required; experience in higher education philanthropy with a CFRE and certification in planned giving are preferred.
• Engaging, resilient, positive, high energy personality.  Critical thinker and creative problem solver who seeks win-win solutions, builds bridges and relationships within and outside the organization.
• Possess working knowledge of moves management system and process.
• Experienced in use of computer-based constituent relationship system for relationship tracking and research.  Experience with Blackbaud’s The Raisers Edge constituent relationship management software, wealth screening, and Crescendo are highly desired.
• Experience in training, orienting, and organizing senior level volunteers in gift solicitation.
• Experience in orchestrating volunteers and soliciting gifts for capital campaigns.
• Mandatory discretion and professional judgement in dealing with highly confidential donor information.
• Demonstrated initiative and self-directed; focused, yet works extremely well on teams and in collaborative environment.
• Exceptional people skills and high level of proficiency in written and oral communication skills.  Ability to interact professionally and tactfully with people of different levels of education, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences, and to exhibit an adequate level of respect to fellow employees and the College community at large.
• A high level of interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to deliver services in a fast-paced and customer-service focused environment is required.
• Advanced word processing (Microsoft Word preferred), intermediate spreadsheet application (Microsoft Excel preferred), and intermediate presentation application (Microsoft PowerPoint preferred) skills required.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed and travel between campuses and to off campus events.
• General office environment, little or no exposure to adverse working conditions.