Development Officer, Major Gifts
Make a difference at one of Florida’s premier institutions for education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Florida Polytechnic University, ranked the No. 1 public college in the region by U.S. News and World Report, offers a unique working environment that encourages faculty and staff to be part of a culture that prizes collaboration, innovation, and the willingness to go above and beyond to ensure our students and University succeed.
The Development Officer, Major Gifts, serves as a frontline fundraising professional responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors capable of making transformational investments in Florida Polytechnic University.
Frontline Major Gift Fundraising (60%)
- Manage and actively engage a portfolio of approximately 100–125 major gift prospects with the capacity to make significant philanthropic investments.
- Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies designed to maximize philanthropic support and long-term engagement.
- Conduct face-to-face donor visits throughout Florida and nationally, utilizing in-person meetings as the primary strategy for advancing relationships.
- Maintain an active travel schedule to strengthen relationships with alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, and friends of the University.
- Prepare and present compelling major gift proposals aligned with institutional priorities and donor interests.
- Identify, qualify, and cultivate new prospects to ensure a robust and sustainable donor pipeline.
- Collaborate with University leadership, faculty, deans, and Advancement colleagues to develop strategies that lead to major gift commitments.
- Secure philanthropic commitments supporting the University's strategic initiatives, academic programs, scholarships, capital projects, and emerging priorities.
- Participate in donor recognition activities and stewardship initiatives to strengthen donor loyalty and encourage continued investment.
- Represent Florida Polytechnic University at donor events, alumni functions, community engagements, and professional meetings.
Annual Performance Expectations
- Annual major gift fundraising goal: Minimum of $1 million in documented commitments and/or cash received.
- Donor visits: Minimum of 120 substantive donor and prospect visits annually.
- Solicitations: Minimum of 40 major gift solicitations annually.
- Major gift proposals: Minimum of 25 written proposals annually.
- Portfolio activity: Maintain an active portfolio with documented strategies and movement through the donor cycle.
- Prospect identification: Add newly qualified prospects annually to strengthen future fundraising capacity.
Planning and Administration (20%)
Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan with measurable goals, strategies, timelines, and accountability measures. Utilize the University's CRM system to document donor interactions, contact reports, strategies, proposals, and outcomes within established timeframes.
Leadership and University Engagement (20%)
Collaborate with University leadership to strengthen major giving to support significant initiatives. Collaborate with Advancement leadership to strengthen alumni engagement and annual giving initiatives.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education
- Six years of direct fundraising and working on a campaign
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree plus three years of directly related experience.
- Experience in higher education fundraising preferred.
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