Philanthropy Officer

Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of major gift prospects with the capacity to make gifts of $10,000 and more, ensuring consistent cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and pipeline development activities
• Conducts prospect identification, research, and qualification through data analysis, networking, referrals, and engagement activities to build and maintain a robust major gift pipeline
• Develops and executes donor-specific strategies for engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to achieve monthly contact benchmarks and annual fundraising goals established by the Senior Director of Philanthropy
• Conducts face-to-face visits, virtual meetings, phone calls, and written communications to build and sustain meaningful relationships with alumni, donors, parents, and friends of the University
• Maintains consistent and proactive communication with donors and prospects, including timely follow-up on inquiries, meetings, gift acknowledgments, and stewardship activities
• Prepares and presents compelling gift proposals, solicitation strategies, case statements, and funding opportunities in collaboration with advancement leadership and campus partners
• Advances prospects through all stages of the fundraising cycle, including discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, gift closure, and stewardship
• Achieves annual fundraising and activity goals consistent with assigned portfolio expectations and institutional priorities
• Collaborates with colleagues across the Office of Institutional Advancement and key University leaders, academic leadership, faculty, athletics, and student affairs to coordinate prospect strategies, fundraising initiatives, and donor engagement opportunities
• Maintains accurate, timely, and comprehensive documentation of prospect activity, strategies, and outcomes in the University's CRM system, Raiser's Edge NXT
• Prepares donor briefings, meeting materials, reports, and other communications that support cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts
• Initiates and facilitates conversations regarding planned giving opportunities with portfolio and non-portfolio donors, as appropriate
• Participates in advancement events, donor engagement activities, and University programs, including evenings and weekends as needed
• Supports campaign initiatives and other strategic fundraising priorities as assigned
• Represents Elmhurst University professionally to alumni, donors, community partners, and other external stakeholders, serving as a frontline ambassador of the University and maintaining current knowledge of institutional priorities, goals, and initiatives
• Adheres to established timelines and ensures the accurate tracking and timely completion of assignments, donor follow-ups, and related activities

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, or a related field
• Minimum of 2-4 years of proven major gift fundraising experience, preferably in higher education
• Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse donor constituencies
• Knowledge of donor stewardship strategies and moves management systems
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, fundraising CRMs (such as Raiser's Edge NXT), and prospect management tools
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment
• Willingness to travel and engage in evening and weekend donor activities as needed