Conservatory Giving Officer - Oberlin College - near Cleveland, Ohio

Stephanie Klem

https://jobs.oberlin.edu/postings/12705

Job Summary

The Office of Advancement at Oberlin College seeks applications for the position of Conservatory Giving Officer. This is a full-time, continuing, 12-month, Administrative and Professional Staff position reporting to the Associate Vice President for Leadership & Planned Giving.

Responsibilities

The Conservatory Giving Officer raises philanthropic support for the Conservatory at Oberlin College. While the majority of time will be spent implementing strategies for cultivating, soliciting and closing leadership-level and planned gifts, this position also works with partners in the Office of Advancement on matters related to principal giving, annual giving, and donor and alumni engagement. This position resides in the Office of Advancement and reports to the Associate Vice President for Leadership & Planned Giving; however, nearly all fundraising shall be focused on the Conservatory and related purposes.

Essential Job Functions

• Serve as liaison to the Conservatory charged with building and maintaining an effective relationship with the Conservatory and its faculty; advise the Dean on advancement initiatives, and facilitate an appropriate flow of information between Advancement and the Conservatory.
• Manage a personal, high-capacity portfolio of approximately 250 assigned prospects to strategize, cultivate, solicit, and close significant gifts of $50,000+ for Oberlin. Commit to local, national and potential international travel for personal visits with prospects.
• Develop solicitation priorities and strategies including engaging the Dean of the Conservatory, President, Vice President, and other senior leadership as appropriate.
• Actively participate in financial and project based goal-setting for the program and develop an annual plan for achieving such goals.
• Maintain a pipeline of gift proposals and negotiate and structure complex gifts to the College. Prepare in-depth gift proposals using written explanations and oral presentations. Development of proposals may be a collaborative effort with colleagues in gift planning and advancement operations.
• Interact with Advancement staff to ensure donors and prospective donors to the Conservatory are cultivated, solicited, and stewarded in an appropriate and effective manner. This includes, but is not limited to, working with annual giving staff on messaging of various solicitations; with members of the donor relations team to ensure current donors are recognized and informed appropriately; and with alumni staff on engagement activities.
• Participate fully in departmental meetings, special events (reunions, commencement, and donor recognition events) both on campus and throughout the United States.
• Act as a liaison to front-line fundraising staff collaborating on significant gift strategies involving the Conservatory and other members of the Office of Advancement in matters of philanthropic and other voluntary needs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in advancement, leadership gifts fundraising, relationship management, or related field.
• Travel frequently and work weekends and evenings when appropriate.
• Self-motivation/personal initiative and a drive to succeed. Must be results-oriented, detail and deadline focused, creative, resourceful and flexible with attention to quality, ethics and excellence in all professional pursuits.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and superior interpersonal skills with demonstrated skill in working well with individuals and in a team setting. Ability to adapt/relate to a wide variety of personalities and ability to listen carefully, learn quickly, and work effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff and donors while demonstrating negotiation and persuasion abilities.
• A strong commitment to the goals of a liberal arts education and music conservatory training as well as the importance of the College’s relationship with its diverse constituencies.
  

Desired Qualifications

An understanding of, and ability to be conversant in laws pertaining to charitable giving and general financial and estate planning is strongly desired. If a candidate does not come with such knowledge, acquisition of it will be a high priority throughout tenure in the position.

Compensation

A generous compensation package will be offered to the successful candidate, including an excellent benefits package, liberal vacation time, and tuition remission for eligible dependents.

Special Instructions to Applicants

A completed application will include a cover letter, a CV and a list of 3 professional references..

Oberlin College is committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse community of individuals through inclusive excellence. Diversity involves recognizing the value of differences and the inclusion of all members of the community including those that experience discrimination or under representation. This is a core value of the organization as we strive for a culturally diverse student body, faculty and staff that reflect the multicultural nature of the nation and our world and bring unique strengths and abilities, which contribute, to our institution.

Oberlin College is located near Cleveland, Ohio.