Position Overview:

Gardner-Webb University is seeking a highly motivated and goal-oriented Advancement Officer (AO) to join our dynamic team. As an integral part of the team, the AO will be responsible for managing a portfolio of alumni and university friends with major gift capacity. The AO will engage in significant discovery work to identify and cultivate new prospects, aiming to build a qualified major gift portfolio consisting of 130-150 households over a multi-year period. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional interpersonal and communication skills and a deep commitment to higher education and the values of Gardner-Webb University.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with colleagues within University Advancement (UA) and across campus to ensure fundraising strategies align with university priorities.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major gift prospects, including individuals, corporations, and foundations, through face-to-face meetings, written proposals, and other engagement strategies.
• Using CRM system, maintain individualized prospect engagement and solicitation plans based on donor interests and university needs.
• Meet monthly, quarterly, and annual fundraising metrics as defined by the supervisor.
• Serve as a competent and professional representative of Gardner-Webb University.
• Travel, including overnight travel, is required.
• Actively engage in the life of the university through attendance at campus events.
• Undertake additional tasks and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of advancement activities in higher education, including knowledge of best practices and emerging trends in fundraising and donor engagement specific to the higher education sector.
• Proven ability to distill and communicate relevant information from large datasets to inform fundraising strategies and decision-making.
• The ability to effectively communicate and connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including donors, alumni, faculty, and community members.
• Enthusiastic about high-volume discovery work and eager to take on challenges in identifying and qualifying potential major gift prospects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to craft a compelling message tailored to different audiences and channels.
• Skilled at coordinating and prioritizing multiple tasks effectively, demonstrating strong organizational and time management abilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly motivated, goal-oriented individual with a proven track record of meeting quantitative goals.
• Self-motivated, confident, and mature, able to work independently and collaboratively within a team.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• Minimum of three years of experience in development or related roles, preferably in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated experience working in a metrics-driven environment, utilizing data and analytics to measure performance against quantitative goals.