Leadership Gift Officer at Cushing Academy

Description

Cushing Academy seeks a dynamic and experienced Leadership Gift Officer to join our advancement team and play a pivotal role in securing leadership gifts that will advance the Academy's strategic priorities. This position is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding leadership-level donors (annual, major and planned giving) while building meaningful relationships that support Cushing's mission of preparing students for success in college and life.

Key Responsibilities

Donor Relations & Fundraising

• Manage a portfolio of 100-150 leadership gift prospects and donors, including alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends of the Academy
• Develop and execute comprehensive cultivation strategies for assigned prospects
• Conduct 120-150+ face-to-face meetings that lead to leadership level solicitations for gifts of $50,000+ and Annual Fund leadership gifts ($1,865+) 
• Collaborate with the Head of School, Director of Advancement and other senior leaders on high-priority prospects
• Plan and execute donor visits, events, and stewardship activities
• Achieve annual fundraising goals as established by the Director of Advancement

Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong, authentic relationships with key stakeholders
• Serve as primary liaison between donors and the Academy community
• Coordinate donor engagement with faculty, coaches, and students when appropriate
• Ensure timely and meaningful donor recognition and stewardship
• Maintain detailed records of all donor interactions in the Academy's database

Strategic Planning & Research

• Conduct prospect research to identify new leadership gift prospects
• Develop comprehensive profiles and strategies for assigned prospects
• Collaborate with advancement colleagues to align fundraising efforts with institutional priorities
• Participate in campaign planning and execution as needed
• Analyze giving patterns and provide insights to inform fundraising strategy

Event Support & Communications

• Support advancement events including Alumni Weekend, Family Weekend, donor appreciation events, and      special programs
• Assist in creating compelling case materials and donor communications
• Represent Cushing Academy at external events and networking opportunities
• Collaborate with the marketing and communications team on donor-focused content

Requirements

Required

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in fundraising, preferably in education
• Demonstrated success in securing leadership gifts
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to build relationships with diverse constituencies
• Experience with donor database management (Raiser's Edge preferred)
• Willingness to travel regionally and work some evenings and weekends

Preferred

• Experience in an independent school or higher education advancement
• Knowledge of planned giving concepts
• Previous experience with capital campaigns
• Familiarity with the independent school community

Personal Attributes

• High level of professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality
• Self-motivated with strong organizational and time management skills
• Collaborative team player with the ability to work independently
• Enthusiasm for Cushing Academy's mission and values
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Cultural competency and appreciation for diversity

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Frequent travel (by car, train, and air) to meet with donors and attend events, sometimes requiring overnight stays.
• Ability to attend 120–150+ in-person meetings annually, involving walking, standing, and navigating various indoor/outdoor venues.
• Must be able to occasionally lift and carry materials for donor visits or events (up to 25 lbs).
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends to accommodate donor schedules and support Academy events.

Work Environment

• Professional office setting with regular interaction via phone, email, and video conferencing.
• Frequent off-site meetings in varied environments (homes, offices, restaurants, conference centers, event spaces).
• Attendance at on-campus events that may involve both indoor and outdoor conditions.
• Fast-paced, goal-driven environment requiring adaptability and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Collaboration with colleagues, volunteers, faculty, alumni, parents, and external partners in diverse settings.