Major & Planned Gift Officer

About the role

The Major & Planned Gift Officer II is responsible for identifying and cultivating major gift and planned gift prospects, developing written materials for fundraising projects, and engaging with various university boards and committees.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Vice Chancellor for Advancement & University Relations to develop fundraising opportunities for major gift ($5K+) prospects.
• Collaborate with Advancement staff on broad-based fundraising appeals.
• Create and update prospect portfolios, evaluate existing strategy, and recommend improvements to leadership.
• Manage the University's planned giving marketing program, including working with Stelter to increase awareness of charitable estate planning opportunities.
• Develop and implement stewardship and recognition strategies for planned giving donors.
• Represent the University and Foundation at donor meetings and special events.
• Provide guidance to donors and collaborate with professional advisors and Foundation leadership on planned giving inquiries.
• Identify planned giving opportunities within assigned donor portfolios and integrate deferred giving strategies into comprehensive donor cultivation and solicitation plans.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Advancement to promote legacy giving and support the University's planned giving recognition society and related stewardship initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Three to five years of experience in fundraising, development, major gifts, planned giving, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects.
• Experience managing a portfolio of donors and meeting fundraising goals.
• Experience using donor relationship management (CRM) software.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of higher education advancement, philanthropy, and relationship-based fundraising principles.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare donor correspondence, gift proposals, reports, and presentations.
• Ability to analyze donor interests and align philanthropic opportunities with institutional priorities.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment while adhering to University and Foundation policies, ethical fundraising standards, and applicable regulations.
• Proficiency with constituent relationship management (CRM) systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Skills

• Knowledge of higher education advancement, philanthropy, and relationship-based fundraising principles.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to analyze donor interests and align philanthropic opportunities with institutional priorities.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment while adhering to University and Foundation policies, ethical fundraising standards, and applicable regulations.
• Proficiency with constituent relationship management (CRM) systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Benefits

Compensation: $60,000 annually

Pay

$60,000/annually

Schedule

N/A

Benefits

N/A

Skills

• Knowledge of higher education advancement, philanthropy, and relationship-based fundraising principles.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to analyze donor interests and align philanthropic opportunities with institutional priorities.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment while adhering to University and Foundation policies, ethical fundraising standards, and applicable regulations.
• Proficiency with constituent relationship management (CRM) systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Contact Information

To apply, please submit your application with your resume and cover letter no later than August 9th, 2026. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This organization will not sponsor employment visas for this position now or in the future. Contact Information: Kim Duesing, duesing@uwp.edu