Job Summary

As a senior fundraising professional, the Senior Development Officer, Major Gifts develops, executes and evaluates major gift fundraising opportunities for diverse university-wide funding objectives and priorities that are designed to maximize long-term financial support for the institution.

Reporting to the Director, Individual Giving (Interim), the incumbent manages a diverse portfolio of sophisticated and critical donor relationships among the University’s most generous donors. They also nurture and develop sustainable long-term relationships with select private sector businesses, corporations and foundations to maximize support to Queen’s University by aligning the strengths of Queen’s priorities and programs with the interests and needs of the corporate and foundation communities. The incumbent will be a recognized leader in the department, providing high level strategic expertise to other Development colleagues within the department, as well as senior university administrators.

This position requires travel within and outside Canada. Work on evenings and weekends is also often required.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Nurtures and develops sustainable long-term relationships that will result in the highest level of philanthropic support for the university.
• Identifies, evaluates, cultivates, solicits, stewards and ultimately manages a portfolio of sophisticated and critical donors and prospects, with a primary focus on securing major gifts of $50,000+.
• Develops and maintains an in-depth knowledge of university activities, funding priorities and needs. Applies this knowledge in matching the interests and needs of prospective donors with the strategic needs of the university.
• Works in conjunction with the Director to develop major gift solicitation strategies, gift opportunities, and executes plans as required to meet objectives. Develops short-term and multi-year plans and strategies with precise deadlines, executes the plan, and negotiates as required to accomplish priorities and objectives.
• Meets with the Director on a regular basis to review progress against annual goals and prospect strategy development. In consideration of progress to date, takes a lead role in identifying and implementing further opportunities and strategies that may have arisen to ensure annual goals will be met.
• Analyzes data and prepares written materials including case statements, tailored proposals, correspondence, briefing notes, progress reports, gift agreements, stewardship reports, accountability reports on behalf of university leaders. Ensures all necessary constituents are involved in key efforts focused on specific prospects.
• Develops measurements for timely evaluation of program performance and forecasting. Analyzes data, tracks activity and prepares reports, including up-to-date prospect pipeline and active proposal evaluations required to formulate, execute, evaluate and benchmark strategic and priority-driven plans.
• Understands the emerging trends of philanthropic giving; analyzes, executes and benchmarks market research in order to build strong expertise in the attitudes, perceptions and behaviours of prospective donors that can be leveraged to encourage them to support the university through volunteer and financial contributions.
• Collaborates with colleagues based in partner faculties on donor strategy.
• Collaborates with the Vice-Principal (Advancement), Associate Vice-Principal (Development), Executive Directors, and the Gift Planning Office to develop sophisticated gift requests that would include both deferred and current gift considerations.
• Collaborates with Donor Experience to establish timely and appropriate stewardship plans, ensuring gifts are handled and recognized according to sound Advancement practices.
• Motivates, organizes and gains commitment from a broad range of influential volunteers and university senior administrators who will assist in securing philanthropic commitments.
• Communicates regularly with other staff members in the Office of Advancement to coordinate supporting activities and expertise related to the management of prospects, and to stay abreast of any relevant developments and/or legislation that may assist in maximizing philanthropic revenue.
• Undertakes other duties as assigned in support of the unit and/or department.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• University degree.
• Minimum five years of relevant, successful experience in fundraising, with a focus on principal and major giving, preferably in a university setting.
• Demonstrated success in the identification, evaluation, cultivation, stewardship and direct personal solicitation of major gifts, preferably at the $100,000+ level.
• Experience working as part of a campaign effort managing a portfolio of prospects.
• Demonstrated knowledge of diverse giving vehicles, as well as a demonstrated understanding of family wealth management and integrated gift strategies.
• Proven track record in developing strategic fundraising plans and meeting the objectives of these plans.
• Proven successful experience in program analysis, tracking and reporting results, using dashboards and data visualization tools.
• Proven skill in recruiting, supervising and motivating diverse volunteers to achieve shared priorities.
• Knowledge of the Canadian philanthropic environment and supporting legislation, understanding of philanthropic trends in the higher education sector.
• Valid G-Class driver’s license and passport with no travel restrictions is required.
• Satisfactory Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check required.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Review full job description, knowledge, and skills online.