Senior Philanthropic Officer, Major Gifts

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Department
Alumnae Relations & Development

Job Description

Job Summary

As part of a dynamic, collaborative team working to advance Smith College's mission to expand access to education, the senior philanthropic officer will secure philanthropic support for this highly ranked liberal arts institution. Powered by a $2.6B endowment and our most selective admissions ever, Smith is a bold, forward-thinking institution shaping the future and making a global impact.

The senior philanthropic officer will manage a geographically assigned pool of 125 to 200 prospective donors through the fundraising continuum through discovery, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, focusing on rated major gift ($100K+) prospects. This role will travel frequently in a geographically assigned territory to engage and solicit Smith alumnae, parents and friends. Gift conversations will include annual fund, endowed, capital, current restricted and planned gift components. The selected incumbent will work with and support the president, vice president, board members and other key fundraising volunteers in their fundraising efforts and goals. Planning and implementation of events focused on our College's strategic initiatives and on expanding a culture of philanthropy will be a key component of this position.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

#ALMDEV#

Essential Functions

Major Gift Fundraising (80%):

• Manage a portfolio of individual major gift prospects in assigned region(s), maintaining frequent personalized contact, often traveling to meet the donors. Qualify, cultivate and solicit donors for funding to meet institutional priorities and specific fundraising goals.
• Design and implement effective and donor-centric strategies to actively engage donors and lead to solicitation.
• Conduct annual gift solicitation for all assigned prospects.
• Work with donors and College leadership to match the priority needs of the College with a donor's philanthropic vision.
• Spearhead creative and strategic thinking for innovative approaches that inspire donors to make major level gifts, and formally close the gift process according to the Gift Acceptance policy and other practices and procedures.
• Become fluent and knowledgeable about the college, its fundraising priorities, practices and procedures, its strategic plan and future vision, its values and its history. Articulate these persuasively and compellingly to individuals and groups.
• As needed, provide strategic and tactical support to involve the president, vice president, other senior cabinet members, key faculty, and volunteer leadership in developing individual major gift prospect relationships.
• Participate when required, in strategic planning for the president's development travel schedule and review of presidential prospects.
• Produce pre-visit briefing materials, and post-visit follow-up communications and proposal plans.
• Meet or exceed established metrics and goals for visits, solicitations, gifts and other meaningful contact with assigned prospects.
• Promptly record contact reports and carry out other essential follow up activities and ensure accurate documentation of prospect strategies, solicitation plans and contacts and their entry into the college's prospect management system.
• Analyze activities to achieve progress towards stated goals.
• Effectively utilize administrative support and support the work of other colleagues to achieve established goals.
• Collaborate effectively with other frontline fundraisers, Donor Relations, Gift Planning, Events, Smith Fund and Class Managers to ensure effective, individualized strategies for each prospect.
• Serve as creative problem solver, prospect strategist, and collaborative support to the Major Gifts team.
• Strategize, support and participate in prospect-focused and alumnae-related events in assigned region, on-campus, and virtually.

Departmental Projects (10%):

• Assist the Director of Major Gifts and/or the Associate Vice President for Development with departmental projects or priorties as directed.
• May include serving as Development liaison to signature on-campus program/s and/or coordinating particular initiatives to further strategic plans within Alumnae Relations and Development.

Support Leadership Fundraising and Regional Strategies (5%):

• Participate in strategic planning for the president's development travel schedule.
• Organize and staff the president, and other senior leaders and faculty, on meetings with key gift prospects in the assigned territory.
• Produce pre-visit briefing materials, and post-visit contact reports, follow-up communications and proposal plans.
• Liaise with Principal and Leadership Gifts and alumnae volunteers in region.

Other Duties (5%):

• Participate in departmental training, college-wide programming and other initiatives to understand the college and its history, values, priorities and constituencies.
• Participate in team meetings and task forces as appropriate. Performs other related duties as assigned.

All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required and at least eight years of progressively responsible fund raising experience required, with a proven record of six-figure and seven figure gift fundraising success or an equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree preferred.
• Experience in higher education, particularly within a women's liberal arts college, is preferred, as is experience working with alumni, parents and families, and volunteer and academic leadership.
• Experience with private and family foundations and knowledge of gift planning tools and techniques is helpful.
• Familiarity with the Smith community and campus is a plus.

Skills:

• Demonstrated record of success in raising six and seven figure gifts.
• Desire to meet and exceed goals, demonstrated knowledge of prospect management best practices with high-capacity donors; ability to engage in collaborative problem solving with prospects and colleagues; highly organized in portfolio and time management.
• Superb verbal, written, and listening communications skills.
• Must be able to establish and maintain excellent rapport with donor constituents as well as on-campus colleagues.
• Able to operate both independently and as an active participant in team-based strategies and solicitation approaches.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, diplomacy, confidentiality, and to exhibit a mature, professional approach at all times.
• Versatile in standard office computer skills and donor database systems.

#ALMDEV

Compensation
In addition to a competitive benefits package, annualized pay for this role is typically between $90,976.82 - $123,086.29 covering the middle half of market compensation. Actual compensation will vary based on individual qualifications and work schedule if less than full-time.

Position Type
Regular

Please attach BOTH a current resume and a cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position . Be sure you have provided all attachments before submitting your application.

You will NOT be able to attach additional files after you have hit the Submit button.

Review of applications will begin
February 12, 2026

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women's colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.


Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at View email address on click.appcast.io.

As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.