Leadership Annual Giving Officer

Wingate University is a teaching-focused institution serving more than 3,600 students across two campuses. Located on a beautiful 500+ acre main campus, Wingate offers a close-knit, supportive community where employees can grow, contribute, and thrive. As an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, Wingate is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and welcomes applicants who are excited to join our mission and make an impact.

Learn more at University in Charlotte, NC | Quick Facts About Wingate. The mission of Wingate University is to develop educated, ethical and productive global citizens. Following its Judeo-Christian heritage, the university seeks to cultivate the following in its students:
Faith, Knowledge and Service. The University’s Mission statement can be found here.

Wingate University seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven fundraising professional to join its Advancement Team as a Leadership Annual Giving Officer (LAGO). This front-line fundraising position is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of 200 or more leadership annual giving prospects capable of making gifts in the $1,000–$10,000 range through the University’s annual giving program.

The LAGO serves as a bridge between the annual fund and major gifts pipelines, engaging donors whose capacity and affinity position them for deeper investment in Wingate’s mission. With a minimum expectation of 200 face-to-face visits annually, this officer will travel regionally to build authentic, lasting relationships that result in increased donor retention, upgrade, and pipeline development.

The Leadership Annual Giving Officer reports directly to the Assistant Vice President for Development and works in close collaboration with the broader Advancement team, including annual giving, major gifts, alumni engagement, and advancement services.

• Manage an active, assigned portfolio of 200 or more leadership annual giving prospects and donors, with a primary focus on those capable of making gifts of $1,000 or more.

• Conduct a minimum of 200 meaningful, face-to-face visits annually with prospects and donors, including discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship meetings.

• Develop and execute individualized engagement strategies for each portfolio constituent, moving donors through a structured donor pipeline aligned with institutional priorities.

• Solicit leadership annual gifts through personal visits, proposals, and strategic asks, meeting or exceeding established annual revenue goals and visit metrics.

• Partner with the Assistant Vice President for Development on portfolio reviews, strategy sessions, and pipeline development on a regular basis.

• Proactively identify, qualify, and engage new prospects through discovery visits, referrals, screening initiatives, and alumni events.

• Collaborate with the major gifts team to transfer high-capacity donors into the major gifts pipeline, ensuring smooth and relationship-centered handoffs.

• Participate in prospect management processes including Moves Management, portfolio review meetings, and regular reporting through the University’s CRM.

• Design and implement meaningful stewardship touchpoints for portfolio donors, reinforcing the impact of their gifts and deepening their connection to Wingate.

• Represent Wingate University at alumni events, athletic events, regional gatherings, and campus programs as an ambassador for the Division of University Advancement.

• Collaborate with the alumni engagement and annual giving teams to convert annual fund donors into leadership annual giving donors and long-term…