Major Gift Officer

About Siena University:

Located in Loudonville, New York - just 10 minutes from the state capital of Albany - Siena empowers more than 3,400 students each year through a transformative journey we call the Education for a Lifetime. All members of the Siena University community work together to advance the University's mission to graduate Saints intent on making the world more just, peaceful, and humane. The Franciscan tradition, upon which Siena was founded, permeates throughout campus life. All community members are valued for their unique worth and recognized for their specific contributions toward the greater good. That spirit of belonging and respect reverberates across our 174-acre campus, which is ranked among the 50 most beautiful college campuses in the country by Cond Nast.

Siena is leading the way in Catholic, liberal arts education, and the national rankings help tell our story. Siena ranks number one in New York for job placement; top 10 among all Catholic University in the country; and among the top three percent of all institutions in the U.S according to the Wall Street Journal. It has always been our community of dedicated and passionate Saints who make this campus a coveted destination to work, live, and learn. We hope you'll consider joining us.

Job Description:

Siena University is seeking an accomplished, dynamic, and results-oriented Major Gift Officer (MGO) to serve as a primary ambassador for the University's philanthropic vision. As a frontline fundraiser, the MGO is responsible for managing a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and advancing philanthropic support for Siena's strategic priorities, including capital, endowment, and annual initiatives.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Individual Giving, the successful candidate will excel at "moves management" - developing sophisticated engagement strategies to build meaningful, trust-based, long-term relationships with alumni, parents, and friends. This role requires an inventive professional who thrives in a highly collaborative environment, working closely with campus leadership, faculty, and advancement colleagues to fuel the University's mission and strengthen the major gift pipeline.

Portfolio Management & Strategic Cultivation (60%)

• Territory & Portfolio Management:  Manage an assigned portfolio of approximately 150-175 high-capacity alumni, parents, and friends with the potential to make six- and seven-figure major gifts.
• Geographic Focus:  Oversee specific assigned domestic geographic territories. Additionally, actively participate in shared team coverage, qualification, and staffing of alumni within the Capital Region and New York City.
• Strategy & Execution:  Develop and execute tailored identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that reflect donor interests and align with Siena's mission.
• Curated Proposal Development:  Synthesize information from various institutional sources and campus partners to write and develop compelling concept notes and tailored proposals that seamlessly align donor passion with campus priorities.
• Moves Management:  Effectively "move" prospects through the development cycle. Conduct regular local, regional, and national domestic travel to maintain a high-touch, in-person presence.
• Activity Targets:  Achieve monthly and annual activity metrics developed in partnership with the AVP of Individual Giving. This includes maintaining an average of 10 to 12 face-to-face strategic visits and 2 to 4 major gift solicitations per month.
• Securing Gifts:  Solicit and secure major gifts, leadership-level unrestricted annual gifts, planned gifts, and blended gift commitments ($100,000 or more) in support of Siena's highest priorities resulting in 10 - 15 documented commitments per year.
• Pipeline Growth:  Identify and qualify new major gift prospects through proactive research, networking, and referrals.

Collaboration & Campus Partnerships (25%)

• Campus "Beats":  Act as the primary Development liaison or "beat" officer for assigned key academic departments or university divisions. Build deep relationships with faculty and administrators within these divisions to stay informed on strategic priorities and project needs.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:  Partner closely with Development and Alumni Engagement colleagues, administrators, faculty, administrators, and volunteer leaders to advance high-priority fundraising opportunities and gather materials for donor-facing content.
• Annual Fund & Alumni Engagement Alignment:  Collaborate with Annual Fund colleagues to integrate leadership annual fund asks into major gift solicitations. Partner with Alumni Engagement colleagues on trip planning and curated regional alumni events.
• Leadership Briefings:  Prepare and support university leadership and key volunteers for donor meetings and solicitations.
• Event Staffing:  Actively staff key institutional and Development events, including Family Weekend, Alumni Weekend, Commencement, Giving Day activities, select sporting events, fundraising events (Festa Vino, Saints Alive! Golf Outing), and specialized donor stewardship events.

Administration & Stewardship (15%)

• Impactful Stewardship:  Provide current and past donors with ongoing, meaningful communication to demonstrate the impact of their philanthropy.
• Data Integrity:  Utilize development reporting processes to accurately monitor and objectively evaluate your portfolio. Provide standard activity and progress reports to leadership.
• Administrative Compliance:  Fulfill administrative responsibilities associated with the role, including accurate, timely documentation of donor interactions and prompt expense reporting.
• Institutional Knowledge:  Maintain a comprehensive, working knowledge of Siena's academic programs, strategic priorities, and community developments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Required Qualifications:  

• Bachelor's Degree
• Fundraising Track Record:  A minimum of 3 years of advancement experience, with demonstrated success securing five-figure gifts.
• Advanced Writing & Communication:  Exceptional writing skills with a proven ability to synthesize information from multiple stakeholders into clear, persuasive proposals and concept notes. Superior ability to articulate institutional goals with an outstanding professional demeanor.
• Collaborative Spirit:  A proven track record of being a positive, collaborative contributor to a larger Development team and broader campus community, with the ability to manage cross-departmental relationships.
• Travel & Flexibility:  A willingness and ability to travel extensively across domestic territories to meet with prospects and donors. Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as required to support key events and donor cycles.

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Five or more years of progressive advancement experience, with demonstrated success securing five- and six-figure gifts, ideally within a higher education or complex non-profit environment. 

Additional Information:

Salary: $70,000-$80,000

*The hiring Salary range above represents the University's good faith estimate at the time of posting in compliance with the Albany County Salary Transparency Law.

Siena University offers a generous benefit package to eligible full-time employees. The highlights include:

• Retirement plan contribution equal to 10% of compensation (as defined under the plan) after meeting the plan's eligibility requirements
• Tuition reimbursement and exchange opportunities for eligible employees, spouses, and dependents
• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Eligible University employees enjoy a work schedule that includes half-day Fridays in the summer and an expansive holiday schedule, including up to two weeks off during winter break
• Other perks currently include complimentary breakfast Thursdays in the dining hall, access to University community lectures and productions, complimentary University gym and library memberships, discounted and complimentary tickets to Siena Division I sporting events, and more.

Siena University is a Franciscan and Catholic institution and expects members of its community to be knowledgeable about its mission and to make a positive contribution to that mission.

Siena cares for and values each member of its workforce and actively supports upward mobility. We are a community of Siena Saints, and as we often say, the world needs more Saints!

Siena University is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Application Instructions:

Please submit a cover letter, resume and contact information for three references.

A background screening is required for finalist applicants for all University positions.

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