Leadership and Principal Giving Officer
North Central College

Job Info

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Posting Number:

S000827

Position Title:

Leadership and Principal Giving Officer

Department:

Institutional Advancement

Division:

Institutional Advancement

Supervisor Title:

Director of Philanthropy

Status:

Full Time Regular

Position Summary:

The Leadership and Principal Giving Officer is a visible leader of the Institutional Advancement team who serves a critical role as an ambassador for the College, building strong and sustained relationships with constituents, including alumni, parents and friends. The position will work closely with the Director of Philanthropy and will focus on securing planned, principal and leadership gifts for the College (principal gifts of $1 million and up as well as leadership gifts starting at $100,000 and planned gifts as appropriate) in order to successfully meet the College's annual goals and establish a pipeline for the next comprehensive campaign.In addition, the Leadership and Principal Giving Officer is responsible for securing annual and major gifts to the North Central College Fund, major and capital projects and estate/will commitments. With an energized alumni base and the College's strong history of fundraising achievement, the successful candidate will thrive in a goal-oriented, data­-driven and team-focused environment.

Description of Key Responsibilities:

1. Maintain and manage a portfolio of principal, major and planned gift prospects. These visits will be conducted for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, gift closure, and stewardship purposes that result in annual gifts, major gifts, and multiyear pledge commitments and will commitments of a minimum of $100,000 or more to the College.

2. Create a 12- to 24-month strategic plan for each donor/prospect that will serve as a foundational communication plan for each person on the portfolio, and faithfully execute such plan for effective moves management in alignment with the team's strategy, goals and vision.

3. Work to identify, cultivate, and solicit prospects on an annual basis with particular focus on annual, major and planned gift donors using moves management strategy to maximize financial support to the College; specifically, the capital project campaign, endowment initiatives and assigned affinity campaigns.

4. Utilize existing and supporting resources as well as technology to maximize time spent in donor ­facing cultivation and solicitation activities that lead to securing major gifts. Candidate should have a strong background in working with moves-management donor database, reporting tools and wealth screening information.

5. Support the College's mission, vision and values and contribute to the advancement of the College's Strategic Plan. Specifically, work with alumni, parents, friends, faculty and staff of the College and the community to develop relationships leading to gifts and commitments for annual and capital campaigns.

6. Complete and file timely reports of donor/prospect contacts. Responsible for maintaining individual donor/prospect records in the College's donor database.

7. Ability and willingness to work outside the normal workday hours, including some evenings and weekends on an as-needed basis.

8. Serve as a member of the College's overall fundraising team; actively participate and contribute to annual and strategic fundraising initiatives. This includes but is not limited to participation in calendar and fiscal year end evening calling and other targeted solicitation initiatives geared toward meeting departmental, campaign and institutional fundraising goals.

9. Other related duties as appropriately assigned.

10. Regular travel outside of the Chicago area, approximately 50% of the time, is a required function of this position.

OTHER KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Support the College's mission, vision and values, and contribute to the advancement of the College's Strategic Plan.
2. Demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous quality improvement.
3. Demonstrate civil and inclusive behavior when interacting with staff, faculty, students and visitors to the College. Promote a flexible, collaborative and inclusive work and living environment and engage in educational opportunities to increase awareness and understanding of diversity and inclusion.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Strong communication skills are critical to the success of any organization that deals with customers. Effective communication can enhance retention and visibility, helping North Central College distinguish itself from competitors. An individual in this position must possess the proficiency, understanding, and knowledge of principles and processes necessary to provide high-quality service and ensure success for both internal and external customers of the College.

1. A demonstrated ability and proven track record of fundraising leadership with direct experience designing and implementing effective cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies that increase annual fundraising totals.

2. Ability to use mathematical skills necessary for compiling, summarizing and analyzing data.

3. Ability to work under time pressures with multiple priorities and deadlines with accuracy.

4. Ability to think and communicate clearly, reason well, and possess a willingness to ask questions and independently solve problems.

5. Results-oriented with a strong customer service focus.

6. Empathetic listener with superior verbal and written communication skills.

7. Strong Knowledge and understanding of, commitment to, and ability to effectively articulate the College's organization, mission, philosophy and vision for the future.

8. Ability to effectively conduct several activities, each in a different stage of development, concurrently, and to do so with minimal direct supervision. This requires a person who is well organized, detail oriented and flexible.

9. Finely-honed attention to detail.

10. Proficiency in Outlook, Excel, Word. Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Excellent analytical, organizational, time management and leadership skills.

11. A demonstrated ability, and inclination, to exercise discretion with regard to personal and confidential information.

12. Superior communication skills with the ability to speak credibly about higher education and the aspirations of the College with clarity, succinct and effectiveness in written and oral presentations.

13. Ability to manage complex relationships and be a proven collaborator with teamwork skills.

14. Ability to work in a system that emphasizes measurable objectives, including set goals for major gifts activity and dollars raised.

15. Knowledge of gift planning instruments and ability to market them to alumni and other prospective donors is desired.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

The successful candidate will work with an assigned portfolio of donors and prospective donors, in theChicagoland area, as well as around the country, to obtain leadership and principal gifts as well asestate/will commitments for the College. In addition to setting the strategy for Planned Giving, they will work to individually and collaboratively to identify, cultivate, solicit, close and assist to finalize new gifts aligned with the College's fundraising goals. The candidate must have a strong background in working with planned giving and a talent for working with outside marketing organizations to facilitate e-newsletters, proposals, as well with the College's President, and development and administrative colleagues at the College. They will work with College representatives including faculty and staff to move prospects toward a principal, leadership or planned gift through individual meetings, phone calls and written correspondence.

The Leadership and Principal Giving Officer will have autonomy and will collaborate with office and College personnel to execute specific fundraising projects for their portfolio, including active participation and management of assigned tasks; managing travel, collateral development, events, etc., as needed; growing and implementing additional giving efforts; developing, organizing, managing and implementing annual and long-range fund raising plans, goals, and strategies, all aimed at increasing giving, participation and involvement from the College's constituencies.

Education/Training:

A bachelor's degree is required.

Experience:

A minimum of seven (7) years of successful professional fundraising experience at higher-ed or other nonprofit organizations with a proven record of successfully soliciting and closing major gifts, or related and transferable experience from corporate, community or philanthropic organizations, or the equivalent experience. Fundraising experience in institutional advancement, particularly in an academic setting including communications and/or alumni relations is desired.

Licenses or Certifications:

A valid driver's license and acceptable driving record are required.

Is This a Temporary Position?:

No

Employment Conditions:

An offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of the College's background screening process.

Number of Vacancies:

1

EEO Statement:

North Central College is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce. NCC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please notify the Office of Human Resources. Determinations for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Open Until Filled:

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicant:

Applicants who would enrich the diversity of the campus community are strongly encouraged to apply.

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