Annual And Planned Giving Officer

Job Details

Level: Experienced

Job Location: Fisk University - Nashville, TN

Education Level: Graduate Degree

Salary Range: Undisclosed

Job Category: Education

Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Annual and Planned Giving Officer works collaboratively with diverse individuals and groups, both within and outside the University, to advance Fisk's mission, vision, and strategic priorities. The Annual and Planned Giving Officer is tasked with initiating and building relationships with local/national businesses, community organizations, alumni (including Fisk Alumni Association members and Clubs), as well as high net worth individuals. The Annual and Planned Giving Officer supports the University's Division of Institutional Advancement and provides leadership in planning and implementing strategies to maximize voluntary support from all its constituencies, especially its approximately 7,300 alumni. Voluntary support is meant primarily to be financial gifts and grants; it also means volunteer assistance on the part of alumni, students, faculty, and other key constituencies. Beyond an intentional focus on increased annual giving, this role also demands broadening the base of planned givers with a focus on wills, trusts and estate planning.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• The primary responsibility will be the strategic execution and management of a comprehensive annual giving program, including the coordination and oversight of supporting initiatives in the areas of development services and donor relations.

• This position will develop a coordinated matrix of communication and solicitation strategies involving email, direct mail, phone/mail, personal visitation, and volunteer engagement, all focused on shaping a sustainable tradition of annual support.

• In addition, the officer will foster the growth of best practices in the supporting areas of gift processing, data management and donor relations as related to annual giving and the University as a whole and augment the foundation of annual giving as the enabling component of successful major and gift planning programs.

• The officer will provide strategic direction and long-range/short-range planning for all these areas in the context of growing the annual giving program while supporting the greater development goals of the University.

• The officer is responsible for ensuring that the University is a leader among peers as measured externally in terms of total dollars, percentage participation, consistency of giving and average gift size and internally in terms of clean data, ease of access to data and timely donor stewardship.

• The officer will support design and implementation of comprehensive fundraising plans to achieve fiscal objectives. These plans include identifying, cultivating, and soliciting support from the University's key constituencies-- alumni, trustees, friends, corporations, foundations, organizations and associations. Key programs include, but are not limited to major giving, corporate and foundation relations, alumni relations and the General Alumni Association, and annual and community giving.

• Provide strategic leadership for the continued advancement of Fisk's ongoing relationship with its external constituencies and specifically the Nashville community.

• Manage, motivate, and carefully coordinate staff and volunteers to establish and achieve short-term and long-range goals in institutional advancement. Such goals range from increases in the quality and quantity of information collected and maintained, to numbers of alumni actively engaged, and numbers of donors and dollars raised.

• Work closely with the Executive Vice President in articulating and promoting priorities, the image, mission, and integrity of Fisk University and soliciting support from key constituencies, particularly major gift donors and prospects of all types, as well as the alumni body in general.

• Assure continuous improvement in the overall advancement programs and infrastructure - including information management (prospect identification and tracking system; gift and biographical records; personal gift solicitation (major, special, and annual) from all types of constituents; proposal development; "direct response" (through mail, e-mail, telemarketing); cultivation and engagement programs.

• Maintain up to date information and best practices regarding planned giving.

• Cultivate network of supporting services pertaining to planned giving options.

• Develop and manage a portfolio of potential planned giving donors and prospects to cultivate, solicit, and steward.

• Develop and maintain strong cooperative working relationships with university colleagues, students, alumni, and trustees.

• Work closely with University leaders to provide insights, guidance, and sound judgment on the full range of issues, challenges, and opportunities for the University. Represent the University effectively internally as well as externally.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:

• Other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Vice President.

SPECIFIC JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with academic leaders, faculty, staff, donors, and a variety of volunteers.

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and must be a good listener.

• An articulate and persuasive presenter to large and small groups and especially to individuals.

• An independent thinker but also a team player who works well collectively and collaboratively with colleagues to achieve common goals.

• Proven management experience and administrative skills to motivate, organize, direct, and evaluate other professional and support staff as well as volunteers.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Ph.D or Masters preferred, plus five (5) years of senior level experience in business development, sales and/or advancement.

Experience: Five years of sales, fundraising, and senior volunteer group management with a strong track record in relationship building and business development; demonstrated management and organizational skills; including a willingness to explore new ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness; proven expertise in budget management and strategic planning; research and outcomes assessment experience; effective oral and written communication skills; and prior experience working effectively with private/public sector organizations.

Licenses or Certificates: CFRE desirable.

Additional Requirements: A background and/or credit check will be required of the successful applicant. An official transcript (if applicable) and names, addresses and phone numbers of three (3) references will be required of the successful applicant.