Careers

Securing philanthropic support for students by providing assistance for tuition and fees, housing and living expenses, and other high-impact activities and services is a top priority for the University of Minnesota. Student scholarships foster excellence, equity and inclusivity while earning a world-class education.

The University-wide Scholarship team at the University of Minnesota Foundation works with the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) to steward central scholarship funds, cultivate and solicit gifts from individuals and organizations, and serve as a central scholarship resource to the University’s development community.

The primary responsibilities of the Development Officer include cultivating and securing philanthropic investments for undergraduate student support. The Development Officer works closely with partners in the Office of Undergraduate Education, the University of Minnesota Foundation and development colleagues across the University of Minnesota.  The primary constituent base consists of individual donors who are alumni and friends of the University of Minnesota. 

Starting Salary: $80,000- 90,000 based on experience.

Responsibilities

Major Gifts (85%)

● Qualify, cultivate, and solicit prospective donors with a specific focus on securing major gifts for undergraduate scholarships.
● Build and manage a portfolio of approximately 100-125 major gift prospects with a giving capacity of $50,000 and above. Take timely and strategic steps in helping donors and prospective donors through the major gift cycle of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
● Present the case for philanthropic support of the University and explain gift opportunities, targeting 15+ solicitations annually at $50,000 or more and total annual gift production of $500,000 to $1 million.
● Initiate and lead all aspects of the development of proposals and written material in support of specific major gift fundraising initiatives.
● Serve as a member of the overall development team by collaborating with colleagues across disciplines on donor strategies, maintaining timely, accurate reports and information.
● Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of central scholarship priorities, awarding partners and the annual awarding cycle, protected class status restrictions when creating new scholarships, financial aid and special scholarship scenarios requiring multiple campus awarding partners in order to effectively and compellingly present a case for support to prospects and donors.
● Working in conjunction with UMF central services staff, initiate and oversee the development of proposals and written material in support of specific major gift fundraising initiatives.
● Manage and lead specific fundraising projects as assigned.

Organizational (15%)

● Develop an annual plan of work, including specific fundraising, prospect development and programmatic goals with an emphasis on achieving established standards and metrics for the position.
● Prepare reports and other required information as requested.
● Attend University of Minnesota, Office of Undergraduate Education, and UMF events, as well as external functions as recommended.
● Travel and work evenings and weekends, as necessary.

Demonstrate commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an equitable and inclusive working and learning environment (exhibit 100% of the time)

• Continuous learning in diversity, equity and inclusion for oneself and team via training, podcasts, articles, etc.
• Seek to explore and understand cultural differences and create a culture of belonging.
• Develop and employ anti-racist practices and principles to accomplish work.
• Advocate for employees of all ethnicities, genders, ages and backgrounds
• Cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with employees, colleagues, stakeholders, etc.

Required Qualifications

● Bachelor’s degree.
● Minimum of three years professional development experience, with demonstrated ability to promote and successfully solicit major gifts of $50,000 or more; or experience in marketing, sales, public relations, financial advisement, or related field with emphasis on relationship cultivation and solicitation of individuals/businesses.
● Demonstrated knowledge of basic business terminology, financial matters and the ethical, legal, and tax-related issues regarding the solicitation, transfer, and management of charitable gifts.
● Strong relationship-building skills with a diverse constituency of donors, faculty, strategic partners, volunteers and UMF staff.
● Outstanding oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including effective presentation skills.
● Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and maintain a strong sense of urgency while managing multiple priorities.
● Demonstrated success in working independently but also collaboratively in a team setting.
● Ability to maintain confidential information.
● Proficient in the use of PC software, such as Microsoft Office, and current technology.
● Ability to travel and work evenings and weekends, as necessary.
● Access to reliable transportation as this position requires regular travel on behalf of the Foundation.

Preferred Qualifications

● Demonstrated experience in identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major gifts prospects and donors.
● Experience in a portfolio or account based profession.
● Knowledge of or experience with planned giving programs.

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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