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Philanthropy Officer

Full time Part time / Adjunct Alumni Relations Development/Advancement/Fundraising

Job Description

 

Position Information

 

Position Title Philanthropy Officer
Job Description
Reporting to the Director of Philanthropy, the Philanthropy Officer role is to generate sustainable streams of major gift funding that will ensure the University’s long-term financial health. Aligning with the University’s goals, Philanthropy Officers shall cultivate and solicit gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations through in-person visits; write proposals and grants to private funders; plan and execute individually-tailored donor engagement and stewardship strategies; help foster a campus and community culture of philanthropy; and regularly report to the Director on the progress being made toward the year’s goals. Officers will assist in building attendance at key events. The Philanthropy team will model and foster collaboration, high performance, and dynamic professional growth. 

Each Officer will be assigned specific individual and team goals aligned with their level of experience and capabilities, as well as a unique portfolio of donor prospects. Under the leadership of the Director, Philanthropy Officers will closely collaborate with the Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Office, the Director of Gift Planning, the Foundation staff and its Board, and other volunteer organizations. Philanthropy Officers may also guide the philanthropic elements of one or more donor engagement groups, such as advisory councils, affinity groups, or site-based engagement groups. Philanthropy Officers will travel extensively to engage donors and prospects through one-on-one, individual visits. Officers will promptly and accurately plan and execute moves management strategies and record their actions in the institution’s CRM, as directed, and on a regular basis share their future plans with the Director and others.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
  • Develop and execute an annual plan to meet solicitation goals set by the Director of Philanthropy reporting each month on progress being made toward reaching assigned goals.
  • Use the institution’s Donor and Gift Data system and other tools to identify new prospects and donor cultivation approaches.
  • Create and execute fundraising strategies for individual donors.
  • As assigned, write and submit philanthropic grants.
  • Prepare collateral, draft gift agreements, and help prepare donor engagement and stewardship materials.
  • Remain well-versed both on the proper procedures for securing and documenting gifts and on the institution’s fundraising priorities, including special opportunities within individual Colleges and departments at the University.
  • Recruit, engage, and solicit members of philanthropy-oriented councils and giving societies.
  • Under the leadership of the Director, integrate strategies, specific plans, resources, and timelines across Advancement and the Foundation.
  • Other duties as assigned.

 


KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITITES
  • Outstanding interpersonal and public speaking skills
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills; effectively and compellingly communicate ideas and organizational achievements, needs, and opportunities
  • Highly motivated, organized, creative and flexible
  • Experienced in best practices in fund development
  • Demonstrate strategic thinker
  • Poised, polished, and professional demeanor
  • Demonstrated leadership in a team setting working with staff, Board members and other volunteers to accomplish fundraising objectives 
  • Ability to train volunteers in fundraising best practices
  • Proficient in core computer skills including word processing, database management, spreadsheets, navigating the web and electronic communications
  • Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks and responsibilities
  • Ability to work independently, maintain self-motivation and persist in the face of challenges. 
  • Ability to reliably and frequently travel to meet with donors
  • Experience using a donor and gift database or other type of CRM platform
  • Possesses or has the ability to form a deep and genuine commitment to the University’s mission 
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree, and 
  • Two (2) years of successful experience in major gifts, outside sales, grant writing, membership or volunteer organization leadership
  • Or a similar combination of skills and experience to successfully perform the duties of the position. 
  • Requires a valid driver’s license
Preferred Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree, and 
  • Four (4) years of successful experience in outside sales, grant writing, membership or volunteer organization leadership; or
  • Three (3) years of major gift fundraising in a University setting or a similar combination of skills and experience. 
Physical Demands
  • Light Work
  • Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Exertion of forces consistent with sedentary work.
FLSA Exempt
Additional Demands
  • Will requires some nights, weekends or early hours.
  • Will require some travel
Hours of Work
Monday – Friday; 8:00am – 4:30pm
Posting Detail Information

 

Posting Number S841P
Open Date 06/01/2026
Priority Deadline 06/12/2026
Open Until Filled Yes

Application Details (to apply use the Apply Now button below.)


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Applicants with dual-career considerations can find university jobs, such as professor jobs, dean jobs, and other faculty jobs and higher ed jobs with Missouri Western State University and with other colleges and universities in the region on AcademicCareers.com

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Missouri Western State University
About Missouri Western State University

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive, state-supported institution serving more than 5,000 students on a beautiful 744-acre campus about 45 minutes north of Kansas City. Missouri Western is an active partner in the educational, economic, cultural, and social development of the people and region it serves. A distinct focus on applied learning and applied research is a hallmark of the innovative teaching and learning environment.

 

At Missouri Western, Griffons Succeed!

Missouri Western State University has a proud tradition of providing a high quality, affordable education to students in the state of Missouri and beyond. We are a four-year, state-supported institution providing a variety of degree programs and offering professional master’s degrees, four-year baccalaureate degrees, two-year associate degrees, pre-professional transfer programs and one-year certificates. In addition, the University offers seminars, conferences and workshops suited to the needs of the community.

Students come from throughout the United States and more than 25 countries. And our alumni live and work around the world. From its humble beginnings in 1915, Missouri Western continues to deepen its impact on the community, region, nation and world.

 

Accreditation

Missouri Western is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of the six regional accrediting associations in the United States. HLC accredits institutions of higher education in 19 states and has approximately 1,000 member institutions.

Accreditation supports our ongoing focus on institutional improvement, ensures that we remain accountable to our constituencies, and provides us with a broad framework for action as we work to achieve our mission.

Missouri Western’s accreditation was reaffirmed on January 24, 2017 and participates in the Open Pathway. We value the insights provided through the accreditation process and seek to use this information to strengthen our institution.

Missouri Western is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), which provides a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. When states join SARA, they agree to follow uniform processes for approving their eligible institutions’ participation. They also agree to deal with other states’ SARA institutions in a common way when those institutions carry out activities in SARA states other than their own. For a list of schools holding NC-SARA membership, please click here.

Specialized accreditations include:

Missouri Western also has the All-Steinway School designation, the American Chemical Society curriculum approval, and the American Bar Association approval.


When inquiring or applying for positions at Missouri Western State University, please also reference AcademicCareers.com

Applicants with dual-career considerations can find university jobs such as professor jobs, dean jobs, chair / department head jobs, and other faculty jobs and professional and administrative staff employment opportunities at Missouri Western State University and at other institutions of higher education in the region on www.AcademicCareers.com

To receive email alerts when new jobs at Missouri Western State University are posted, please sign up at new job openings at Missouri Western State University .

 

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