"Principal Gifts Officer"

Job Details

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The Principal Gifts Officer within the Office of Advancement reports directly to the Vice President for Advancement. This role is primarily responsible for nurturing top donor prospects, securing the institution's largest gifts (typically in the $1M-$10M range) and leading collaborative fundraising efforts across Lewis & Clark’s three schools. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in cultivating and soliciting significant philanthropic investments, strong relationship-building skills, and a strategic, donor-centered approach to advancement. To be successful in this position, the individual must excel at managing complex donor relationships, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, and aligning donor interests with institutional priorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Principal Gift Strategy and Fundraising Execution

• Lead strategy and execution for securing philanthropic investments of $1M and above in alignment with institutional priorities.
• Manage a portfolio of 50–60 principal gift-level donors and prospects, including influential volunteers and community partners.
• Evaluate and recommend tailored giving opportunities, including complex gift structures, to maximize donor impact.
• Coordinate cultivation and solicitation efforts, serving as the primary relationship manager for top-tier donors.

Donor and Prospect Engagement

• Develop individualized engagement strategies for high-capacity prospects in collaboration with academic and administrative leaders.
• Facilitate meaningful connections between donors and campus representatives to deepen engagement and inspire investment.
• Prepare proposals, donor agreements, and stewardship materials in collaboration with the Donor Relations and Stewardship team.
• Promote positive, long-term relationships through ongoing communication and personalized stewardship experiences.

Cross-Campus Collaboration

• Partner with leadership from the College of Arts and Sciences, Law School, and Graduate School to identify fundraising priorities and shared prospects.
• Serve as a strategic advisor on campaign initiatives, ensuring alignment across institutional stakeholders.
• Facilitate collaboration between academic deans, faculty, and Advancement staff to implement integrated engagement strategies.
• Participate in institutional planning related to fundraising goals, donor messaging, and high-level volunteer involvement.

Leadership Volunteer Management

• Support and guide senior-level volunteers in their efforts to engage and solicit principal gift prospects.
• Leverage networks of alumni, trustees, and volunteers to open doors to new philanthropic opportunities.
• Provide leadership in planning and executing volunteer-led donor engagement initiatives tied to campaign goals.

Data Management and Reporting

• Track donor engagement and solicitation progress using Slate, the advancement database.
• Document prospect interactions, prepare briefing materials, and ensure data accuracy in accordance with prospect management protocols.
• Monitor progress toward individual and campaign fundraising goals, providing regular reports to the Vice President.
• Align travel and outreach plans with data-informed strategies to optimize engagement and giving outcomes.

Other Duties as Assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, & BEHAVIORS

• Proficient in developing and executing complex philanthropic strategies for high-level donors and prospects
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills with influential individuals and stakeholders
• Superior communication skills, both written and verbal, tailored to executive-level audiences
• Extremely organized with strong project management and coordination skills across multiple departments
• Proficient in using Slate or similar advancement or customer relationship management (CRM) systems
• Experienced in drafting compelling proposals, briefings, and personalized donor materials
• Highly skilled at exercising discretion and maintaining confidentiality in donor and institutional matters
• Strong analytical and evaluative thinking for aligning donor interests with institutional priorities
• Proficient in interpreting and presenting data to inform strategic decisions and fundraising outcomes
• Demonstrates professional integrity, persistence, and resilience in long-cycle donor engagement
• Committed to promoting a welcoming and respectful environment for colleagues, donors, and partners from all backgrounds
• Confident in working independently while also fostering collaboration across teams
• Responsive, proactive, and consistent in follow-through and stakeholder communication
• Open to feedback, growth-oriented, and aligned with organizational mission and goals

REQUIRED EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• Ten years of experience in face-to-face fundraising, business, corporate development, foundations, or grants; or a combination of relevant education and experience totaling at least fourteen years
• Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major individual and institutional donors for gifts of $1M or more

PREFERRED EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in a related field
• Experience with campaign planning and implementation
• Experience with complex philanthropic gift structures and strategies
• Corporate foundation, corporate relations, or nonprofit development experience
• Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major individual and institutional donors for gifts of $5M or more
• Experience working in higher education settings
• Preferred Tech: Slate, PGCalc

WORK SCHEDULE

• Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
• Schedule: 37.5 hours per week; occasional evening and weekend event attendance required
• Benefit Eligible: Yes
• Travel: Frequent travel required for donor engagement and events
• Hybrid/Remote: Hybrid schedule available in alignment with department guidelines and travel responsibilities

PAY RATE

• FLSA Status: Exempt
• $125k annually