Major Gifts Officer — Arts & Business

Department Development Job Summary The Major Gifts Officer for Arts & Business is a key frontline fundraising professional within the Development team in University Advancement at LSU New Orleans. The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of prospective and current donors capable of making major gifts in support of the university's strategic priorities, academic programs, research initiatives, and student success, with a focus on the Henry Bernstein College of Business Administration and the College of Liberal Arts, Education & Human Development. Working collaboratively with Advancement colleagues, academic leadership, faculty, and senior administrators, the Major Gifts Officer plays a critical role in advancing a culture of philanthropy and securing private support that enhances LSU New Orleans's mission as a public urban research university. The Major Gifts Officer partners closely with the Foundation and reports fundraising activity and progress to the LSU New Orleans Foundation Board. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Manage a portfolio of approximately 75 to 120 major gift prospects and donors, generally defined as individuals with the capacity to make gifts of $25,000 or more, or as defined by the University. Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors through purposeful, strategic, relationship‑based engagement. Develop and execute individualized major gift strategies and solicitation plans that align donor interests with university priorities. Conduct a high volume of meaningful donor visits, in person, virtual, and by phone, including discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship interactions. Secure major gifts, multi‑year pledges, and blended gifts in collaboration with Planned Giving and other Advancement partners when appropriate. Work closely with the deans, faculty, and leadership of the Henry Bernstein College of Business Administration and the College of Liberal Arts, Education & Human Development, along with advancement leadership and volunteers, to identify funding priorities, translate academic and program goals into compelling funding opportunities, and engage prospects effectively. Prepare written proposals, gift agreements, stewardship reports, and correspondence tailored to donor interests. Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, moves‑management activity, and proposals in the University's CRM (Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT), partnering with the Senior Prospect Strategy & Research Analyst on prospect qualification, portfolio optimization, and pipeline reporting. Partner with the Advancement Data & Stewardship Manager and the Advancement Operations & Events Manager to ensure timely, meaningful stewardship and effective cultivation and recognition events. Participate in strategic initiatives such as comprehensive campaigns, special projects, donor events, and volunteer engagement efforts. Provide exemplary stewardship to ensure donor satisfaction and long‑term philanthropic commitment. Stay informed about university programs, achievements, and funding priorities to effectively communicate LSU New Orleans's impact. Report fundraising activity, pipeline movement, and progress to advancement leadership and to the LSU New Orleans Foundation Board as requested. Perform other duties as assigned in support of the goals of University Advancement. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Minimum of 3 to 5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, donor relations, sales, or relationship‑based development, preferably in higher education or a nonprofit environment. Demonstrated success in securing major gifts or comparable revenue‑generating outcomes. Exceptional interpersonal and relationship‑building skills with the ability to engage diverse constituencies. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively as part of a team. Proven organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. Proficiency with fundraising databases and CRMs and with Microsoft Office applications. Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends and to travel locally and regionally as required. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS Master's degree. Prior major gifts experience in higher education. Familiarity with planned giving concepts and principal gift strategies. Experience working in a public university or urban research institution. Familiarity with academic fundraising for business, liberal arts, education, or the fine and performing arts. Knowledge of the New Orleans region and established philanthropic networks. Posting Close Date: This position will remain open until filled. References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process. This position may require a criminal background check to be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire. As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions at LSU New Orleans may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job‑related tasks. LSU New Orleans seeks to recruit a highly productive workforce and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non‑merit factor. About LSU New Orleans LSU New Orleans is the only R2 public research university in New Orleans, Louisiana, and one of just four public colleges in Louisiana to hold that designation. R2 status opens the doors to competitive federal research grants that flow preferentially to classified research universities. It anchors the university’s power to recruit research‑active faculty, to sustain doctor programs of national standing, and to signal to businesses and investors that New Orleans possesses the intellectual infrastructure a knowledge economy demands. Located along Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, LSU New Orleans’ research excellence and urban relevance provide an opportunity for the institution to become a leading public research partner in one of America’s most exciting and vibrant metropolitan areas. New Orleans has always faced challenges that call for research driven solutions including coastal land loss, educational achievement gaps, affordability, public safety, and workforce shortages. LSU New Orleans can strengthen its research activity as a tool for public problem solving as well as economic impact by leveraging the scale, reputation, infrastructure, and global reach of the LSU enterprise while remaining deeply connected to the city it serves. With more than 5,500 students and the support of approximately 248 faculty serving the College of Liberal Arts & Human Development, The college of Sciences, The Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering, the Henry Berstein College of Business Administration, and six distinct schools, the campus remains committed to honoring its founding vision and continuing to play a critical role in the region. Opened in 1958 on the site of a former U.S. Naval Air Station as the region’s first fully integrated public university, LSU New Orleans was created after years of coordinated efforts from civic leaders and residents who believed that an accessible public institution of higher education was vital to the city’s future. Located only 15 minutes away from downtown and the French Quarter, the university occupies a 195‑acre campus in one of the nicest residential areas of the city. Since its first commencement exercises in 1962, the university has conferred more than 80,000 degrees creating an extensive network of Privateer Alumni that includes prominent local leaders in fields such as business, tourism, athletics, government, and academia. The university is also an important catalyst of socio‑economic mobility for the region. Its student body includes a significant share of first‑generation students, working students, adult learners, and veterans. The institution has grown from a commuter‑oriented campus into a comprehensive urban research university with undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in distinctive academic categories tied to the city and region. Its evolution has been inseparable from the story of New Orleans; an internationally recognized city of creativity, resilience, industry, cultural influence, and global connectivity. As one of the most strategically important cities in America, New Orleans’s economy is rooted in legacy sectors such as energy, maritime commerce, tourism, healthcare, and international trade. Recently, the city has expanded its economic portfolio to include areas such as coastal restoration, film and media production, technology, and advanced manufacturing. The city’s strengths are the university’s opportunities. New Orleans needs talent, civic leadership, resilient infrastructure, healthcare innovation, artists, and entrepreneurs. This combination of culture, commerce and connectivity gives LSU New Orleans a set of dynamic factors that allows it to serve as both an access institution and a problem‑solving university as it reinvents itself beginning this summer. LSU New Orleans Welcomes Job Applicants from Varied Backgrounds LSU New Orleans seeks to recruit a highly productive workforce and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non‑merit factor. LSU New Orleans seeks to recruit a highly productive workforce and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non‑merit factor. #J-18808-Ljbffr University of New Orleans