Development Officer

Development Officer

The Development Officer (DO) position at Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP) plays a vital role in cultivating and strengthening relationships with donors and friends of the university. The DO manages a portfolio of 125150 donors and prospects to secure major gifts that advance the university's strategic priorities. As a proactive advocate for Lutheran Christian higher education, the DO designs and executes engagement strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward meaningful relationships. This role is essential to fulfilling CSP's mission: "to prepare students for thoughtful and informed living, dedicated service to God and humanity, enlightened care of God's creation, all within the context of the Christian Gospel."

Essential Duties

• Build and manage a portfolio of 125-150 current and prospective donors through a relationship-driven and results-oriented gift cycle strategy.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects for major and planned gifts.
• Engage prospects and donors through personal (face-to-face) visits, virtual meetings, and other personalized communications, meeting monthly and annual goals for contacts, dollars raised, and proposals.
• Serve collaboratively alongside other advancement team members, partnering and encouraging them in this vital work to meet team goals.
• Support and actively participate in key advancement events, including but not limited to: CSPday (our annual day of giving), Homecoming, campaign, and donor-centric events. Evening and weekend work will be required.
• Maintain accurate records in the CRM, documenting donor cultivation plans and progress to ensure timely follow-up and provide timely updates on portfolio progress.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Commitment to the mission, vision, promise, strategic plan, and goals of CSP.
• Minimum of three years of fundraising experience.
• A bachelor's degree is required.
• Ability to clearly articulate the mission and vision of CSP to external stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated success in gift solicitation.
• Demonstrated success in working independently and collaboratively in a team setting, emphasizing interpersonal skills and engaged listening.
• Ability to communicate clearly and succinctly through various communication methods.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and donor management software.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout assigned regions.