The Leadership Annual Giving Officer reports to the Director of Annual and Reunion Giving.  His/her primary responsibility is to monitor, track, analyze and grow membership in The Institute Society, coordinating the renewal and growth with gift officers.  Coordination with the Keydet Club is paramount where joint leadership donors are concerned. Travel as necessary to meet leadership-level members and to participate in events for the purpose of establishing name recognition and networking. Works in coordination with AG team members, prospect development and major gift colleagues to discover, cultivate, solicit and steward leadership level donors.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with the Director of Annual and Reunion Giving to establish a strategy for TIS and Joint TIS/KC renewal
• Participate in the creation of specific leadership appeals and oversee their implementation and analysis
• Manage the TIS program overall and a specific portfolio of individuals capable of making gifts of $1,000 or more. Lead the portfolio through all stages of gift-making: qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship
• Meet clearly defined annual giving metrics of in person visits and substantive contacts
• Prospect and cultivate young alumni and others to leadership giving status using reunion giving as a platform for engaging in conversations about philanthropy
• Leverage campaigns, such as Day of Giving to secure leadership level support for matching gifts and donor participation challenges
• Collaborate with Donor Relations and Events Management to ensure proper stewardship of leadership donors
• Occasional weekend meetings and events and other duties as required

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Masters preferred
• Strong analytical and problem- solving skills
• Able to work independently overseeing projects and managing competing priorities
• Fundraising experience
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication and organizational skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education fundraising working for an Annual Giving team
• Three or more years of full-time fundraising experience cultivating, soliciting and closing $1,000+ gifts
• Proficient in database software (i.e. Raiser’s Edge, NXT, Fundraiser Performance Management)

This is a full-time position with a generous benefits package, retirement plan and a competitive starting annual salary based on qualifications and experience.

Founded in 1839, Virginia Military Institute is the nation’s oldest state-supported military college. The Institute’s mission is to prepare honorable and dedicated leaders ready for the challenges of 21st-century citizenship. U.S. News & World Report has ranked VMI among the nation’s top undergraduate public liberal arts colleges since 2001. VMI offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in 14 majors. VMI adjoins the campus of Washington and Lee University, the nation’s ninth-oldest institution of higher learning. Both colleges are within walking distance to historic downtown Lexington, a popular tourist destination. The city of Lexington has approximately 7,000 residents.

The VMI Alumni Agencies inform, engage, and inspire VMI alumni, family, and friends to support the Institute.

For more information about the VMI Alumni Agencies, please visit vmialumni.org. For more information about VMI, please visit vmi.edu.

Qualified candidates should email a cover letter and resume to [email protected] with the subject line: “Leadership Annual Giving Officer.” Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, those received by 8 a.m. ET May 22, 2022, are assured full consideration.

The VMI Alumni Agencies is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against anyone because of race, color, religion, national origin, political affiliation, gender, age, or disability.

In a continuing effort to provide equal employment opportunities, the VMI Alumni Agencies encourages women, minorities, disabled individuals, and veterans to apply. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are also encouraged to apply. The VMI Alumni Agencies will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with documented disabilities to ensure equal access and equal opportunities with regard to employment, educational opportunities, programs, and services.