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Wayne State University · 1 day ago

Sr. Major Gift Officer - Engineering

Detroit, MI

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

$0/yr - $88K/yr

5+ years exp

Wayne State University is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan. The Sr. Major Gift Officer - Engineering will provide expertise in fundraising efforts for the James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering, managing a prospect portfolio to achieve aggressive fundraising goals and cultivating major gift donors.

Higher Education

H1B Sponsor Likely

Responsibilities

Provide expertise and experience while participating in fundraising efforts, strategies and initiatives for the James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering

Manage a prospect portfolio to achieve aggressive fundraising and contact goals annually

Cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donors to meet established fundraising goals within the allocated expense budget

Serve in the role of seasoned professional by providing expertise and guidance in identifying fundraising needs and priorities

Collaborate with the AVP and Sr. Director of Major Gifts, Dean, Department Chairs, and faculty

Develop major gift fundraising plans and strategies

Establish realistic and achievable timeline

Remain current with fundraising trends

Responsible for achieving annual fundraising goal and assisting in meeting unit and division goals; allocating and prioritizing time and resources to achieve the greatest return on investment

Performance and productivity will be measured on the following core metrics as determined annually: Dollars raised for campaign gift commitments, Number of major gift solicitations of $25,000+, Number of major gift closures at $25,000+, Number of face-to-face prospect and donor meetings (in-person and virtual visits), Number of meaningful, significant contacts each month

Serve as seasoned resource with Development units (e.g., University-wide Philanthropy, Donor Experience, Planned Giving, and Prospect Development) as well as other university units to ensure operational efficiencies within the unit

Draft and negotiate gift and pledge documentation ranging from moderate to high complexity

Ensure timely routing of donor contributions to central development for processing

Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualification

Fundraising experienceMajor gift solicitationProposal preparationHigher education developmentAnalytical skillsPlanningOrganizationPresentation skillsCollaborationCommunication skillsTechnical skillsTeamwork

Required

Bachelor's degree

Minimum five (5) to eight (8) years of experience working as a fundraising professional in direct major donor solicitations in excess of $25,000

Direct experience preparing proposals and conducting major gift solicitations required

Professional understanding of, and interest in, Development and Alumni Affairs best practices and general operations

Understanding of trends and best practices related to major gift solicitation

Positive and collaborative professional philosophy, recognizing that this position is integral to the achievement of the goals and objectives of Development and Alumni Affairs

Ability to evaluate, interpret, and present complex information effectively in professionally prepared documents or presentations

Demonstrated attention to detail in order to achieve a high degree of accuracy

Exhibits a willingness to partner with units across the university with integrity and high character to reach unified goals

Ability to navigate difficult situations with grace and understanding

Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and professionally both orally and in writing

Strong interpersonal skills are a must

Demonstrates the ability to plan and deliver oral and written communications that are impactful and persuasive including presentations to university management and committees

Independent and innovative self-starter who displays an ability to learn quickly and easily adapts to changing situations

Ability to manage several projects simultaneously, prioritize and plan work activities while meeting respective deadlines

Strong organizational and time-management skills required

Maturity, sound judgment and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a deadline-oriented environment

Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues within the division and other units to gain full understanding of the project and desired outcome

Ability to produce high quality and consistent results with assistance of team members

Proficient in the use of complex administrative systems software, preferably in the higher education environment

Proficient with Microsoft Office suite, especially Word, Excel and Teams

Ability to understand and translate complex concepts into lay terms

Preferred

Higher Education Development And Prior Volunteer Management Experience Preferred

Company

Wayne State University

Glassdoor3.9

A premier research university serving a diverse body of motivated students in vibrant Midtown, the cultural center of Detroit.

Founded in 1868

Detroit, mi, US

5001-10000 employees

https://wayne.edu/

H1B Sponsorship

Wayne State University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)

Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship

Represents job field similar to this job

Trends of Total Sponsorships

2025 (76)

2024 (73)

2023 (69)

2022 (63)

2021 (68)

2020 (66)