Major Gift Officer

Questions? Contact the Employee Success and Care Center (formerly HR)

Job no: 495297
Work type: Administrative (Full Time)
Location: Marion, IN
Categories: Administrative/Professional

Reporting Relationship: Executive Director of Major and Planned Gifts

Unit: Central Administration

Department: Development-Central Administration

Summary of Position: The Major Gift Officer is at the forefront of advancing the mission to build and steward lifelong relationships that foster transformational and sustainable impact. The Major Gift Officer will discover prospects, cultivate relationships, and invite and secure financial gifts.

• Build Relationships
  • Engage a portfolio of 70-90 major gift prospects for the purpose of inviting and securing major gifts
  • Build meaningful relationships with prospects and donors in the portfolio
  • Impact a culture of giving for IWU, encouraging prospects and donors to support the university’s mission and vision while fostering a sense of pride and ownership spotlighting the transformative impact of their gifts
  • Orchestrate meaning connection of prospects and donors with IWU presidents, administrators, faculty, coaches, staff, and students
• Strategic Fundraising
  • Personally present written proposals for major gifts
  • Develop and implement personalized stewardship plans for donors
  • Provide accurate information of all prospects and donor activity in Slate including contact reports, gift commitments, strategy statements, and other documentation
  • Develop and incorporate estate planning resources to assist in identifying and garnering planned gift commitments
• Collaborative Teamwork and Creative Engagement
  • Regularly meet with leadership to collaborate and strategize
  • Routinely meet with key IWU administrators, faculty, coaches and staff to build relationships, gain insights, and establish partnerships that help advance University Advancement’s strategies
  • Participate regularly and broadly in university and University Advancement events to understand the breadth and depth of an IWU education
• High-Impact Hospitality and Character
  • Serve as an IWU ambassador with a high level of integrity, authenticity, and confidentiality
  • Maintain a positive image when dealing with constituents and the university community; demonstrate a lifestyle consistent with the values and ethos of IWU
  • Exhibit IWU and University Advancement’s values of Christlikeness, commitment, leadership, service, stewardship, innovation and diversity
  • Foster a collaborative and inclusive spirit among subordinates, peers, and superiors within University Advancement and across the IWU community
  • Complete other tasks as assigned

Qualifications:According to Indiana Wesleyan University employment policy all employees must possess a strong Christian commitment and adhere to the standards outlined in the IWU Community Lifestyle Statement.

• Bachelor’s degree; an earned master’s degree desired

• Possess three (3) years’ experience developing and securing five figures and above

• Demonstrate competence and productivity in developing relationships that yield major gifts
• Demonstrate an understanding of the features of various planned giving methods and their benefit to different types of donors
• Demonstrate exceptional writing, interpersonal and public speaking skills
• The successful candidate is expected to have their primary office based out of the IWU campus in Marion, IN
• They must be capable of traveling up to 50% of time, working nights and weekends as needed, to fulfill portfolio and management responsibilities and participate in major and planned gift related events
• Exhibit a vital personal relationship with Jesus Christ, embrace and articulate the mission of IWU and be in harmony with the…