Donor Engagement Officer (72450)

About the Role

Walsh University is seeking a Donor Engagement Officer to play a crucial role in representing the university and in its 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

• 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.

Required Qualifications

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

• 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.
• 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 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

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.