Manager of Individual Philanthropy

In partnership with colleges and universities, Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP) hosts intensive, one-week college-preparatory academic boot camps for enlisted veterans and transitioning service members. Boot camps are offered in three disciplines: college readiness, STEM, and business. Through faculty lectures, workshops and research projects, tailored assignments, and one-on-one tutoring, warrior-scholars acquire the skills to succeed in higher education and navigate the cultural shift from military service to college. Warrior-scholars are mentored by WSP alumni who are student veterans who have successfully transitioned from the military to college. WSP also offers workshops tailored to address the unique needs of veterans enrolled in community colleges and targeted programming for underrepresented veterans. All programming is provided at no cost to warrior-scholars. WSP also hosts additional programming for boot camp alumni, including a graduate school support program, academic support workshops, professional development information sessions, and community engagement opportunities.

About the role

WSP seeks to hire a strong relationship-based professional to serve as a Manager of Individual Philanthropy. This position is designed to expand the team’s capacity and will complement the work of an existing Manager of Individual Philanthropy. Reporting to the Director of Development, this individual will manage a portfolio of major donors and donor prospects while collaborating closely with the Development Director, Chief Advancement Officer (CAO), and often the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to reach revenue targets in support of WSP’s mission. Working with other development team members, the Manager of Individual Philanthropy will also be instrumental in leading the management and successful execution of one or more major donor fundraising events.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement, in concert with the Director of Development and CAO, strategies to achieve individual giving fundraising goals with intentional, significant growth annually in alignment with strategic plan revenue targets.
• Further build out a major gifts program that secures donations at the $20k – $50k+ level while also securing gifts at the $1k – $10k giving levels, ensuring proper donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Create individualized “moves management” plans for each prospect to guide them through the donor journey: initial identification, donor, gift renewal, and long-term stewardship.
• Schedule, attend, and conduct solicitation visits.
• Serve as lead on major donor fundraising events in close collaboration with the Director of Development and development staff, including:
  • Manage event planning, logistics, and guest experience.
  • Secure event underwriters and sponsors as appropriate.
  • Ensure Salesforce CRM accurately captures key donor data and opportunities.
• Draft compelling solicitation letters, written updates, and thank you letters in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate records of all donor interactions, wealth screening data, and financial projections within Salesforce.
• Maintain an awareness of fundraising trends and new opportunities to widen our audience and attract new donor prospects.
• Other duties as assigned, including but not limited to assisting the Director of Development with small grant proposals and corporate sponsor outreach.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of development/fundraising experience with a proven track record of securing five-figure gifts and higher.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and listening skills.
• Expertise in utilizing Google Docs and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Outstanding organizational and time management skills.
• Proven ability to build meaningful relationships with individuals with diverse personalities and styles and at different levels of seniority.
• Ability to interpret, analyze, and represent data related to WSP, its students, and alumni in persuasive, funder-accessible language.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaborate with colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Small event planning experience strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in Salesforce or other CRM system.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically to proactively develop new ideas.
• Professional or personal experience working with veterans or within the higher education sector strongly preferred.
• Ability to work nights and weekends, as needed.
• Ability to travel, as needed.
• Strong commitment to WSP’s values.

Travel

To meet organizational needs, travel may be required to staff summits, trainings, conferences, and program delivery sites. Travel frequency may fluctuate based on programmatic and organizational needs.

Pay

$74,000 to $90,000 / yearly

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and/or move about the workspace as needed to perform job duties.
• Ability to communicate with others to exchange information in person, by phone, and through digital platforms.
• Ability to lift and move items up to 20 pounds (e.g., laptops, program materials).
• Ability to use a computer and related technology to complete essential job tasks, including sufficient visual acuity for reading, typing, and responding to communications.