Position Summary: This position supports the Advancement Office by identifying, researching, and cultivating funding opportunities that advance the mission of the institution. This position is responsible for managing the grant lifecycle, conducting donor and prospect research, maintaining accurate constituent records, assisting with stewardship reporting, and supporting strategic fundraising initiatives. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, an excellent writer, and passionate about advancing Christian higher education through philanthropy.
Preference will be given to alumni of Warner University and individuals who have an exceptionally close connection to the institution and/or community. The successful candidate will both understand and value the cultural role of evangelical Christian higher education, and he or she will understand the importance of Warner University in central Florida and beyond. The candidate must affirm and support the University’s official Statement of Faith. The selected candidate must be energetic about the University’s goal of distinguishing itself in the higher-education industry through commitment to historic biblical values.
Responsibilities:
- Research and identify foundation, corporate, government, and private grant opportunities aligned with institutional priorities.
- Develop and maintain an annual grants calendar with application deadlines, reporting requirements, and stewardship activities.
- Write, edit, and coordinate compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, budgets, and supporting documentation.
- Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators to gather program information, budgets, outcomes, and evaluation data.
- Prepare timely grant reports and stewardship updates demonstrating donor impact and compliance with grant requirements.
- Monitor grant expenditures and coordinate with the Business Office to ensure compliance with grant restrictions.
- Conduct prospect research on individuals, foundations, corporations, and organizations to identify new funding opportunities.
- Prepare donor profiles, briefing materials, and prospect summaries for the President and Vice President for Advancement.
- Analyze giving history, wealth indicators, philanthropic interests, and engagement opportunities.
- Assist in identifying prospective major gift, planned giving, and annual fund donors.
- Support Advancement with regard to scholarship stewardship, endowment acknowledgments letters, Board of Trustee meetings, and engagement with donors and prospects.
- Support the team by performing tasks related to organization and strong communication.
- Assist with advancement projects as needed.
Qualifications
- Associate degree in a related field (bachelor’s degree preferred)
- The ability to locate and utilize relevant data
- Commitment to and an understanding of utilizing and providing clean and accurate data
- Minimum 2 years relevant professional experience in a similar position while demonstrating responsibility for data entry, database management, and gift processing
- Experience using reporting tools to research and produce reports as requested
- Experience accepting and recording gifts in a similar not-for-profit organization
- Experience utilizing Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge or Raiser’s Edge NXT or comparable database tool
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including a professional telephone manner
- Demonstrated experience in professionally handling sensitive and confidential information
Procedure:
Candidates must submit the following:
- Letter of Interest
- Resume
- Faith Statement that contains both a personal testimony and a thoughtful response to each paragraph of the University’s official Statement of Faith: (https://warner.edu/the-university/who-we-are/full-statement-of-faith/)
- Name, title, and contact information for 3-5 professional references
Applications will not be reviewed unless all requested materials are submitted.
Applications are being accepted and will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.
Preferably, the chosen candidate would start in September 2026. Salary will be contingent on qualifications and experience.
Skills Required
- Associate degree in a related field
- Bachelor's degree
- Ability to locate and utilize relevant data
- Commitment to maintaining clean and accurate data
- Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience in a similar position
- Experience with data entry, database management, and gift processing
- Experience using reporting tools to research and produce reports
- Experience accepting and recording gifts in a similar nonprofit organization
- Experience using Blackbaud Raiser's Edge, Raiser's Edge NXT, or a comparable database tool
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Professional telephone manner
- Experience handling sensitive and confidential information professionally
- Ability to affirm and support the University's official Statement of Faith
- Submission of a letter of interest, resume, faith statement, and 3-5 professional references
What We Do
Warner University is a private, Christ-centered institution established in 1968 and located in Lake Wales, Florida. Affiliated with the Church of God, it offers a biblically grounded academic experience with over 40 undergraduate and graduate degrees, focusing on preparing students to make an eternal impact on the world within a supportive, close-knit learning community that feels like home.
