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Leadership Annual Giving Officer



Welcome to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) … a world unlike any other. We combine learning, research, creativity, service and discovery with a commitment to inclusive excellence. Ranked by U.S. News as one of the 30 “most innovative” public universities in the country, VCU is a premier, urban, public research university home to multiple nationally ranked programs. Here, your success is supported, and your career can thrive. VCU offers a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay and mission-driven work. We advance a conscientious drive to support a climate where excellence and success for all people are valued and differences are celebrated. Together, we can be unstoppable.

The Leadership Annual Giving Officer works directly with Development and Alumni Relations colleagues to achieve Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) fundraising goals by soliciting and securing individual gifts primarily up to $50,000. Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Leadership Annual GIving (with a secondary reporting line to the LDO of assigned College, School or Unit), the Leadership Annual Giving Officer works in close collaboration and communication with assigned development team to elevate and expand the caliber of annual giving activity within and outside of Richmond, Virginia. The Leadership Annual Giving Officer will execute an annual strategy to increase leadership annual giving support for CSU through direct contact, alumni engagement programming, and meaningful volunteer opportunities.

This is a pooled posting for the following opportunities:
- Leadership Annual Giving Officer for VCUarts
- Leadership Annual Giving Officer for School of Business and College of Engineering

Interested applicants are required to submit a cover letter identifying the role or roles they are interested in and include an order of preference. Hiring preference will be given to current VCU employees impacted by VCU’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations’ campaign reorganization, then to other current VCU employees. The deadline for current VCU employees to apply is June 16, 2023.

Primary responsibilities:
- Manage a core portfolio of 150 - 200 prospects and donors with giving capacity up to $50,000 by conducting acquisition and renewal strategies, planning and implementing strategic travel and cultivation, solicitation and stewardship;
- Identify, qualify, and engage an additional discovery pool of annual giving prospects identified in partnership with the prospect development team; successfully move discovery prospects into core portfolio for ongoing management;
- Successfully secure a high number of quality engagement interactions with prospects through personal visits. This includes engagement on several platforms including but not limited to virtual visits, in-person travel, phone calls and correspondence in order to obtain and/or increase donor contributions;
- Collaborate with Lead Development Officers, Major Gift Officers, Senior Assistant Vice President for Development, Deans, Faculty and other academic leaders to set short and long-term donor-centric strategies and develop plans for advancing each prospect’s meaningful passions to the university;
- Create and develop awareness about VCU with prospective donors;
Steward relationships with donors and provide opportunities for them to stay connected to the supported (or affiliated) college, school or unit (CSU) and VCU;
- Demonstrate accountability to metrics and conduct all fundraising activity with an attentive focus on prospect visits, contacts, solicitations and dollar goals, which will be determined and evaluated annually;
- Provide assistance to donors regarding ways to give to VCU referring, as needed, all questions about tax laws, policies and procedures to the appropriate office within DAR or the university; and in resolving problems with university administrators and faculty in order to maintain a positive image of VCU;
- Track all portfolio activity and progress in the donor database (RADAR) and create reports of portfolio activity and performance;
- Provide assistance with donor and gift intent data integrity to Gifts and Records Management, when issues of clarification arise; share and update changes of contact information and biographical records.
- Play a key role in Giving Day activities, including contact with, and solicitation of, CSU-based unassigned contacts.

As a team member, you will:
- Demonstrate appreciation for the mission and aspirations of VCU and VCU Health
- Display a strong commitment to organizational success and delivering on individual responsibilities as a university citizen
- Demonstrate a commitment to the pursuit of excellence, high achievement and ongoing professional development by proactively seeking opportunities to develop new capabilities, skills, and knowledge
- Establish, cultivate and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal partners
- Demonstrate a commitment to the highest quality service to internal and external communities
- Demonstrate an open-minded approach to understanding people from all backgrounds, identities, abilities, perspectives and experiences
- Ensure work is completed accurately and within deadline. Set high standards, exhibit a positive attitude, maintain strict confidentiality, and show exemplary work ethic.
- Reflect DAR’s and VCU’s core purpose and values

Minimum hiring standards:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent training and work experience
- One to two years experience working in a sales or fundraising-related setting
- A strong command of fundraising principles and a familiarity with the objectives of annual and unrestricted-gift fundraising
- A self-starter who can work effectively as a team member and independently
- Ability to draw correlations between engagement and giving levels then make appropriate solicitation
- An outgoing and positive personality, strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style
- Proven ability to motivate, engage, solicit and steward a range of prospects
- Organized and detail-oriented with proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced and goal-oriented environment
- Must be willing to travel via automobile as part of duties
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

Preferred hiring standards:
- Professional fundraising experience in a higher education or nonprofit setting
- Experience with CRM and fundraising databases
- Demonstrated experience in facilitating annual fund, direct gift solicitation and closure rate of gifts up to $50,000
- Working knowledge of tax laws affecting charitable giving

Position Details:
Department: Development and Alumni Relations
VCU Job Title: Sr. Gift Officer, Development (15224)
Salary Range: Commensurate with experience, up to $60,000
Employment Type: University and Academic Professional
ORP Eligible: No
Hybrid Work Available: Yes; Must be within commuting distance to Richmond, VA and available to come into the office when needed.
Restricted Status: N/A
FTE: 1.0
Exemption Status: Exempt
Reports to: Executive Director for Leadership Annual Giving

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Izzy Kane
Contact Email: irkane@vcu.edu

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