Philanthropy Officer

The Philanthropy Officer plays a key role in advancing institutional fundraising goals by building meaningful relationships with donors, developing tailored engagement and solicitation strategies, and securing philanthropic commitments that support scholarships, academic programs, capital projects, and other priorities. By identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumni, friends, and other prospects capable of making major gifts of $10,000 or more, the Philanthropy Officer manages a portfolio of donors who support Elmhurst University’s strategic priorities. This position works collaboratively with campus partners and advancement colleagues to strengthen donor pipelines and enhance long-term philanthropic support.

Position Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $75,000-$80,000. This is the expected salary range for this position. The actual salary offered will depend on a candidate's experience and education, and departmental budget.

Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of major gift prospects with the capacity to make gifts of $10,000 and more, ensuring consistent cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and pipeline development activities.
• Conducts prospect identification, research, and qualification through data analysis, networking, referrals, and engagement activities to build and maintain a robust major gift pipeline.
• Develops and executes donor-specific strategies for engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to achieve monthly contact benchmarks and annual fundraising goals established by the Senior Director of Philanthropy.
• Conducts face-to-face visits, virtual meetings, phone calls, and written communications to build and sustain meaningful relationships with alumni, donors, parents, and friends of the University.
• Maintains consistent and proactive communication with donors and prospects, including timely follow-up on inquiries, meetings, gift acknowledgments, and stewardship activities.
• Prepares and presents compelling gift proposals, solicitation strategies, case statements, and funding opportunities in collaboration with advancement leadership and campus partners.
• Advances prospects through all stages of the fundraising cycle, including discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, gift closure, and stewardship.
• Achieves annual fundraising and activity goals consistent with assigned portfolio expectations and institutional priorities.
• Collaborates with colleagues across the Office of Institutional Advancement and key University leaders, academic leadership, faculty, athletics, and student affairs to coordinate prospect strategies, fundraising initiatives, and donor engagement opportunities.
• Maintains accurate, timely, and comprehensive documentation of prospect activity, strategies, and outcomes in the University's CRM system, Raiser’s Edge NXT.
• Prepares donor briefings, meeting materials, reports, and other communications that support cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.
• Initiates and facilitates conversations regarding planned giving opportunities with portfolio and non-portfolio donors, as appropriate.
• Participates in advancement events, donor engagement activities, and University programs, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Supports campaign initiatives and other strategic fundraising priorities as assigned.
• Represents Elmhurst University professionally to alumni, donors, community partners, and other external stakeholders, serving as a frontline ambassador of the University and maintaining current knowledge of institutional priorities, goals, and initiatives.
• Adheres to established timelines and ensures the accurate tracking and timely completion of assignments, donor follow-ups, and related activities.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supports mission, vision and values of Elmhurst University.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
• Performs other duties and completes special projects as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2–4 years of proven major gift fundraising experience, preferably in higher education.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse donor constituencies.
• Knowledge of donor stewardship strategies and moves management systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, fundraising CRMs (such as Raiser’s Edge NXT), and prospect management tools.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Willingness to travel and engage in evening and weekend donor activities as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Belief in and the ability to represent the Elmhurst University mission and core values.
• Experience in higher education or large nonprofit fundraising or comprehensive campaign environments.
• Experience collaborating with academic leaders, volunteers, and institutional leadership in fundraising efforts.
• Understanding of donor pipeline development strategies.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements
The essential functions of this position are primarily performed in an indoor setting with limited exposure to outdoor weather conditions. Work is often sedentary in nature and requires remaining in a stationary position for extended periods. Required abilities include speaking and hearing for in-person and virtual communication, using close and distance vision when reading documents or viewing screens, and performing tasks with repetitive fine motor skills. Work may require occasional lifting, bending, carrying, or otherwise moving objects weighing up to 15 pounds. Qualified applicants who can perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Benefits

An overview of Elmhurst University benefits is available here.

Please submit cover letter, resume, and three references with contact information with online application. The references should include name, phone number and email.