Major Gift Officer (Associate Director of Fundraising)

Location: Syracuse, NY Category: Professional Posted On: Tue Oct 15 2024 Job Description:

Budget Title: Associate Director of Fundraising

Campus Title: Major Gift Officer

Unit: Development

Professional Rank and Salary: SL-4; $75,000 – $85,000. DOQ

Location: Syracuse

Description of Duties:

The College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) in Syracuse, NY seeks an enterprising and energetic Major Gifts Officer to contribute to the Colleges growing major gifts program and help achieve the Colleges visionary strategic priorities as it looks to launch the public phase of its capital campaign.

Reporting to the Director of Major Gifts, the Major Gifts Officer will work in partnership with a dynamic Institutional Advancement team poised for considerable growth and success. The successful candidate will identify, cultivate and solicit donors and prospective donors capable of making major gifts in support of undergraduate student scholarships, graduate fellowships, campus facilities, and for the Colleges transformative, transdisciplinary initiatives and ground-breaking research programs.

Primary duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited, to:

Personally manage a portfolio of 100 – 125 major gift prospects capable of making gifts of $25,000 or more (a mix of individuals, foundations and corporations).

Work to build relationships with donors and donor prospects. Have meaningful contact with and visit donors and donor prospects regularly.

Travel as appropriate to fulfill duties. Maintain and submit timely reports on visits with prospects and donors.

Develop productive relationships with faculty, senior administrators and other College staff to work in partnership to identify and cultivate major donor prospects and solicit high-level gifts in support of fundraising priorities.

Prepare a wide variety of written correspondence for donors and donor prospects including solicitation proposals, letters of inquiry, stewardship proposals, acknowledgements and related materials.

Support donor recognition activities and events that have a strategic impact on the success of the major gifts program and fundraising for College-wide priorities

Job Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

A minimum of three years of experience as a Development Officer or closely related experience in an academic or comparable setting.

Experience in working key aspects of the donor relationship cycle of Identification, Qualification, Cultivation, Solicitation and Stewardship.

Familiarity with fundraising best practices and ability to develop, implement and execute a tactical plan.

A valid New York State drivers license is required at time of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications:

A background in higher education fundraising is strongly preferred.

Experience in a major fundraising campaign is highly valued.

Experience working with private foundations and demonstrated success in grant writing

A BS or MS degree in an environmental, science or related field is helpful.

Familiarity with Raisers Edge software.

Additional Information:

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act” institutions of higher education are required to prepare an annual report containing information on campus security policies and campus statistics. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by SUNY-ESF; and on property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a printed copy of this report by contacting SUNY-ESF University Police at 315-470-6667 or by accessing the following web site: https://www.esf.edu/safety/annual-security-reports.php

Additional Information: Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governors Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

SUNY ESF is a Smoke and Tobacco Free campus and is dedicated to providing a healthy and safe environment for the entire campus. For more information you can visit our Tobacco and Smoke Free Policy at https://www.esf.edu/employees/policies/policy-smoking.php

SUNY-ESF is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.