Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Major Gifts

The Major Gift Officer manages the fundraising efforts for donors and prospects in their assigned college or unit, including annual receipt and commitment goals; provides professional guidance and leadership in identifying and executing strategies that are most likely to be achieved through private philanthropy; develops annual goal setting and fundraising plans and direct related activities in support of these goals and objectives; manages a portfolio of major gift prospects; identifies, cultivates and solicits donors and prospects in support of the College or Unit fundraising goals; works collaboratively with the head of the academic unit, development, trained committee volunteers and central University Development staff to maximize fundraising success for the University; works to engage department heads, faculty, and staff in the fundraising enterprise.

• Develop and execute plans for the evaluation, cultivation, and solicitation of major gift prospects
• Identify, cultivate, steward, and solicit contributions through personal calls and visits
• Partner with the Dean, Chancellor, or unit leadership on strategic advancement initiatives and the management of campaign committees
• Analyze the effectiveness of programs and recommend improvements or new creative strategies
• Work with committees and boards to plan and implement development activities
• Develop and produce communication tools, proposals, and reports
• Serve as liaison on behalf of the annual fund; prepare regular progress reports
• Match University strengths with prospective donors
• Identify, cultivate, recruit, and train volunteers for designated projects
• Identify and interpret available research data pertinent to the development of relationships with potential donors
• May hire, supervise, train, and direct the work of assigned staff

Level:

– Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates baseline working knowledge of routine work tasks. Follows the standard principles and practices. Acts under direct and frequent supervision using established procedures with detailed instructions. Participates as a team member and actively contributes to completion of team goals. Clearly communicates information.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– None

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Typically none

Problem Solving:

– Encounters routine problems
– Follows recommended course of action and procedures to resolve problems

Independence of Action:

– Work is closely monitored by supervisor
– Detailed instructions and procedures are provided
– Applies standard operating procedures with limited guidelines for deviation

Communication and Collaboration:

– Typically communicates internally within working unit
– Collaborates closely with team members
– Clearly communicates information, ideas, or instructions verbally and in writing

• Comp Grade – 9
• Minimum – $56,200.00
• MidPoint – $68,800.00
• Maximum – $81,500.00

• Database management
• Event planning
• Fundraising
• Goal setting
• Marketing
• Networking
• Portfolio Optimization
• Presentation Skills
• Prospect research
• Public speaking
• Report writing
• Stewardship
• Trend analysis