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We in Boston University Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) harness the power of philanthropy to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance BU’s global leadership in research, scholarship, and professional practice. To support our work, we have built—and are continuing to build—an outstanding team of dynamic, mission-driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs. Where it’s not just a job, but a career and a community.

Now, our Alumni & Development Office at the Wheelock College of Education and Human Development is looking for a Major Gifts Officer who will help develop and execute the fundraising strategy of major gifts.

Development & Alumni Relations, Wheelock College of Education and Human Development at Boston University

The Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) Office at the Wheelock College of Education and Human Development is responsible for engaging and connecting with the over 31,000 alumni around the world and raising money to advance the college’s Guide Star: to transform the systems that impact learning and human development for a thriving, sustainable, and just future in Boston and beyond. The Wheelock DAR team aims to engage constituents in committing their time, talent, and treasure to the college. The Major Gift Officer is key to the strategic identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of our donors and will prioritize building a donor pipeline for the college. At Wheelock, the faculty, alumni, and students are changing society through action – locally, nationally, and globally. Education, research, mentorship, community building, and policy are focus areas of the college. College-based centers of excellence include the Wheelock Education Policy Center, the Institute for Early Childhood Well-Being, the Earl Center for Learning and Innovation, the National Center on Improving Literacy, and the Center on the Ecology of Early Development.

Major Gifts Officer, Wheelock College of Education and Human Development

Reporting to Assistant Dean, Development & Alumni Relations, the Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is a key leader in the Wheelock College effort to secure multi-year commitments of $100K+, planned, and annual gifts for the College’s priorities. The MGO must collaborate with and convene other Development & Alumni Relations stakeholders as well as Wheelock colleagues to ensure a coordinated and thoughtful approach to all activities meant to engage the College’s leading prospects and donors.

The MGO will be responsible for establishing their own prospect and donor portfolio, and will have ambitious goals for prospect discovery, solicitations, and gift closures. The focus in the first 18 months will be on portfolio building and solicitations. Additionally, the MGO will be asked to manage active leadership annual fund donors with the explicit goal of qualifying them for major gifts or higher-level annual and multi-year gifts.

Responsibilities :

· Direct solicitation of major gifts at the $100,000+ level and leadership annual gifts. Responsible for all phases of engagement and cultivation processes and includes regular travel to domestic regions as determined by the Assistant Dean. Targeted goal of 10-12 visits a month and a dollar goal as determined by the Assistant Dean in the first 18 months.

· Collaborate with Development & Alumni Relations colleagues to devise specific strategies and timetables for the successful solicitation of individuals with a goal of maximizing their philanthropy to Boston University. Remain informed on Boston University and Wheelock College strategic priorities and greater content generally. Integrate Alumni Engagement activities as an essential component of the overall development strategy.

· Coordinate and orchestrate prospect strategies with the appropriate College and University leadership and work in tandem to assure the highest and best use of time, budget, and personnel.

· Partner with the Assistant Dean on special projects including, but not limited to, fundraising in support of the College’s centers and research initiatives, and developing and executing on the formation of volunteer leadership engagement opportunities.

Required Skills

Qualifications :

· Bachelor’s degree, advanced degree preferred

· 5+ years of directly related experience, higher education development preferred

· Highly self-motivated and metrics-focused

· Outstanding track record of building and developing donor relationships

· Strong understanding of development and philanthropy

· Effective experience in enlisting and interacting with senior level leadership volunteers and committees, both internally and externally

· Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills

· Superb judgment and the sensibility to adjudicate wisely among competing priorities

· A disposition to listen and circulate widely

· Outstanding interpersonal skills

· Deep understanding of the role a fundraiser plays in being the conduit for the donor

· Demonstrated commitment and passion for education and human development preferred

But that’s not all we’re looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:

· Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect, because we value every member’s contributions and know that leadership can come from anywhere.

· Diversity, equity, inclusion, and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here.

· Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another.

· Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results.

· Continuous growth and improvement, both as individuals and as a team.

· Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter.

If this resonates with you and you want to help us in our ambitious next campaign—and maybe do some of your best work as an advancement professional— we encourage you to apply. If you are hesitant to apply because you have not previously performed every responsibility listed in the description, but you do possess transferable skills and the defined qualifications, we still want to hear from you and welcome your application as well.

To learn more about Development & Alumni Relations at Boston University, and other job opportunities, please stop by the DAR Talent website: https://www.bu.edu/dar-talent/ .

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796.

Required Experience