Title: Major Gifts Officer

Department: Institutional Advancement

Campus Location: Arnold/Main Campus

Salary Range: $69,674-$87,093

Work Mode: This position requires some regular in-person presence on campus or at alternative locations, depending on business needs of the office.

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule: 

Position Type: Full-Time Staff,  Exempt

Position Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic organization positioned for growth. The Major Gifts Officer will be essential in advancing the major gift program at the AACC Foundation and establishing new partner and community relationships to support college initiatives.

Our mission at the AACC Foundation is to expand private philanthropy and cultivate partnerships to enhance AACC’s ability to support students and initiatives that strengthen our community. We believe every motivated, hard-working student should have the opportunity to attend college and improve their life through education. Charitable contributions provide scholarships for our students and help support Anne Arundel Community College programs.

The Major Gifts Officer is a front-line fundraiser, directly responsible for the identification, cultivation, direct solicitation and stewardship of major donors, driving the effort to secure gifts at the $5,000+ level with a focus on individuals and family foundations. This position will help to develop and implement strategies for qualifying major gift prospects, cultivating donors and maximizing gifts. In addition, this position will work to build and maintain relationships with industry and community members that will support college initiatives.

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) is committed to enriching the educational experience it offers through the diversity of its faculty, administrators, and staff members. The college seeks to recruit and support a broadly diverse team who will contribute to the college's excellence, diversity of viewpoints and experiences, embrace concepts of equity and inclusiveness, and support the equal rights of all people by advancing the understanding and appreciation of differences including age, race, gender, ability, religious convictions, socio-economic status, ethnic heritage, or sexual orientation.

While we appreciate your interest in employment with Anne Arundel Community College, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for any position.

In the best interest of the College, only individuals who are residents of Maryland or one of the following states will be eligible for employment at the college: Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia or the District of Columbia. The college will annually review this restriction and, if appropriate, expand the list of states of employment eligibility.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Develop a growing and active pipeline of major donors by working closely with the Director of Development to identify prospects; evaluating the existing database to uncover prospects; reviewing donor lists from peer organizations; and using other strategies and prospecting resources to identify and qualify new potential major donors.

Partner with the Executive Director and Director of Development to enlist the participation of board members and other volunteer leadership in identifying, cultivating and soliciting major donor prospects.

Develop short-term and long-term strategies for donor prospects that support the College’s fundraising initiatives. Incorporate the Moves Management giving cycle with clear benchmarks for success; set and meet goals for number of touch points annually.

Maintain donor actions and strategies in the Raiser’s Edge database: write contact reports and ensure that next steps are scheduled for all active and prospective donors.

Draft compelling proposals and solicitation letters to encourage philanthropic support and demonstrate impact of gifts.

Serve as a liaison to AACC faculty and staff to engage donor prospects in order to address college needs.

Other responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree required.

Minimum of three years in front line, nonevent-based fundraising, or related experience, preferably at an educational institution.

Experience qualifying, soliciting, closing and stewarding major gifts.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite applications required; proficiency with donor database software (Raiser’s Edge) preferred.

Ability to work a flexible schedule that includes local travel to accommodate the needs of the College and Foundation.

Demonstrate organizational and problem-solving skills, including the ability to anticipate needs and issues.

Ability to work well in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and with attention to accuracy, details and deadlines.

Ability to engage effectively and tactfully with donor, prospective donors, faculty, staff, administrators, and the public.

Ability to receive and use confidential information with appropriate discretion.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills required, as are excellent interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications: