Annual Giving Officer - Hybrid

Under the direction of the Senior Director, Annual Giving Programs, the Annual Giving Officer is responsible for driving revenue through a strategic hybrid of volunteer management and direct leadership solicitation. The Officer develops and executes fundraising strategies for assigned milestone reunion classes and manages a portfolio of several hundred alumnae. A primary focus is securing gifts between $10,000 and $100,000, ensuring a robust pipeline for Leadership Annual Giving, Major Gifts, and Gift Planning. The incumbent will partner with Donor Relations to grow and improve the Durant Society, the College’s signature recognition program, and must demonstrate a sophisticated approach to engaging Wellesley’s diverse and global alumnae base.

Primary Position Responsibilities:

Reunion Strategy & Revenue Accountability:

• Develop and execute comprehensive reunion fundraising strategies in partnership with class leadership. Identify, recruit, and train alumnae volunteers to achieve specific dollar and participation goals for milestone reunions.

Portfolio Management & Solicitation:

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of alumnae with the capacity to make gifts of $2,500–$100,000 to support College priorities. Responsible for meeting defined annual revenue goals and key performance indicators for donor visits and substantive interactions.

Prospect Qualification:

• Actively identify and qualify new leadership-level prospects through discovery outreach to build the College’s donor pipeline. Use data tools to personalize outreach for a diverse global constituency.

Stewardship, Donor Relations Partnership, and Durant Society:

• Work in direct partnership with the Donor Relations team to grow and improve annual fund donor stewardship and the Durant Society. Align messaging across the donor life cycle to improve retention of leadership annual donors.

Institutional Engagement:

• Participate in marquee campus events and regional gatherings, such as Family & Friends Weekend, Commencement, and Reunion, to represent the Development office.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Currently none. This position has the potential to supervise an Annual Giving Coordinator in the future.

Basic Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience: 1-3 years of professional experience in fundraising, outreach, or high-level constituency management.
• Fundraising Track Record: Demonstrated success in soliciting individual donors, securing sponsorships, or managing grassroots philanthropic initiatives.
• Leadership: Experience managing volunteer leaders, student government bodies, or community organizations.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in constituent database management (CRM) or advanced data analysis software.

Skills and Abilities:

• Mission Driven: A commitment to the mission of Wellesley College—to provide an excellent liberal arts education to women who will make a difference in the world—and a desire to embrace Wellesley’s distinct traditions, values, and vision.
• Project Management: Excellent project management skills; the ability to complete complex tasks and multiple projects simultaneously (e.g., reunion campaigns and portfolio management), working both independently and as a collaborative team member.
• Strategic Communication: Superior written and oral communication skills, including presentation skills appropriate for engaging prospects and members of the campus community.
• Tech Savvy: Highly adept with technology; a high comfort level learning new digital tools and incorporating them into daily workflows.
• Analytical Thinking: Strategic thinking and analytical skills, including the ability to draw informed conclusions from data to drive solicitation strategy.
• Interpersonal Excellence: Excellent interpersonal skills, an ability to work collaboratively, and a strong orientation toward "customer service" when engaging volunteers and donors.
• Adaptability: An innovative and creative temperament; comfort with ambiguity and an ability to pivot as circumstances change.
• Discretion: A commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and discretion in handling sensitive donor information.

Flexibility & Schedule:

We value a collaborative hybrid environment. You will join us on campus on Wednesdays, plus two additional days per week that work best for your schedule and the team's needs. While standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, please note that evening and weekend hours are required as needed for donor and prospect interaction.

Salary:

The pay range for this role is $79,000.00 to $91,000.00