Job Description Summary:
The Senior Gift Officer will be responsible for conducting personal solicitations to help grow the Bentley Fund including the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of Athletic donors, young alumni, and President’s Club donors. This position will collaborate with the Director of Annual Giving on annual fundraising strategies and engagement activities as it relates to his/her portfolio. This position reports to the Executive Director of Annual Giving.

Essential Duties:

• Management of a portfolio of roughly 350 constituents focusing on retention and retrieval of Bentley Fund donors. Portfolio will consist of athletic donors, young alumni and President’s Club donors.
• As a front-line fundraiser, this position is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of new and increased gifts from his/her portfolio of prospects through the coordination of the Director of Annual Giving, focusing on constituents who have the potential to make four and five-figure gifts annually, or who are ready to elevate with the President’s Club to higher giving levels.
• Develops an annual work plan prior to the start of each fiscal year that includes bottom line financial fundraising goals, projected regions of travel visiting lead annual giving prospects, fundraising goals and solicitation visits, and receptions and events to cultivate and steward leadership-level Annual Fund donors.
• Collaborate withthe Office of Alumni & Family Engagement counterpart on engagement strategies, as well as offices across campus, as it relates to his/her portfolio.
• Attend relevant events, as requested by theExecutiveDirector.
• Attain and track highly quantifiable, measurable goals within annual giving, as well as personally contribute to the overall achievement of division and departmental goals set by the Vice President of University Advancement.
• Prepares and enters contact reports from prospect interactions into the Millennium database system and executes appropriate follow-up actions.
• Promotes the Bentley Fund to our internal and external constituents by partnering with colleagues across departments, including Advancement Communications, Development, Prospect Research, and Donor Relations.
• Works effectively with others by sharing ideas in a constructive and positive manner; listening to and objectively considering ideas and suggestions from others; keeping commitments; keeping others informed of work progress, timetables, and issues; addressing problems and issues constructively to find mutually acceptable and practical solutions; and respecting the diversity of our work force in actions, words, and deeds.
• Required to travel 20-50% (one week per month).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 5 years of relevant fundraising or sales experience required.
• Analytical aptitude and facility with computer systems
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to deal with alumni with diplomacy and tact
• Must hold and maintain a valid, unrestricted United States driver’s license, with an insurable driving history as determined by Bentley’s insurance carrier.
• Must be able to travel approximately one week per month.
• Ability and willingness to travel and work outside of regular business hours when necessary.
• Ability to adhere strictly to rules regarding confidential information.
• Ability to handle multiple projects with high attention to organization and detail.
• Demonstrated ability to attain goals set forth.
• Must be a creative and strategic thinker.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in Higher Education
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new systems and ability to manipulate and analyze data to inform department decision-making.
• Experience managing programs independently, making process improvements, and re-imagining volunteer training programs and opportunities.
• Collaborative and collegial approach to working with teams; ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Willingness to travel both locally and nationally as well as work evening and weekend hours as needed.

Work Environment:

• Standard office work environment with extensive sitting and computer work
• The Senior Gift Officer will travel throughout the country. There are overnight and weekend requirements for attendance at local events and nationwide travel.
• Other responsibilities include hosting and organizing meetings before and after business hours.

Bentley University requires references checks and may conduct other pre-employment screening.

Diversity Statement: 

Bentley University strives to create a campus community that welcomes the exchange of ideas, and fosters a culture that values differences and views them as a strength in our community.

Bentley University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, building strength through diversity. The University is committed to building a community of talented students, faculty and staff who reflect the diversity of global business. We strongly encourage applications from persons from underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities, covered veterans and those with diverse experiences and backgrounds.