Leadership Giving Officer

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100-125 prospects by developing cultivation and solicitation strategies for each donor ensuring regular interaction through personal visits, mail/email, telephone, campus visits, and other events.
• Identify and cultivate leadership gift prospects, including developing ways to find new prospects and following up on inquiries regarding annual, capital, endowment, and other specific giving priorities important to the school and potential donors.
• Personally solicit or prepare volunteers for solicitation visits with assigned donor portfolio through face-to-face visits, including preparation of personalized materials.
• Manage the Annual Fund Committee volunteers to increase parent giving and retention, including but not limited to preparing peer-to-peer talking points and identifying segments to target with special communications or solicitations.
• Partner with the Senior Director of Development and Community Relations to identify and implement strategies to secure significant philanthropic support, working collaboratively with key volunteers, school leadership, faculty, advancement staff, and other school representatives to cultivate donors in support of Carolina Day's institutional priorities.
• Qualify prospects for leadership and planned gifts and steward introductions to colleagues to build a major gift pipeline.
• Research, develop, and write funding proposals, appeal letters, and reports.
• Educate and inform donors on ways to support the school that are aligned with their philanthropic goals including outright and planned gifts.
• Work with colleagues on cultivation and stewardship events, including but not limited to annual Leadership Circle Reception, donor recognition events, annual spring fundraising event, and alumni community receptions.
• Attend internal and external events for the purpose of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Increase and support the culture of philanthropy at CDS; educate all constituencies on the importance of supporting the school.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• A proven ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships with donors and prospective donors.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively cultivate, solicit, and secure significant leadership-level gifts.
• Knowledge of key fundraising principles, including donor cultivation and stewardship, prospect management, crafting compelling case statements, and an understanding of various giving vehicles (such as cash, securities, planned gifts, etc.).
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to work effectively both within a team and across departments.
• Strong active listening skills and the ability to establish a genuine rapport with a wide range of constituents.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to express ideas clearly and persuasively in both written and verbal forms.
• Familiarity with Raiser’s Edge NXT is preferred.
• A high degree of integrity and professionalism, with a consistent commitment to ethical behavior and decision-making.
• Demonstrated track record as a self-starter, a creative thinker, and an action-oriented fundraiser with a sense of urgency and passion for implementing strategies and tactics. Self-motivated, flexible, and open to innovation.
• Ability to travel and work flexible hours when necessary, including evenings and weekends for special events, meetings or other commitments.

• The ability to handle sensitive information with the utmost discretion and confidentiality.

Successful candidates will have a bachelor’s degree and 5 years of progressive fundraising experience, preferably in a school setting. CFRE certification is strongly preferred.