"Major Gift Officer"

The Major Gift Officer advances Aurora University's mission by building meaningful relationships with alumni, parents, and friends to secure major gifts of $25,000 and up. Managing a dynamic portfolio of current and prospective donors, the officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding philanthropic partnerships in support for student success, academic programs, and university priorities. The Major Gift Officer reports to the Director of Prospect Management and collaborates closely with colleagues across the Advancement team.

The ideal candidate is a strategic relationship-builder who thrives in a goal-oriented environment and is energized by the opportunity to help shape the future of a student-centered, Hispanic-Serving Institution with deep regional roots and growing relevance.

Evening and weekend commitments, along with travel approximately 25% of the time, are required to cultivate key relationships and represent the university at signature events.

Core Competencies:

1. Represents Aurora University in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers and the community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students and other customers of our service, learns and uses operating practices of the department and Aurora University.
2. Upholds the Mission Statement: At Aurora University, our singular goal is to empower students to achieve lasting personal and professional success. We do this by being an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. As a teaching-centered institution, we encourage undergraduate and graduate students to discover what it takes to build meaningful and purposeful lives.
3. Handles all information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of university business.
4. Supports learning through performance of essential job functions and performing other duties and functions as necessary or as assigned, including voluntary participation in university committees, activities and events.

• Manage a dynamic portfolio of prospects, with a primary focus on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts of $25,000 and up.
• Conduct regular, meaningful donor interactions through in-person visits, phone/video meetings, and strategic touchpoints that advance relationships and support fundraising goals.
• Develop tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies for each prospect, including the creation of briefing materials, proposals, and customized engagement plans.
• Collaborate with Advancement colleagues, academic leaders, and campus partners to align donor interests with university priorities and ensure effective stewardship.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, strategies, and proposals in the Advancement CRM system.
• Represent the university at donor events and campus activities. Occasional evening, weekend, and travel commitments are required.

Education & Experience:

Bachelor's degree required and at least three-years of demonstrated successful fundraising experience with individual donors, preferably in an academic environment, or closely aligned professional experience.

Aurora University (AU) is committed to the transformative power of learning by creating a student-centered environment and an equity of experience and opportunity, to ensure that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome and included. Our culture of collaboration, generosity, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff. AU is grounded in the transformative opportunity it provides to a diverse student body. As a private university with a public mission and a commitment to making a difference in peoples’ lives, AU has a long history of resilience and of providing access to an education that values innovation, focuses on continuous improvement, and has a positive impact on the communities we serve. We are proud of our service to and economic impact on the state of Illinois, where over 80% of our students stay to live and work, where 90% of our students come from, and where we foster strong community partnerships to develop the workforce in areas such as nursing, education, business, technology, and social work. We are looking for passionate and purposeful individuals who represent the full diversity of Aurora and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, identity, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at AU, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative, and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice requiring broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and community partners.