Milestone Reunion Giving Officer

Position Summary

Hamilton College, a top-ranked liberal arts college distinguished by a strong tradition of philanthropy and lifelong alumni engagement, seeks a strategic and collaborative Milestone Reunion Giving Officer. This frontline fundraising role leads the College's milestone reunion giving efforts for classes celebrating their 46th–50th, 55th and 60th reunions, with a particular focus on building a strong pipeline of leadership and legacy support in advance of these milestone reunions.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Development, the Milestone Reunion Giving Officer will be a strategic program leader who coordinates with both class leadership and individual giving colleagues to ensure each class meets ambitious reunion gift goals. This role will coordinate overall class fundraising strategies and individual solicitation strategies for all prospects entering the milestone years, maximizing results and ensuring a seamless donor experience.

They will also manage a portfolio of alumni capable of making gifts of $100,000 and above, developing tailored strategies that align donors' philanthropic interests with institutional and class gift priorities. The role emphasizes securing significant multi-year and blended commitments, thoughtfully incorporating planned giving vehicles into donor conversations. This portfolio will be focused primarily on qualifying, cultivating and soliciting new, rated prospects in the run-up to these milestone reunion years.

Responsibilities

Lead fundraising strategy for the 46th–50th, 55th and 60th reunion cohorts, setting ambitious yet achievable goals for current and future support.

• Work with class and Advancement leadership to identify and lead unique fundraising programs tailored to maximize milestone giving for each class. These may include matches and challenges, tailored giving designations, targeted volunteer efforts, etc., identified and launched early in the milestone cycle.
• Manage the gift committees for the 46th-60thth classes, meeting overall, annual and planned giving goals.
• Collaborate with reunion volunteers to strengthen giving, participation, and legacy commitments.
• Ensure messaging resonates with this experienced alumni audience and clearly communicates the impact of estate and milestone gifts.

Work closely with the principal, major and leadership giving teams, including planned giving officers, to coordinate strategies for prospects in milestone years.

• Provide strategic guidance to colleagues managing milestone-year donors to elevate philanthropic outcomes.
• Partner with gift planning colleagues to structure blended and deferred commitments aligned with donors' financial and philanthropic goals.

Manage a portfolio of prospects who have the capacity to make six figure gifts. The focus of this portfolio is qualifying and developing prospects early in the milestone cycle, cultivating them to make major gifts to the 50th, 55th and/or 60th reunion effort.

• Successfully solicit major gifts to meet or exceed fundraising goals set annually.
• Represent the full range of activities at the College and be able to articulate its fundraising priorities.
• Evaluate various gift opportunities and giving vehicles and suggest the most suitable for individual donors.
• Make multiple significant contacts with each assigned prospect throughout the year and conduct personal visits at least annually.
• Maintain complete and timely records of contacts with donors and prospects.

In partnership with the Advancement Events and Promotions and Donor Relations teams, plan and execute cultivation and stewardship events for individuals and groups and represent the College at events on and off campus.

Work with Donor Relations to provide excellent stewardship to donors.

Using data analytics tools to track, analyze, and report on dollar growth and development.

Travel extensively, including with the president, senior staff, and campus partners.

Other duties as assigned

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Demonstrated direct fund-raising experience managing major gift prospects, with a track record of closing six figure gifts.
• Experience working with volunteers and reunion or class-based fundraising.
• Experience developing donor strategies.
• Familiarity with planned giving vehicles preferred.
• Experience partnering with gift planning professionals preferred.
• Higher education experience preferred, especially at a similar liberal arts college.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Demonstrated results-orientation and a strategic, problem-solving approach to challenges
• Ability to take initiative and be a self-starter
• Ability to work with colleagues effectively
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to make sound decisions
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask, paying close attention to detail while meeting deadlines
• High degree of proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google suite required
• Ability to learn new software and Advancement based databases.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully in a collaborative team environment
• Ability to work well within a fast-paced, high-volume environment
• Demonstrated commitment to personal growth and development is highly desirable
• Ability to work on evenings and weekends during on-campus alumni events.