Development Officer or Sr. Development Officer

Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a diverse, energetic liberal arts community where critical thinking and practical idealism go hand in hand.

Position Details
The Office of Advancement builds lifelong relationships with alumni, parents, and friends, and engages them in support of Wesleyan’s educational mission and financial goals. The office is conveniently located between Boston and NYC .

The Advancement team is a high-spirited, collaborative, team-oriented group that is fueled by university priorities. Wesleyan is in the quiet/leadership phase of a comprehensive fundraising campaign.

The major gift team is looking to grow and is open to a range of possibilities; hiring at the Development or Senior Development Officer level based on experience. We recognize that individuals have diverse life experiences and trajectories and transferrable skills that may qualify them for this role.

Reporting to the Director of Major Gifts, this position is responsible for major gift fundraising, including soliciting and closing philanthropic gifts from donors utilizing industry best practices and standards.

Responsibilities include:

• Actively managing approximately 150 assigned prospects.
• Developing proposals and strategies to solicit gifts at the $100k level and above.
• Cultivating relationships with assigned prospects and soliciting and securing $100k and above major gift level commitments.
• Partnering with university leadership, colleagues, and volunteers in fundraising strategies as appropriate, including arranging visits and drafting correspondence.
• Soliciting multi-year campaign commitments while achieving annual gift income goals.
• Developing reunion gift strategies for assigned prospects and collaborating with colleagues and volunteers.
• Working closely with Principal Gifts on assigned prospects with connections to the President.
• Developing and managing gift strategies and proposals in coordination with other gift officers, gift planning, and annual and reunion giving.
• Employing prospect management best practices to advise actions, strategies, and maximizing fundraising effectiveness.
• Traveling (nationally and regionally) frequently to meet with prospects and to represent the university at regional events.
• Participating along with alumni and parent relations in developing engagement strategies for assigned regions to identify hosts, speakers and event attendees.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree and at least 3 years of progressively responsible fundraising, sales, admission or other similar experience in a related field or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Demonstrated ability to engage individuals and articulate needs, while exercising discretion and maintaining confidentiality.
Proven ability to engage and interact effectively with diverse constituents, build effective relationships and serve as an ambassador.
Proven ability to work collaboratively and independently.
Effective communication skills.
Intermediate Microsoft Office Skills and video conferencing platforms.
Strong planning and organizational skills; along with the ability to multi-task, plan and organize meetings.
Ability to travel regionally and nationally for approximately 40-50 days annually (approximately one week every month.)
Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and holidays as needed.
Valid driver’s license.
Demonstrated commitment to work within a diverse environment and interact openly with individuals of different backgrounds. Additional minimum requirement for consideration at the Senior Development Officer level:
Bachelor’s Degree and at least 6 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience or similar experience in a related field or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Proven experience as an effective fundraiser with effective closing skills and a persuasive ability to encourage philanthropy.
Working knowledge of fundraising gift vehicles, gift planning and fundraising cycles.
Proven experience soliciting, negotiating, and closing $100k gifts and above.
Comprehensive campaign experience.
Record of successful collaboration with volunteers and internal and external leadership and senior administrative officers.
Experience with donor database, CRM or other similar systems.
A pattern of working with internal and external leadership on specific prospect cases.
Experience with frequent travel and a track record of organizing visits and other activity around travel.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with not-for-profit organizations. Experience working with volunteers
Special Instructions to Applicants
The position is open until filled. For full consideration please apply by July 17, 2022, when first review of applications will begin.
Additional Information
Any and all offers to external applicants are contingent on the candidate’s completion of a pre-employment background check screening to the satisfaction of Wesleyan University.

Wesleyan requires all employees to be vaccinated against Covid 19 unless they meet the criteria for a medical or religious exemption. New employees must be vaccinated prior to their start date. If an employee needs an exemption for medical or religious reasons, they must submit a request to Wesleyan and be approved before their start date

Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record. We welcome applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups. Inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504, or any other non-discrimination policies should be directed to: Alison Williams, Vice President for Equity & Inclusion/ Title IX Officer, 860-685-3927, awilliams@wesleyan.edu.