Senior Major Gift Officer

Location: Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States

About the Role

The Senior Major Gift Officer serves as a senior-level fundraiser responsible for developing charitable support for the University through the USM Foundation. This position identifies prospects, cultivates, solicits, and stewards donors with a focus on those capable of making principal-level gifts of $100,000 or more in support of University objectives while meeting defined visit and solicitation goals. The role involves working closely with the Chief Development Officer, deans, faculty, staff, volunteers, and other key stakeholders to achieve fundraising goals. This position independently prioritizes goals set in consultation with supervisors and assists Foundation management in the development and execution of the fundraising plan for the organization.

Responsibilities

• Identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards alumni and other donors, including development and implementation of prospect strategy, preparation of written materials, direct solicitation, and tandem solicitation with others.
• Develops and executes effective cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Engages deans, University faculty and staff, and others in advancement efforts as required.
• Stewards relationships with existing donors.
• Maintains records of visits, solicitations, and cultivation statuses in accordance with system requirements and Foundation protocols.
• Records detailed interaction of all visits and prospect management, including proposals to prospects and gifts donated to the Foundation.
• Independently and successfully manages a portfolio of prospective donors with a focus on principal gift prospects.
• Works with the Research team to identify new prospects for major and planned gifts to build and maintain a robust pipeline of prospects.
• Ensures all assigned prospects are managed effectively and adjusts strategy as needed.
• Works with the Communications team to develop individualized proposals for high-level gifts and to properly publicize gifts in accordance with donor preferences.
• Works with the Donor Engagement team to create individualized stewardship plans for high-level gifts as appropriate.
• Meets defined visit, solicitation, and gift closure goals.
• Exercises and promotes good judgment, discretion in interactions, and application of ethics related to development activities.
• Proactively stays informed about current events and trends in philanthropy and fundraising.
• Mentors Major Gift and Development Officers in their continued development and professional growth.
• Assists the Chief Development Officer in the training and guidance of new Development Officers.
• Manages an expense budget to optimize utilization of resources to achieve stated goals.
• Plans and implements personal travel as necessary and completes expense submittals on a timely basis.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Sales and/or Marketing, Business, or other relevant degree program from an accredited college or university.
• At least five years of development or similar experience at a university or other comparable organization, or equivalent professional experience in communications, strategy, relationship building, project management, and/or outside sales.
• A valid Mississippi driver’s license is required.
• Significant experience and sound knowledge of higher education fundraising processes and procedures.
• Employees of this position are prohibited from disclosing confidential and proprietary information of donors and prospects, the Foundation, the University, and its employees or students. This confidentiality obligation continues after termination of employment.

Skills

• Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and accountable for results.
• Reliable and punctual.
• Honest and cooperative.
• Professional and respectful.
• Organized and able to multitask; skilled in managing one’s own time.
• Results-driven to accomplish individual and team goals and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple university units.
• Ability to analyze and prepare documents, reports, and correspondence to specifications.
• Ability to understand, contextualize, and organize complex information.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate and interact effectively with a diverse group of people in both oral and written forms.
• Ability to clearly and persuasively communicate concepts, respond to questions, build support, and inspire confidence of all audiences and stakeholders.
• Ability to articulate alignment between university initiatives and organizational strategy.
• Ability to remain agile in a dynamic workflow.
• Ability to respond to inquiries or complaints from constituents.
• Ability to work before and after normal business hours, including weekends.
• Ability to travel or complete overnight stays.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development.
• Effectively engages and interacts with others to collaborate and provide value-added support that enhances results and team effectiveness.
• Ability to process and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Proficient in securing major gift donations and meeting individual metrics.
• Possesses general knowledge of planned giving.
• Proven ability to train and develop others.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree from an accredited college or university and/or holder of current Certified Fundraising Executive Certificate.

About The University of Southern Mississippi

Since our founding in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi has remained dedicated to preparing students for success. We deliver programs to more than 13,000 students in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. We are a community-engaged Carnegie R1 university, earning distinction as one of the nation's leading research institutions. Southern Miss is known for pioneering work in polymer science, ocean science, spectator sports safety and security, and bringing language to children with communication disorders. We are also a national leader in a broad range of disciplines, including cybersecurity, hydrography, nutrition, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development, among others. We produce graduates ready to enter fields that are leading the way in emerging technologies through programs such as computer engineering, information technology, and ocean engineering. We’re developing the next generation of business leaders while also responding to critical workforce shortages by producing skilled professionals in education and nursing. With a tradition of excellence in the arts, we are one of only 36 public institutions in the nation accredited in four major areas of the arts. Home to the Golden Eagles, our student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports. With a culture marked by passion and persistence, Southern Miss is delivering graduates who are ready for life.