Job Summary:

The Development Officer (DO) will be one of a team of nine major gifts officers responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift level prospective donors, defined as individuals capable of contributing $50,000 or more to the College of Science and Engineering (CSE). The DO will manage a portfolio of 100 - 125 prospects.  She/he will independently develop and execute strategies leading to solicitation of each of these prospects.  Based in the CSE Dean’s office, the position will be an externally focused field officer with 60 percent of work time spent out of the office qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors, potential donors, friends and alumni.

Additionally, the DO will play a key role in the management and guidance of the comprehensive CSE campaign, serving on one or more external relations committees.

Responsibilities:
Reporting to Principal Gift Officer for the College of Science and Engineering, the DO is primarily responsible for:

Major Gift Fundraising -80%

• Developing and maintaining a thorough working knowledge of CSE and individual academic departments’ vision and philanthropic priorities.
• Identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding prospects capable of giving in excess of $50,000.
• Building and maintaining a portfolio of 100 - 125 major gift prospects (primarily individuals, but may include some corporations and foundations,) to ensure that timely steps are taken toward solicitation, closure, and stewardship of major gifts of $50,000 or more.
• Developing and executing a solicitation strategy for each prospect in support of CSE’s campaign goals. 
• Executing 4 – 5 prospect contacts per week, which will include approximately 125 personal prospect visits per year and 30 additional substantive contacts and qualifying or disqualifying 25 or more new prospects per year.
• Soliciting 15 – 20 major gifts of $50,000 or more per year.
• Utilizing both current and planned gift opportunities to best meet donors’ needs, interests, and financial capabilities.
• Clearing and coordinating prospective donors through the University of Minnesota Foundation and following procedures to ensure effective contact/solicitation of the donors which maximizes the gift to the University and the donor's satisfaction with the institution.
• Partnering and collaborating with the University of Minnesota Foundation's services, as necessary.
• Completing timely and accurate reports utilizing the University of Minnesota Foundation’s Donor Management System, employing discretion while recording information of relevance to appropriate individuals.
• Collaborating with colleagues in CSE and across the University of Minnesota on donor strategies and maintaining timely, accurate reports and information.
• Traveling to key geographic areas as assigned and occasionally work evenings and weekends.

Collaborative Advancement Efforts -20%

• Playing a key role in the management and guidance of the comprehensive CSE campaign, serving on one or more staff management committees.
• In consultation with senior development officer members of the external relations team, working closely with one or more department heads and faculty in building the development program for assigned department(s).
• Encouraging the involvement of faculty in identifying and cultivating donors and soliciting gifts.
• Developing an annual plan of work, including specific fundraising, prospect development, and programmatic goals in consultation with the Assistant Dean for External Relations and for review by the University of Minnesota Foundation.
• Developing proposals and written materials in support of specific major gift fundraising initiatives.