Major Gifts Associate chez Columbus College of Art and Design

Major Gifts Associate

SUMMARY

The Major Gifts Associate plays a critical role in supporting the philanthropic growth of Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding emerging major gift prospects and by maintaining a portfolio of existing donors. The ideal candidate is a natural connector, adept at stepping into a room of strangers and finding common ground within CCAD's mission. Reporting to the Director of Major Gifts, this position focuses on donors with $25,000 and above gift capacity and serves as an entry point for donor prospects in their relationship to CCAD. The Major Gifts Associate will manage a portfolio of donors that includes new prospects and existing donors ready to be solicited for a major gift. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the mission of CCAD by building meaningful relationships and inviting donors to empower students, faculty, and the local creative community. The best candidate is authentic in their advocacy for the arts, for education, and for the needs of diverse young creatives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage relationships with donors and prospects within a dynamic portfolio of approximately 100-125 individuals. Qualify and cultivate new donors through proactive outreach and relationship-building strategies.
• Conduct discovery visits to identify donor interests and philanthropic capacity.
• Engage donors in discussions about gifts typically in the range of $10,000 to $100,000.
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans (in alignment with the department's strategic plans and guidelines).
• Collaborate with the Director of Major Gifts and VP for Institutional Engagement to strategize around non cash giving opportunities and to align donor goals with institutional priorities.
• Partner with the Annual Giving and Alumni Coordinator to engage annual donors as major gift prospects and alumni as donor prospects.
• Participate in donor stewardship and engagement events then follow up with attendees.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions using Raiser's Edge.
• Draft documents including proposals, agreements, and donor correspondence.
• Provide additional fundraising support which may include prospect research and donor analytics.
• Occasionally represent CCAD at internal and external events; attend targeted events to network with donors, prospects, and community partners; this may require out of state travel as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum of two years of experience in fundraising, development, or a related field with demonstrated success in customer or donor relations required; direct experience with major gifts preferred; development work within higher education or the arts preferred
• Experience with donor/customer relationship management software strongly desired; Raiser's Edge preferred
• Proficiency with administrative software programs required; Google Suite preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and successful experience in helping an organization meet its DEI goals
• Demonstrated success in making "cold calls" and securing new donors

DESIRED COMPETENCIES

• Initiative, optimism, and enthusiasm
• Self-direction and timely follow through
• Ability to understand the needs and interests of CCAD donors in order to foster relationships between donors and the college
• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities
• High level of professionalism and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information
• Availability for occasional evening/weekend events and travel by car and air
• Must have a valid drivers license and reliable vehicle for donor related travel (expenses reimbursed)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and hear
• The employee is required to finger, handle, feel, and reach with hands and arms
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, and kneel
• The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required to do this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
• Regular local travel by car and occasional distance travel by airplane is required

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This role is primarily an on-campus position with opportunity for some hybrid/remote work
• Work is primarily performed in a standard office environment with occasional exposure to outside weather conditions
• The noise level in the work environment is generally quiet to moderate
• Work is occasionally performed at events, coffee shops, and other external sites that may be crowded and noisy

About Columbus College of Art & Design Columbus College of Art & Design teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the midst of a thriving creative community in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1879, CCAD is one of the oldest private, nonprofit art and design colleges in the United States. CCAD offers nine BFA programs and a Master of Professional Studies in User Experience Design that produce graduates equipped to shape culture and business at the highest level. Additionally, CCAD offers year-round community art classes for children and adults of all ages, led by local creators and designers skilled in their craft. For more information, visit ccad.edu.

About Columbus:

As the 14th largest city in the country and the largest and fastest-growing city in Ohio, Columbus is collaborative, open, and dynamic. Between incredible arts and entertainment, exciting collegiate and professional sports, and a spectacular downtown riverfront of sprawling greenspace, Columbus has something for everyone. Here, you'll find all the culture and amenities you'd expect in a major city, with the friendly and approachable attitude of the Midwest. Franklin County, where Columbus is located, is the epicenter of the state's political, economic, and social presence and is home to 1.3 million residents with a median age of 34. Columbus is a top city for equality and was the recipient of a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign in 2020. And central Ohio is serious about higher education: the Columbus region is home to 52 college and university campuses, with 22,000 annual college graduates. Because CCAD is closely tied to the city's numerous art and design spaces and ever-expanding districts, you'll have plenty of places to experience creativity and showcase your own.

EEO Statement

Columbus College of Art & Design ("CCAD") is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based on an individual's race, color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. CCAD is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy regarding all aspects of employment.