Position Purpose:

Reporting to the Director of Leadership Gifts, the Leadership Gifts Officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding a portfolio of current and potential donors with the capacity to make gifts of $50,000, or greater, in support of college initiatives. The successful candidate will develop and implement strategic plans aimed at maximizing each individual’s support of the college by working with colleagues in College Advancement, faculty, Purposeful Work, Admission and high-level volunteers.

Job Duties:

• Create opportunities to conduct face-to-face meetings for the purposes of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding an assigned portfolio of 100-150 current and prospective donors according to best-practice standards.
• Create detailed cultivation/solicitation plans for the top 40 donor prospects each year.
• Engage in Plus Delta’s discipline of frontline fundraising program and use tools such as the donor engagement process, meeting preparation worksheets to drive results.
• Spend 8-10 days of each four-week period traveling both independently and with key volunteers or other members of the college administration to meet with current and prospective donors.
• Coordinate Zoom meetings with potential donors both one on one and in coordination with College and Advancement leadership.
• Work with a departmental team to identify, qualify and assign new leadership gift prospects.
• Plan and organize events for high-level donors to showcase Bates and college priorities. 
• Develop a thorough knowledge of Bates history, academic, extracurricular and athletic programs, and its faculty, students and administration.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of the college’s priorities and initiatives of the faculty and administration, and how those initiatives translate to fundraising opportunities.
• Participate in departmental and professional training programs to increase expertise in the profession.
• Understand and meet departmental standards, policies, and procedures with respect to all aspects of work.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Leadership Gifts.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Driver’s license required.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in advancement in a higher education setting or equivalent experience in higher education, non-profit, advocacy, or arts setting.
• Progressive achievement in fundraising, financial services, marketing/sales or educational management.
• Proven experience cultivating and closing major or deferred gift commitments.

Skills and Knowledge

• High attention to detail balanced with a strategic vision for multifaceted programs. 
• Self-starting strategic thinker whose hallmark qualities include being persistent, personable, team-oriented, and possessing a drive to succeed. 
• Must be able to relate to a variety of people of all ages and backgrounds. An ideal candidate would be a strong relationship manager and college representative.
• A personal commitment to excellence and the mission of a top-tier liberal arts college, and the ability to work in a goal-oriented environment. 
• Flexibility and a sense of humor are both essential. 
• Excellent communication (written, verbal and presentation) skills. Ability to write concise, logical, analytical reports to convey complex issues. Lead group discussions.
• Ability to remain composed, friendly and demonstrate poise under stress while working in a deadline driven environment.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills; ability to synthesize complex or diverse information; and experience working with complex data sets.
• Impeccable organizational skills and ability to coordinate resources and staff within the college community.
• Strong presentation skills and ability to develop dynamic presentations.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships.  Must be flexible, collaborative and have a positive attitude.
• Ability to work independently and as a team player and handle multiple priorities with minimal supervision.
• Keen attention to detail necessary for successful documentation, planning and execution.
• Proficiency in basic data management systems, business office software, and prospect moves management platform and basic computer applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Willingness and ability to learn additional applications as needed.
• Ability and willingness to travel (by car, air, train or bus) domestically and internationally as needed.  
• Ability and willingness to work weekends, evenings and other non-traditional schedules.
• Personal commitment to excellence and the mission of a top-tier small liberal arts college.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion, and serving the needs of a culturally and educationally diverse community.