Major Gifts Officer presso Mitchell College

Mitchell College seeks a dedicated and dynamic Major Gifts Officer to join our advancement team. This position is pivotal in fostering relationships with prospective and current donors to secure significant philanthropic support aligned with the college’s mission of providing a transformative educational experience. The ideal candidate will possess a passion for higher education, strong interpersonal skills, and a proven track record in major gift fundraising. This position will be required to travel for donor visits and engagement activities. 

Key Responsibilities

Relationship Building:

• Develop and maintain meaningful relationships with major gift prospects and donors, fostering a connection to the college’s mission and vision.
• Engage with alumni, parents, and community members to cultivate long-term support for Mitchell College.

Donor Stewardship:

• Implement a comprehensive donor stewardship program to acknowledge and recognize contributions, ensuring donors feel appreciated and informed about the impact of their gifts.
• Regularly communicate with donors, updating college initiatives and funding priorities.

Prospect Identification and Research:

• Identify and research potential major gift prospects through various sources, including alumni databases, community engagement, and networking events.
• Maintain accurate records of prospects and current donors in the college’s CRM system.

Cultivation and Solicitation:

• Develop and execute tailored cultivation strategies for major gift prospects, including personalized communications and engagement opportunities.
• Prepare and present compelling proposals to solicit major gifts, aligning donor interests with college needs and priorities.

 Collaboration with Stakeholders:

• Work closely with the president, board members, and key stakeholders to align fundraising efforts with institutional goals and priorities.
• Collaborate with academic departments and program leaders to identify funding opportunities and ensure alignment with college initiatives.

 Reporting and Analysis:

•   Monitor and analyze fundraising metrics to assess the effectiveness of significant gift strategies and inform future approaches.
•   Provide regular reports to the president and advancement team on progress toward fundraising goals and donor engagement efforts.

Manage Donor Portfolio:

• Maintain a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, tracking interactions and progress toward solicitation and stewardship goals.
•   Develop and execute individualized engagement plans for each donor in the portfolio, ensuring timely follow-ups and personalized outreach.

 Qualifications

•  A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.
•  Minimum of 5 years of fundraising experience, focusing on major gifts.
• Proven ability to build relationships and communicate effectively with broad audiences.
•  Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
•  Campaign experience
•  Flexibility to occasionally work evenings or weekends for donor meetings and events.
• Proficiency in fundraising software, CRM systems, and basic technology.
•  Knowledge of higher education fundraising trends and best practices.
•  Deep understanding of fundraising principles and practices.
•  Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

 About the Institution

Founded in 1938, Mitchell College is a nonprofit four-year coeducational, residential college offering bachelor degrees and associate degrees. Mitchell developed its distinct educational approach over 85 years, blending a tradition of mentoring with an expertise in teaching diverse learning styles to create the innovative Mitchell Ability Model. Through a journey of self-discovery, learning adaptability, four-year career development, and mastery of essential abilities, students are challenged, supported and equipped for lifelong success. Mitchell is committed to the broader community through building strong, creative and cooperative partnerships. Located on a beautiful waterfront campus in historic New London, it is also home to championship NCAA Division III athletics and highly sought-after Living & Learning support programs including Thames at Mitchell College, the SAILS Program, and the renowned Bentsen Learning Center.

Institution’s EEO Statement

Mitchell College is an Affirmative Action-Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability and genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization or other non-merit factors.