The Senior Philanthropy Officer plays a crucial role within the Advancement team of Lafayette College. This position is responsible for cultivating, stewarding, and soliciting major gifts from alumni, donors, and other constituents to support the institution’s strategic priorities and fundraising goals. The Senior Philanthropy Officer collaborates closely with colleagues across the College to identify, cultivate, and solicit prospects capable of making significant philanthropic investments.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Individual Gift Fundraising:
● Develop and implement strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual gift prospects, with a focus on individuals capable of making significant contributions.
● Manage a portfolio of 150 – 200 prospects and donors, ensuring regular and meaningful engagement to deepen their connection to the institution and inspire philanthropic support.
● Conduct 12-15 meaningful engagements (in person visits, virtual visits, strategically planned phone visits) per month and develop strategies with the purposes of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding an assigned portfolio of donors at the $50,000 level and above. 25% of visits should be “unique,” with no less than 70% occurring in person.
2. Donor Cultivation and Stewardship:
● Identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors and other potential supporters.
● Build and maintain strong relationships with donors and prospects through personalized communication, engagement opportunities, event participation, and stewardship activities.
● Develop and implement strategies to effectively steward existing donors and deepen their engagement with the organization.
● Collaborate with other Advancement staff and college leadership to ensure donors receive appropriate recognition, acknowledgment, and personalized stewardship.
3. Proposal Development and Solicitation:
● Prepare compelling and persuasive proposals, case statements, and solicitation materials tailored to the interests and priorities of gift prospects.
● Lead or support solicitation efforts, including direct asks, proposal presentations, and donor meetings, to secure gifts in support of institutional priorities.
4. Prospect Research and Pipeline Development:
● In collaboration with Advancement partners, conduct thorough prospect research to identify new gift prospects and assess their capacity, interest, and affinity for the institution.
● Build and manage a robust pipeline of individual gift prospects, tracking cultivation and solicitation activities to ensure timely and effective moves management through the donor engagement process.
5. Collaborative Engagement:
● Work collaboratively with colleagues in Advancement, academic departments, administrative units, and other campus partners to identify fundraising priorities, develop case materials, and coordinate cultivation and solicitation efforts.
● Serve as a liaison between donors, prospects, and college leadership, facilitating communication and engagement to advance philanthropic relationships.
6. Goal Setting and Reporting:
● Collaborate to set personal annual fundraising goals and metrics for individual giving fundraising in alignment with the institution’s overall fundraising priorities and strategic objectives.
● Provide regular updates regarding visit planning, progress reports, and analysis of fundraising activities, outcomes, and trends to inform decision-making and strategy refinement.
Qualifications:
● Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
● Minimum of five-seven years of professional experience in fundraising, with a focus on major gifts, preferably in higher education or a related nonprofit environment.
● Demonstrated track record of success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts from individuals.
● Strong understanding of fundraising principles, techniques, and best practices, including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
● Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences, and inspire donors, volunteers, and colleagues.
● Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies and plans.
● Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
● Proficiency in prospect research, database management, and fundraising software/tools.
● Commitment to the mission and values of the College and the advancement of higher education.
Please provide a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references. https://apply.interfolio.com/189336
Lafayette is deeply committed to creating a diverse community, one that is responsive inclusive and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the college community share in the responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. All Lafayette operations reflect the college’s commitment to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (deai) initiatives, and lafayette welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.