Major Gifts Officer

About Roanoke College

Roanoke College is a place where every student who works hard has the opportunity to succeed. We champion potential, providing essential learning and leadership through innovative academic programs and transformative educational experiences, giving students the mettle, mindset, and empathy to pursue lives of purpose, build meaningful careers, and meet society’s most pressing needs. Located in scenic Salem, Virginia, Roanoke College is an intimate, welcoming community that has served the local region and beyond for nearly 200 years. Now, we’re building on momentum and offering a Roanoke experience for today’s students and a legacy that belongs to every Maroon. Learn about the College's new strategic plan, Imagine Roanoke: A Strategic Plan for Roanoke College and the 21st Century Learner.

Roanoke College is a nationally ranked residential liberal arts college affiliated with the Lutheran Church (ELCA), located in the beautiful Roanoke Valley of Virginia. A Phi Beta Kappa institution, Roanoke College is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks diversity among its faculty, staff, and students; women and members of under-represented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

The Position

This position meets with and builds relationships with donors and prospects with significant giving capacity to accomplish their philanthropic objectives in the form of annual giving, major giving, and planned giving. Remote option available for highly qualified candidate within four-hour radius of campus.

Key Responsibilities:

• Qualify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospects. Analyze and predict prospects’ philanthropic capacity and inclination. Gather pertinent data and collaborate with the Prospect Researcher to help determine best prospects for portfolios assignment.
• Meet or exceed annual fundraising metrics.
• Manage a portfolio of 100-125 qualified prospects. Create and manage prospect plans, create annual and quarterly travel plans, document prospect interactions on a weekly basis in CRM, create/edit active proposals in CRM, and participate in annual work plan documentation requirements.
• Build relationships with major gift prospects that focus on ways the donor’s intent aligns with College’s fundraising priorities.
• Solicit each prospect in portfolio for annual gift.
• Define and implement annual stewardship strategies that continue the major gift relationship for future gifts and planned giving opportunities.
• Comply with Fundraiser Standards and Expectations.
• Adhere to the highest ethical standards; model professionalism, positivity, and gratitude on a daily basis; demonstrate sensitivity to donors and colleagues alike.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in Advancement and across campus.
• Serve as a resource for others, from identifying potential volunteers to sharing knowledge about fundraising best practices in an effort to create a culture of philanthropy.
• Respond promptly to team members’ requests for help related to lists reviews, event RSVPs, event staffing, etc.
• Maintain confidentiality with sensitive data.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education, Experience, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master's degree and/or Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) preferred.
• Requires at least two years of fundraising experience; three or more preferred with demonstrated history of securing major gifts.
• Requires demonstrated ability to lead, work in a team setting, and work independently.
• Requires computer proficiency with CRM, MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Teams in particular) and professional use of social media tools e.g., LinkedIn.
• Requires excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Monthly overnight travel (average 4-6 nights/month) and occasional weekend work required.
• Knowledge of Planned Giving preferred.
• Campaign experience preferred.

Last updated on Apr 3, 2024