Full-time Supervisory/Professional: Major Gifts Officer

Lakeland Community College - Major Gifts Officer

Founded in 1967, the College now serves more than 6,500 students annually (AY 2024-25) and provides a continuum of education, from offering college credit courses for high school students to preparing students for the workforce upon completion of certificates, associate degrees or transfer to a four-year institution. Additionally, the college is home to the Holden Partnership Programs where partner, four-year institutions offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. An extraordinary transformation to both the college’s physical campus and its culture of student success is currently underway.

The Major Gifts Officer reports directly to the Executive Director of the Lakeland Foundation.

RESPONSIBILITIES (representative):

• Establish and cultivate relationships with prospective donors to secure significant financial contributions to meet the Foundation’s revenue goals.
• Build and maintain personal relationships with major donors; engaging their philanthropic interests and aligning them with the Foundation’s mission.
• Identify potential major donors through research and networking, to assess their capacity, interests and willingness to support the Foundation through a gift.
• Accurately track donor and prospect strategies and activity on a timely basis in Raiser’s Edge.
• Arrange tours, meetings, and introductions of donors and prospects to Lakeland faculty, administration and volunteer leadership.
• Prepare and present successful fundraising proposals and follow-up correspondence that are responsive to donor needs and supportive of volunteers who are soliciting their peers.
• Ensure appropriate acknowledgement, stewardship, and recognition of assigned donors.  Write personalized acknowledgment letters as needed.
• Communicate with campaign leadership, board members, college employees, and other friend groups to effectively involve them in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors.
• Actively participate in Foundation team meetings and events.
• Actively participate in assigned volunteer, board, or campaign committees.
• Ensure department compliance with applicable organizational, departmental, and IRS standards and requirements.
• Control expenditures within approved budget.
• Contribute to the College’s student-centered programs and policies, engaging in a supportive environment that promotes student success in a safe and respectful environment for the campus community.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Training and Experience

Required:

• A minimum of three years of experience successfully securing support from a portfolio of donors or clients.
• Computer proficient with a minimum of three years of experience using fundraising or CRM databases.
• Possess a goal-oriented and strongly driven demeanor.
• High level of professionalism, ethics, and confidentiality.
• Ability to travel and work after hours as needed.

Preferred:

• Preferred experience of a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree and five years of major gift fundraising experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Must have excellent communication skills (written and verbal) to prepare briefings, edit and prepare final documents and correspondence.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills for building relationships with donors, prospects, trustees, as well as college staff, faculty and administration. 
• Ability to project credibility and confidence to donors and peers.
• Possess the qualities and abilities to thrive in a metric driven environment.
• Ability to work independently and achieve goals, with minimal supervision, as well as thrive in a goal-oriented, dynamic, team-based environment.
• Knowledge of development operations and procedures and federal and state regulations governing fund-raising and planned giving.
• Ability to manage and facilitate operations; manage multiple priority projects at once with ease, efficiency, and produce quality results within required timeframes.  Must be proactive, anticipate needs, be resourceful and work effectively with colleagues, the campus community, and external constituents at all levels.
• Ability to exercise good judgment when dealing with confidential and sensitive material.
• Ability to create, plan and implement a wide variety of fundraising and relationship-building events.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL

• May need to move around intermittently during the day, including sitting, standing, stooping, bending, and walking.
• May need to remain still for extended periods, including sitting and standing.
• Ability to communicate in face-to-face telephone, email and other communications.
• Ability to read job-related documents.
• Ability to use a computer.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT 

• This is a 12-month, full-time exempt position. The annual salary is in grade 5 of the Administrative and Supervisory/Professional salary schedule. The anticipated hiring range is $65,056 - $80,000/year. Please note: The final offer for the successful candidate is targeted to fall within the minimum to the mid-point of the salary range but will be based upon an assessment of internal equity, the unit's available budget, and the candidate's qualifications in relation to the minimum and/or preferred job requirement(s). 
• This position is not eligible for remote work.
•  The College offers generous benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, vacation and personal days, along with holiday and sick time. See Total Compensation for Administrative Staff. 

APPLICATION PROCESS: Apply for this position through the college’s Human Resources website. Please be prepared to do the following:

• Answer all questions in the college’s employment application (*please read the note below)
• Attach a current resume and a cover letter summarizing your interest and qualifications for this position.
• Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, application review will begin immediately.

*To avoid difficulties when submitting your application, be sure your web browser (e.g., Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer) is updated to the latest version and allow yourself sufficient time to complete the application since you WILL NOT be able to save a partially completed application and work on it later.

Lakeland Community College is an equal access and equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to a policy of equal opportunity in its employment practices. The College does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military status, disability, age, ancestry, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you have a disability that requires special accommodation to participate in the application/interview process, contact the Human Resources Office at 440-525-7575.

Please review Lakeland’s Mission, Vision, Purpose and Statement of Commitment.