Job Summary
The Annual Giving Officer is primarily responsible for the Patroon Volunteer Program and Reunion Giving programs. The officer's responsibilities include recruiting and training new volunteers for Annual Giving, with the aim of expanding the pool of active volunteer solicitors and cultivating a pipeline of individuals for potential leadership roles. The officer will be soliciting gifts of $2,500 and above.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in relevant field
- 3 or more years experience in fundraising or a related field
- Valid driver’s license
Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be considered.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in higher education as a front-line fundraiser with a successful record of prospect development or relationship building
- Experience managing fundraising volunteers
- Experience soliciting parents
- Experience soliciting gifts over $2,500
- Experience planning and implementing events
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to cultivate, solicit and steward donor prospects
- Ability to develop and maintain effective relations with donors, including understanding donor motivation, and developing and sustaining donor commitment
- Ability to effectively facilitate discussions and effectively engage in public speaking
- Ability to promotes and implement processes to build effective donor relationships
- Ability to collaborate with others including own team/department, others across the organization and externally where appropriate
- Ability to work effectively individually and as a group/ team member exploring options, making decisions and seeking support when appropriate
- Ability to develop and contribute to the use of digitally integrated fundraising activities and effectively use analytics
- Ability to plan and implement programs, projects and/or events including identifying specific requirements and developing project plans
- Ability to work with colleagues and portfolio leadership to implement change initiatives that enhances the donor experience
- Ability to collect, analyze and manage relevant information, including prospect research
- Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet established goals and objectives
- Ability to multi-task, handle multiple projects and deadlines
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office or equivalent
- Ability to learn and use discipline specific technologies including database management software and web-based communication tools
Representative Job Duties
- Manage the Patroon Volunteer program by expanding the number of participating volunteers and maximizing solicitation opportunities and follow up. Ensure that donors assigned to volunteers receive an ask from another source if the volunteer does not make contact. Train and maintain relations with volunteers, provide any resources necessary for their success.
- Make solicitations for appropriate patroon society levels. The solicitations must be documented with proposals in Advance. Oversee all deliverables are being executed to maintain donor relationships.
- Work with volunteers from Reunion class committees. Create and execute solicitation strategy for these classes in coordination with Annual Giving and Alumni Relations staff.
- Develop and execute a plan to increase participation among young alumni Reunion Classes in collaboration with Alumni Relations and Annual Giving staff. Create a smooth transition from the Student Class Gift Program into alumni giving.
- Collaborate with the Director and other volunteer managers in Annual Giving to develop strategies to reach special constituencies such as graduate alumni, reunion classes, parents, and friends/community members.
- Utilize the database and prospect tracking system to record asks, moves, and outcomes including contract reports, proposals, tasks, rating/staffing changes, and pledges promptly and accurately.
- Perform additional duties assigned by Director designee.
Shift
Business Hours with weekends or evenings occasionally required
Travel
Travel is a significant component of the position (greater than 25%)
Driving
Driving a personal vehicle for non-passenger use
Starting Salary/Rate
Expected hiring range: $72,000 - $76,500
Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education and other job-related credentials. This hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting.
Application instructions
Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief online profile. Please be ready to upload your resume and cover letter.
If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact careers@rpi.edu.
Job Posted Date: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.