"Gift Officer, Athletics Fundraising"

Accountabilities:

The Athletic Fundraising and Engagement department is seeking a Gift Officer to play an integral role in driving significant philanthropic support for Colgate Athletics on both an annual and ongoing basis. This role is responsible for cultivating and securing gifts from a portfolio made up of mostly Leadership Gift prospects as well as some Major Gift prospects focused on meeting annual goals associated with our 25 varsity programs and our Colgate Athletics Fund.

The successful candidate will possess strong communication and customer service skills and demonstrate a strong understanding and proven track record of success in fundraising and/or sales, preferably in a higher education setting.

This is a frontline fundraising position whose primary responsibility is to secure support on an annual and ongoing basis for our individual varsity teams as well as Colgate Athletics overall. This role will require extensive travel to cultivate and solicit prospects. Accountable for effectively developing and maintaining relationships with key leadership gift (and prospective leadership gift) constituents as assigned. Ensures effective qualification, identification, cultivation, and stewardship of constituents, including face to face, quality visits with assigned prospects. Responsible for increasing levels of annual and long-term engagement and giving within assigned constituents. Accountable for positively representing all aspects of the University at all times.

Professional Experience/Qualifications:

• Three or more years of experience in higher education fundraising, sales, non-profits, or related fields with a preference for experience in educational and/or athletics fundraising.
• The professionalism, insight and sound judgment necessary for interacting with alumni, trustees, administrative and academic leadership, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to collaborate closely with colleagues in advancement and across departments.
• Proficiency in CRMs and/or databases is required. Experience with Blackbaud products appreciated.
• Strategic, organized, enthusiastic, team player.
• Participating in the life of the University, including staffing Colgate's annual Reunion weekend is a requirement of the position.
• This position requires the ability to travel extensively to engage with and solicit prospects.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preference for experience in higher education/athletics fundraising Preference for frontline fundraising experience, including demonstrated ability to close gifts.
• Previous annual fund/alumni relations, sales or marketing experience in a university setting is preferred.

Education:

A minimum of a Bachelor's degree is required.

EEO Statement:

The University recognizes that equal employment opportunity can only be achieved through demonstrated leadership. It is the Policy of the University to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and train employees on the basis of skills and experience, capacity to do the job, and valid job qualifications without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.