"Donor Engagement Officer"

Job Summary/Basic Function

The Donor Engagement Officer (DEO) is a creative and customer-service oriented member of the donor engagement (DE) office within the division of college advancement, which oversees Dickinson's fundraising and alumni and parent engagement programs. This position works collaboratively with the Principal Giving and Individual Giving teams on the development, management and execution of customized programs to engage and advance the philanthropy of prospects and donors capable of making transformative gifts to Dickinson. The DEO reports to the Director of Donor Engagement with a primary focus on coordinating strategic donor visits, both on-campus and virtual, to support donor cultivation and stewardship.

The single most important objective of this position is to provide curated engagement experiences for Dickinson's highest rated donors that are both rewarding for the donor and beneficial to the college. The DEO is primarily responsible for coordinating 60-100 high impact engagement (HIE) donor programs per fiscal year, typically in the form of single or multi-day campus visits or virtual visits. The DEO also collaborates with the donor engagement team to execute the work of the office including proposal development, gift impact reporting, gift acknowledgements, individualized stewardship plans, special events, donor recognition programs, and other duties as assigned. Evidence of strong project management skills is essential.

This position involves regular engagement with Dickinson's major donors, trustees, faculty, students, staff, and the college's community of alumni, parents, and friends. The DEO will partner with multiple campus offices including the Office of the President, academic affairs, global studies, campus life, athletics and external vendors who support Dickinson's donor engagement program.

Essential Functions

• High Impact Donor Engagement: Plan and execute high impact engagement programs with a focus on customized campus visits and virtual visits for top donors and prospects. Coordinate all tasks related to the creation and execution of multiple, finely detailed programs simultaneously (approximately 5-10 programs between 60-100 annually). This involves working regularly with major gift fundraisers and colleagues throughout the Division of College Advancement and across campus. The DEO serves as the program coordinator with responsibilities including oversight of timelines, budgetary and expense tracking, pre-program preparation and day-of execution, as well as post-program data collection to help measure and evaluate donor satisfaction and return on investment.
• Principal Gift and Major Gift Donor Strategies: Analyze motivations and interests of Dickinson's highest-rated donors and prospects and work with gift officers, the donor engagement team, and other campus partners to develop strategies that serve to create enjoyable and productive philanthropic partnerships between these donors and the college. Document strategies and support follow-up activity; manage personal calendar and timelines pertaining to related work.
• Donor Recognition Society Engagement and Special Events: The DEO supports special events and communications to engage and recognize donors who are members of the college's giving societies, namely John Dickinson Society, Mermaid Society, Old West Society and Founders' Society.
• Proposal Development, Impact Reporting and Acknowledgements: Serve as support for weekly donor gift acknowledgement process. Work with the DE team, divisional and campus partners to support the annual personalized donor endowment and current use gift impact reporting process using an online reporting platform. Support senior team leaders in the development of fundraising proposals for principal and major gift donors, which can include collaboration with cross-campus partners and consultants.

Department

Donor Engagement

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree – Liberal Arts

1-3 Years work experience

Candidates with a degree from a liberal-arts institution are encouraged to apply.

About Dickinson College

Known for its innovative curriculum, Dickinson is a highly selective, private liberal-arts college. One of the nation's oldest colleges, and named in honor of a signer of the U.S. Constitution, Dickinson became the first college chartered in the newly recognized United States in September 1783. Dickinson has just under 900 full and part-time employees - administrators, faculty and staff - and its 144-acre campus is populated by students from 43 U.S. states and territories and 40 foreign countries. More than half of students study abroad through the school's 50 programs in 24 countries on six continents. Dickinson is recognized as a leader among institutions committed to sustainability and green initiatives and is continually recognized by such groups as the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Sierra Club, Sustainable Endowments Institute, Princeton Review and Second Nature. Dickinson's stunning campus - featuring beautiful landscaping and buildings made of limestone - is located in the heart of the historic central Pennsylvania town of Carlisle, a key marker in Civil War activity. Founded in 1751, Carlisle, named a "most livable city" by Forbes, is a cosmopolitan town of 20,000 people, nestled between mountains that have long been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The Appalachian Trail and several mountain lakes are within easy reach of the campus, as are Hershey Park and historic Gettysburg. The town is a transportation hub linked by highway, rail and air to prominent East Coast cities, with driving times that make these cities readily accessible: Harrisburg, 20 minutes; Gettysburg, 30 minutes; Baltimore, 90 minutes; Washington, D.C., two hours; Philadelphia, two hours; New York, three hours; Pittsburgh, four hours. Dickinson takes pride in its campus wellness and professional development programs, offering an array of opportunities to faculty and staff.