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:

– Supervisor

Base Description:

– Supervises direct reports, but primarily completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates appropriate knowledge to perform own work; spends majority of time on tasks related to own job responsibilities. Demonstrates baseline planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating skills. Reviews completed work of others to verify accuracy and quality. Follows recommended approaches to assigned work. Supervises assigned staff and coordinates routine work activities. Monitors employee interactions and facilitates a productive working environment. Communicates instructions and policies in a consistent, effective and timely manner. Identifies and addresses concerns appropriately. Makes recommendations for possible solutions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Typically oversees at least 2 full–time direct reports or equivalent team of part–time and/or student workers (for Support track, performs work at Senior Support level or higher; for Professional track, performs work at the Advanced Professional level or higher)

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– May monitor/track budgets for specific area and/or grant(s)

Problem Solving:

– Encounters generally routine problems with progressively more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows standard operating procedures to resolve problems
– May apply specialized knowledge and skills to resolve complex and/or varied problems
– Applies proven and tries new approaches when solving problems

Independence of Action:

– Works with minimal supervision on difficult work assignments, conferring with manager on unusual matters
– Follows precedents and procedures
– Organizes work of direct reports and may set priorities within general guidelines established by manager
– Reviews the work of others to verify accuracy, quality, and conformance to required procedures and special instructions

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Collaborates closely with team members; may interact with other staff outside of area
– Utilizes a communication style that is appropriate for a given situation
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly and accurately both verbally and in written materials

• Comp Grade – 12
• Minimum – $76,700.00
• MidPoint – $95,900.00
• Maximum – $115,100.00