Major Gift Officer

The fundamental mission of Illinois College’s Office of Development and Alumni Engagement is to fulfill the inherent need for external support. Major Gift Officers are responsible for the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift donors at the $25,000+ level. They provide strategic assistance to the fundraising team, which includes the President, and Vice President of External Relations, to meet the College’s fundraising goals. This is a location flexible position within a few hours’ drive of the Jacksonville, Illinois campus.

Essential Functions:

The following list of duties is meant to be representative of the work performed in this position. The omission of a specific duty or responsibility will not preclude it from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical extension of position responsibilities.

• Meet or exceed fundraising goals through the management of a portfolio of up to 150 major and planned gift donors and prospects.
• Solicit major gifts through meetings via face-to-face, telephone, or virtual appointments, as well as personalized mailings, in order to obtain first-time and increased major donor contributions.
• Conduct at least 15 face-to-face visits with donors and prospects per month (travel required).
• Serve as a key member of the fundraising team and actively participate in developing strategies to achieve institutional goals for student success, strategic growth, and sustainable foundations.
• Work closely with senior leaders, faculty, staff, and volunteers to guide the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donor relationships.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Vice President of Advancement to prepare major and planned giving proposals, illustrations of life income and estate gift arrangements and gift agreements.
• Work closely with the Director of Annual Programs and Advancement Communication to increase awareness of major, planned, and leadership annual gifts through press releases and feature stories in the Quarterly magazine, the College website, social media, and print publications.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least five years of applicable experience, required.
• Relationship-building experience in higher education and/or non-profit organizations. A strong appreciation for the value of private, liberal-arts-based education is a fundamental attribute.
• Intercultural competency; ability to work well with individuals of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, work independently and within a team, handle confidential information with utmost discretion, and navigate sensitive situations.
• Able to develop and maintain collaborative relationships, engage in creative problem-solving, and extend enlightened hospitality when working with others.
• Must be comfortable working in an environment where fundraising metrics play an essential role in annual performance evaluations.
• Experience with or willingness to learn office software programs such as Word and Excel, Microsoft Teams or Google Docs and constituent relations software, such as Raiser's Edge NXT.
• Overnight travel as well as evenings and weekend work required with advanced notice.
• Must have a valid drivers license and a good driving record.

Additional Job Details:
Job Title: Major Gift Officer
Department: Office of Development and Alumni Relations
Reports to: Assistant Vice President of Advancement
Status: Full Time, Salaried
Class: Administrative Exemption
Date Last Revised: September 2022

About Illinois College:
Illinois College is a residential, private liberal arts college located in the heart of Illinois, 70 miles northeast of Saint Louis, Missouri, and 30 miles west of Springfield, the capital of Illinois. True to its founding vision in 1829, Illinois College is a community committed to the highest standards of scholarship and integrity in the liberal arts. The College develops in its students qualities of mind and character needed for fulfilling lives of leadership and service, fostering academic excellence rooted in opportunities for experiential learning while preparing students for lifelong success.