Major Gift/Enrollment Officer

Major Gift/Enrollment Officer

Cottey College, Institutional Advancement

Location: Remote (U.S. Based), Travel: ~ 60%

Position Summary

Cottey College seeks a Major Gift/Enrollment Officer (MGEO) to advance Go Global 2030, a $10 million, five-year initiative to endow global and experiential learning opportunities for every Cottey student. The MGEO is a unique position that provides the right candidate with the opportunity to leverage strong relationship-building skills into fundraising and enrollment success.

Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the MGEO is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects, with a focus on securing leadership-level investments. The MGEO will build and manage a national portfolio of donors and partner with the President, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, and Director of Major Gifts and Stewardship on top prospects and priority solicitations.

Cottey’s distinctive national network of alumnae and P.E.O. members creates a powerful intersection between philanthropy and student opportunity. In this context, the MGEO will also support select recruitment and referral initiatives by engaging prospective students and families encountered through advancement activity. This work is relationship-based and mission-aligned, complementing the College’s enrollment efforts without serving as a primary responsibility of the role. The MGEO will work closely with the Vice President of Student Life and Enrollment and the enrollment team to meet recruitment goals.

This is a remote position requiring approximately 60% travel, including in-person visits, regional events, and national engagement opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Management and Strategy

• Manage a portfolio of qualified major gift prospects ($25,000 capacity), with a focus on advancing leadership-level gifts.
• Develop and execute clear, individualized strategies to move prospects from identification through solicitation and stewardship.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of new prospects, with particular attention to high-capacity alumnae, P.E.O. members, and friends of the college.

Donor Engagement

• Conduct 12 to 15 meaningful donor visits per month, including in-person and virtual, with a strong emphasis on face-to-face engagement.
• Present clear, compelling funding opportunities aligned with Go Global 2030 and guide prospects through the decision-making process.
• Partner with the President, Vice President, Director, and other campus leaders on cultivation and solicitation strategies for high-priority prospects.
• Participate in Cottey and Institutional Advancement signature events on campus when appropriate.

Solicitation Results

• Secure major and leadership-level gifts in support of Go Global 2030 and related institutional priorities.
• Achieve annual fundraising goals through a combination of new commitments, multi-year pledges, and pipeline development.

Stewardship Cultivation

• Ensure timely and thoughtful stewardship of donors to strengthen long-term engagement and retention.
• Coordinate closely with colleagues in Alumnae and P.E.O. Engagement, Annual Giving, and Advancement Services to align outreach and donor strategy.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of all donor interactions, strategies, and next steps in the CRM system (Raiser’s Edge).

Student Recruitment and Referral Support

• Leverage relationships with alumnae, P.E.O. chapters, and friends of the College to identify and encourage prospective student referrals.
• Represent Cottey College at select P.E.O. meetings, regional events, and engagement opportunities, building awareness of the student experience and educational mission.
• When appropriate, connect with prospective students and families in assigned regions, serving as a knowledgeable and welcoming institutional representative.
• Partner with the Enrollment team to support special initiatives such as scholarship or referral-based programs.
• Share insights from the field regarding prospective student interest, regional trends, and opportunities to strengthen Cottey’s visibility.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum of three to five years of experience in fundraising, college admissions, sales or a related field involving relationship management and goal achievement
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and move individuals toward a decision
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage a portfolio with competing priorities.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively

Preferred

• Experience in major gift fundraising or higher education advancement
• Experience working with volunteer or affinity-based organizations
• Familiarity with planned giving concepts and strategies

Why Cottey / Why Go Global 2030

Cottey College is a nationally recognized women's liberal arts institution with a strong commitment to leadership, global education, and social responsibility. Through its long-standing partnership with the P.E.O. sisterhood, Cottey has a uniquely engaged international network of supporters.

Go Global 2030 is a defining institutional priority, ensuring that every student has access to global and experiential learning opportunities regardless of financial background. This role offers the opportunity to build meaningful donor relationships and play a direct role in advancing that goal.

Compensation Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Travel support and reimbursement