Job Abstract

Under the general direction of the Senior Director of Advancement and working with the entire division of Institutional Advancement and College administrators, the Leadership Gift Officer (LGO) plans, sets and realizes goals; manages time and staff resources; administers significant components of the major gift/planned giving program, including a potential comprehensive campaign; markets major gift and planned giving opportunities; identifies, cultivates and solicits major gifts; and provides stewardship of major and planned donors. The high-energy individual devotes significant time to travel to work with an assigned pool of prospects and to advance the College.

Essential Duties include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Funding Raising (75%)

• Identifies and cultivates major gift donors through direct proposals, personal solicitations and cultivation and stewardship activities. Manages 125+ major prospects;
• Develops and coordinates plan for major gift prospects;
• Develops a marketing plan to promote planned gift opportunities;
• Manages new and continuing planned gift prospects; travels to personally contact prospects;
• Oversees the day-to-day activities of the bequest and planned gift program, including the website updates, annuity and life insurance letters and other marketing materials;
• Maintenance of planned giving inventory; and development of Pergola Society activities and planned giving efforts.
• Supports the programs of the Hood Fund by working in tandem with the Senior Director of Advancement, Advancement Officer, and the Office of Alumni and Constituent Engagement on fundraising for Reunion classes to maximize reunion giving, class participation and planned giving opportunities.
• Works closely with campus leaders on a potential comprehensive campaign, with elements including a feasibility study, leadership briefings, stewardship and cultivation visits, developing proposals and drafting letters of intent, and executing pledge schedules.

Institutional Advancement and Community Relations (25%)

• Provides support for major projects as assigned and coordinates with the entire IA division; including marketing initiatives campus-wide, and other special campaigns.
• Works with Director of Government & Corporate Relations on community relationships, proposals and projects, as it pertains to major gifts
• Attends Prospect Review and Directors meetings and provides support as requested.

Qualifications

We seek a candidate who values diversity, equity and inclusion in all that they do. Candidates must have strong organizational skills and a proven ability to work collaboratively with partners across campus in support of Hood College’s mission as a student-centered, liberal arts institution.

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required with Master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of five years in major gift prospect identification, cultivation and solicitation preferably in an educational setting, or equivalent transferable skills from other professional fields; campaigning experience and a proven track record of closing major gifts; demonstrated knowledge of planned giving and estate planning concepts; knowledge of and concern for private higher education required.
• Effective data-analysis skills, ability to synthesize wealth-screening data including benchmarking individual solicitation efforts as well as tracking overall progress towards monetary and visit goals.
• Strong marketing and communications skills especially in message development to various segments, writing and design of fundraising appeals.
• Ability to lead within a collaborative, team-oriented environment that includes colleagues in the immediate division as well as cross-campus departments.
• Motivated, results-oriented team leader who will foster major and planned giving activity within a moves management system that supports the identification and development of prospects.

Preferred Skills and Characteristics

Technology Skills

Proficient in MS Office tools (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), e-mail and Internet. Ability to learn new applications quickly including organization-wide information systems and department-specific software applications (Millennium).

Language Skills

Outstanding oral and written communication skills. Ability to effectively provide information and positively respond to questions from both external and internal customers both in person and by phone. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and knowledgeably respond to questions from donors, alumni, top management, and members of the board of trustees.

Mathematical Skills

Proficient with statistical and financial concepts. Must have the ability to apply those concepts to tracking, projections, goal setting and interpreting reports. Must be able to draw conclusions from reports and make cost effective decisions regarding programs.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a number of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to work independently and as a member of a group in developing and executing project plans. Ability to work in theoretical arena and apply logic as appropriate.

Candidate must have the ability to devote significant time to travel; evening and weekend work is required.

To Apply

We invite qualified candidates to apply on-line via our electronic application which requires submission of a résumé and three professional references.

If you need assistance with the on-line application process, please email humanresources@hood.edu or call (301) 696-3592.

Hood College is committed to diversity in its faculty and staff and subscribes to a policy of hiring only individuals legally eligible to work in the United States. EOE/AAP/M/F/Vet/Disability Employer

Hood College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, religion, or age in recruitment, admission and access to, or treatment, or employment in its programs, services, benefits, or activities as required by applicable laws including Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and complies with the law regarding reasonable accommodation for disabled applicants and students. Inquiries about discrimination or reasonable accommodation should be referred to the Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator at Alumnae Hall, 401 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD. 21701 (AD 312), (301) 696-3592. For complete information on Hood College’s nondiscrimination policy, please visit http://www.hood.edu/non-discrimination/.