Major Gifts Officer

REPORTS TO: VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT

STATUS: FULL-TIME, EXEMPT, SALARIED

Lake Erie College, a small, co-educational, four-year, independent liberal arts college located in Painesville, OH, 30 miles east of Cleveland, invites applications for the full-time position of Major Gifts Officer.  Reporting to the Vice President of Advancement, the Major Gifts Officer is an integral member of the team in our effort to secure philanthropic support for the college’s mission to provide an excellent, inclusive, and highly personalized education.

The Major Gifts Officer is a highly independent role responsible for identifying, cultivating, and securing major gifts to support Lake Erie College. The position requires exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with supporters and internal stakeholders. The Major Gifts Officer will collaborate closely with the Vice President of Advancement and Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving to align fundraising efforts with institutional priorities and achieve fundraising goals. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Qualifies, cultivates, and solicits donors with capacity to make a major gift to Lake Erie College.
• Conducts individual meetings with prospects to gauge affinity, build relationships, solicit support and steward individual philanthropy.
• Develops and proposes strategies for solicitation of major gifts, including: determining ongoing relationships with prospect/donor; recommending specific purpose and level of gift; identifying those to be involved in cultivation and subsequent solicitation; assuring that solicitations are carried out.
• Prepares proposals, solicitation letters, gift agreements, and other development materials for prospects and donors that articulate Lake Erie College’s needs, values, and ambitions.
• Keeps current on programs and faculty/research/student initiatives at the college; networks within the college and the community.
• Initiates, analyzes, monitors, evaluates and alters strategic advancement plans.
• Participates in all fundraising functions and activities.
• Travels and has the ability to work some evenings and weekends.
• Other duties as assigned by the Vice President of Advancement.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & KEY COMPETENCIES:

• 2+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience with nonprofit databases; Raiser’s Edge experience preferred.
• Ability to work independently; ability to work as part of a team; manage projects; determine priorities; and maintain a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Excellent strategic sense and an ability to set goals and priorities, managing limited resources for maximum impact.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with demonstrated experience in public speaking.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work as part of a team, manage vendors, and coordinate projects with internal and external partners.
• Outstanding organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to plan and coordinate a variety of detailed projects, sometimes under a very tight deadline.
• Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have a willingness to travel locally and nationally.
• Growth and “doer” mindset and institutional teamwork ethic.
• Creative, strategic, thoughtful, and has a sense of humor.