Donor Engagement Officer (72450)

Position Summary 

A Donor Engagement Officer, plays a crucial role in representing the university and in the university's fundraising efforts. This position is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors to support the institution's mission and goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develop, manage, and grow a robust portfolio of individuals, foundations, and corporations capable of making gifts of $25,000 or greater.  
• Implement strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for major gift prospects and donors. 
• Collaborate with Office of Philanthropy staff, university leadership, faculty, staff, coaches, and volunteers to pursue coordinated fundraising efforts. 
• Research and identify new major gift donor prospects. 
• Create and execute effective engagement strategies to strengthen relationships with alumni, friends, parents and other constituents, including existing and new potential donors. 
• Prepare both formal and informal proposals and solicitations, talking points, and briefings for senior leadership and trustees. 
• Track and assess major gift fundraising metrics. 
• Organize and participate in fundraising events and activities. 
• Other duties as assigned or acquired.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) of this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. 

All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Required Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

Must demonstrate an understanding the Walsh University Statement of Faith and a commitment to support the Mission, Vision, Values and Code of Ethical Conduct of Walsh University in accordance with Ex Corde Ecclesiae and the Catholic intellectual tradition. Must also possess the following:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree (advanced degree preferred)

Work Experience: A minimum three to five years direct fundraising, or sales, recruitment, or community engagement experience, with a track record securing gifts or pledges of $25,000 or more. Five years or more experience preferred. Track record of fostering relationships and securing gifts of six figures or higher preferred. Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to handle multiple projects, is a must. Travel, weekend and evening hours required.

Skills and abilities:

• Professional demeanor and ability to interact with charity towards students, staff and faculty.  Positive attitude a must.
• A track record of raising five and six figure gifts or greater, while managing and engaging support across a robust portfolio of donors.
• A strong sense of priorities and purpose. Operates with a sense of urgency. Bold in the service of the mission, with the perseverance and passion to achieve goals. Professional, persistent, and resilient.
• A can-do attitude. A person of possibility. Resourceful and a self-starter.  Sees challenges as opportunities, not obstacles.
• Humility, flexibility, and an eagerness to learn. Willingness to adapt what is known and what has made one successful in ways that intersect with the mission and donors of Walsh University. 
• Strong listening and interpersonal communication skills. 
• Genuine love, excitement, and passion, for raising money in support of the mission of Walsh University.
• A strong proponent of the mission of Walsh University, both for existing alumni and donors as well as in attracting new potential donors in support of Walsh.
• Ability and eagerness to travel in order to meet the needs of the university and its donors.

Physical Demands and Work Environment 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects; desk job with majority of sedentary work sitting roughly 50% or greater of the workday.
• Climate controlled office and remote settings, but some activities/ duties can occur both inside and outside the office setting. 
• Travel, occasional weekend and evening hours are required.

Application Instructions

Applicants must submit a completed online application and any additional documents requested by the search/interview committee. This may include resume, unofficial transcripts, etc.

About Walsh University

Walsh University is seeking a dynamic, energetic, and passionate individual who is enthusiastic about contributing to a private, faithfully Catholic institution of higher learning and serving the common good. Walsh University promotes academic excellence, an engaged community, and a commitment to helping students discover their life purpose. Grounded in values of faith, excellence, integrity, service, and community, Walsh University is committed to principles of equal opportunity and is an equal opportunity employer.

Salary : $25,000