Development Officer

About Ringling College

Mission Statement

Ringling College of Art and Design recognizes that artists and designers play a significant role in society. The College’s primary mission is to provide programs leading to degrees that prepare students to be discerning visual thinkers and ethical practitioners. Visual arts and creative professionals must understand diverse aspects of past and present cultures and develop their capacity for creative expression and effective communication.

 Ringling College of Art and Design strives to enroll both full and part-time students from diverse backgrounds who intend to become professionals in the creative and visual arts. Through its policies and practices, the College supports excellence in teaching and fosters the aesthetic, intellectual, professional, personal, and social development of its students. Academic programs and advising, career services, and an extensive co-curricular student life program prepare students for an art or design profession, or when appropriate, for continued studies on the graduate level. 

In addition to its degree program, Ringling College offers courses, lectures, exhibitions, and other art-related services to the local, national, and international communities through its museum, galleries, library, continuing education, and community service programs.

Through the efforts of its Board of Trustees, administrators, faculty, support staff, alumni, and friends, Ringling endeavors to provide the necessary resources, services, and environment to fulfill its institutional mission.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Strategic Philanthropy, the Development Officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding donors, including individuals, corporations and foundations, of gifts at all levels.  Under the direction of the AVP for Strategic Philanthropy, collaborates with staff, faculty, alumni, trustees, and volunteers to develop and implement initiatives and strategies for successful major gift solicitation.  He/she represents Ringling College of Art and Design in campus activities, community events and organizations that further the development of major gift and planned gift donors. This position requires sensitive interaction with a variety of internal and external contacts

The scope of the job requires travel as well as attendance at evening and/or weekend activities, events, meetings etc., and visits to donors in their homes and offices throughout the country.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Identify, research and qualify major prospective donors; ensures each major donor and prospect has a clear strategy and timeline for cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
2. Assist the AVP for Strategic Philanthropy in designing, directing and implementing short and long-term fundraising strategies.
3. Manage a portfolio of more than 100 organizational and individual gift prospects, making at least 20 personal calls each month as documented by contact reports.
4. Make discovery calls on behalf of the Advancement team and facilitate moving prospective donors through Moves Management process with the team.
5. Ensure that donors are appropriately recognized, communicated with and stewarded, and that gifts are used in accordance with donor wishes.
6. Collaborate with appropriate department team members to create and implement effective donor cultivation and recognition events, giving circles and publications.
7. Meet with the AVP for Strategic Philanthropy weekly to maintain complete understanding of the College’s fundraising needs and goals including capital projects, endowment, academic and student-life programs, memberships and annual funds.
8. Participate in the Weekly Prospect Roundtable meetings where prospect/donor progress is discussed amongst all field staff.
9. Participate and take leadership roles in community activities that provide contact with major donor prospects.
10. Represent the Office for Advancement at functions and meetings as assigned, working with prospects, donors, alumni and friends to strengthen their ties to the college.
11. Maintain professional competency in the field of higher-education development and planned giving through reading, professional contacts, attending courses and participating in organizations such as the Association for Fundraising Professionals
12. Participate as a fully productive member of the department staff by effectively communicating, collaborating to achieve goals, supporting and contributing to the efforts of others, adhering to the College’s procedures and policies and maintaining confidentiality.
13. Maintain knowledge of database system’s functionality and ability to input data necessary to effectively manage major gift donors and prospects cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities.
14. As required, conduct and manage tours of College campus.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Knowledge of the fundamentals of fundraising including prospect research, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
2. Ability to plan, implement, and manage multiple facets of a comprehensive annual, and major gift programs.
3. Demonstrated ability to adapt identification, cultivation, solicitation, recognition and stewardship programs for appropriate groups and key individuals.
4. Entrepreneurial and motivational abilities required.
5. Excellent communication, listening, and interpersonal skills.
6. Exceptional collaborative and team building skills.
7. Ability to work independently while meeting assigned performance metrics.
8. Skilled in developing budgets, action plans and schedules.
9. Excellent planning, organizational, problem solving and analytical skills.
10. Computer literate with working knowledge of PC software and some database management.
11. Professional enthusiasm to stay current with relevant professional information, trends and technology.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Minimum Qualification Requirement:  Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of successful professional fundraising experience, or a demonstrated comparably successful track record in a related career.