Major Gifts Officer
Location : Pomona College, Claremont, CA
Department : Major Gifts
Employment Status : Regular Full time, 12-month position
Salary : Dependent upon qualifications
About Pomona College : Located near Los Angeles, California, Pomona College is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges. Established in 1887, Pomona College is known for small classes, a challenging curriculum, close relationships between students and faculty, and a range of student research and leadership opportunities. Pomona is a member of The Claremont Colleges.
Position Summary
The Major Gifts Officer develops and implements comprehensive, individualized development programs for major gift prospects to secure gifts of $100,000 or more. Through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts to the institution, this position manages a portfolio of alumni, and friends of Pomona College within a geographic territory. Candidate should support new ideas, encourage interaction and teamwork, and be fully integrated in preparation for a comprehensive capital campaign for the College.
Essential Functions
Reporting directly to the Director of Major Gifts, the Major Gifts Officer works independently and collaboratively to perform the following essential duties and responsibilities :
- Manage a portfolio of 150 to 175 major gift prospects who are alumni, family, and friends of the College. Donors will be located primarily on the East Coast (including Chicago) of the United States.
- Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycles.
- Prepare proposals for major gifts ($100,000+).
- Develop long term cultivation and engagement strategies for donors.
- Develop relationships with assigned prospects through in person / virtual meetings, in writing, and through electronic resources.
- Make judgments regarding prospects' financial capability and willingness to support College goals and objectives.
- Manage projects for specific fund-raising objectives as required.
- Create gift proposals and gift agreements. Negotiate dollar amounts and written terms for management of gifts. Monitor and ensure fulfillment of gifts.
- Maintain stewardship contacts with donors and adhere to the highest ethical standards.
- Prepare briefings for senior campus leadership meetings.
- Assist in the creation of stewardship plans and monitor implementation of the plans.
- Participate in all aspects of the donor engagement cycle from initiating contacts to securing gifts in an appropriate and timely manner.
- Serve as a resource for Advancement staff, from identifying potential volunteer connections to knowing about meeting and event spaces in key locations.
- Secure support for a set of campus-wide priorities established by campus leadership.
- Coordinate special projects / tasks / duties and provide assistance as assigned. Work closely with regional alumni programming efforts to help build a strong local Sagehen community in their assigned geographies.
- Build strong personal and professional relationships with the entire Pomona College community, including alumni, faculty, staff, and volunteers. Proactively work to understand and maintain an in-depth knowledge of Pomona programs, key faculty, research, notable alumni, and student initiatives; serve as a resource, advocate, and spokesperson for the Pomona Advancement Office and programs.
Required Knowledge and Critical Skills
Prepare cultivation strategies for prospects that are recorded in SalesForce Ascend.Maintain updated solicitation status for prospects in the database.Retrieve information out of the SalesForce Ascend database for briefing preparations.Ensure key actions with prospects are entered in the master database system.Handle all activities and highly confidential information with patience, discretion, good judgment, courtesy, and tact.Foster a culture of personal accountability, innovation, creativity, and promote a customer-service oriented community and successful donor-centric model of sustained fundraising.The successful candidate will be an effective advocate for the value of the liberal arts with all constituents.Qualifications
Education : Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, business administration, a liberal arts field, or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.Experience : A minimum of five years of professional work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience required with a proven track record of accomplishments and taking initiative. Demonstrated fundraising experience at an academic institution is desirable.Required Hours : The regular hours for this full-time position are 8 : 00 a.m. to 5 : 00 p.m., Monday Friday. Holiday, weekend, and evening work hours will be required. Travel will be required monthly.
Regular hours may vary due to needs of the College.
Additional Position Details : The rate for this role is between $90,000 - $137,000 with a competitive benefits package. The specific factors that the College will consider when offering a salary to an individual will include, but not be limited to : education, training, relevant prior experience, and performance in prior roles. All staff positions are ineligible for visa or permanent resident card sponsorship. As a California employer, Pomona College requires all employees to be residents of California.
Pomona College Rewards : Pomona College offers a wide variety of benefits and perks including health, dental, and vision plan options; paid time off; flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits; tuition assistance; fitness and wellness programs; rideshare incentives; and so much more!