Donor Relations Officer

Position Purpose

Provides strategic support to frontline fundraisers in Leadership Giving and Presidential Initiatives and Principal Gifts in the cultivation and solicitation of prospects. Researches gift opportunities; prepares gift proposals and supplementary resources; drafts prospect briefings; proposes, implements, and supports communication and engagement strategies; and documents and helps to steward donor gifts. Complements the external, face‑to‑face donor responsibilities of fundraisers. Efforts are focused on individual prospects who are considered capable of making gifts of $250,000+ over five years.

• [15%] Supports frontline fundraisers by proposing and assisting in the development of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for individual development prospects, ensuring coordination with other departments and staff in Advancement and throughout the institution to facilitate information flow and relationship development.
• [15%] Helps to develop gift opportunities and writes gift proposals (with unrestricted, restricted, and planned gift components) to support donor solicitation and yield gifts toward Dartmouth's institutional priorities, including creatively addressing donors' interests in making gifts not targeted to approved priorities.
• [10%] Drafts and manages gift documentation through the process of creation, review, and approval by the Endowment Office and other partner offices in order to close and properly record gifts.
• [20%] Drafts and manages approval process for individual prospect briefings and event briefings for senior leadership and stakeholders, including the President, SVP for University Advancement, other administrators, deans, faculty, trustees, and high‑level volunteers, and provides remarks, bios, and other support for events as needed, to properly prepare stakeholders for strategic success in donor meetings and events.
• [10%] Assists in the creation, design, delivery, and maintenance of templated proposal and informational resources targeted to specific donor audiences, in both print and digital formats, to provide reliable tools for fundraisers to interest donors in the institution's priorities.
• [10%] Drafts and refines personalized correspondence for frontline staff and senior officers of the College, including the President, Advancement leadership, deans, faculty, and other key stakeholders, to facilitate effective communication and advance relationships with donors.
• [10%] Plans itineraries of strategic meetings and activities for prospects visiting campus, including cultivation/solicitation meetings and donor/scholar and other stewardship meetings to effectively cultivate and steward donors toward future giving.
• [5%] Performs other frontline support activities as appropriate, including researching complex questions that inform gift solicitations and working on special stewardship projects.
• Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3-4 years' experience in fundraising or a related field (e.g., marketing, communications, research)
• Demonstrated writing experience and excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills
• High tolerance for ambiguity and changing priorities
• Ability to successfully manage a high-volume workload and competing priorities
• A creative and entrepreneurial spirit and strong negotiation skills
• Demonstrates an ability to work with and to gain the respect of College officers, Advancement colleagues, faculty, and high‑level prospect donors
• Demonstrates a collaborative approach
• Strong attention to detail and able to function independently with minimal oversight
• Ability to apply the guiding principles of Development

• Experience in a complex organization desirable
• Commitment to a diverse working environment and to serving the needs of a large and diverse community

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