Development Officer, Leadership Giving

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Overview

Yale University seeks a driven and successful fundraiser to join the division of Alumni Affairs and Development. As a member of the Office of Development Leadership Giving team, the Leadership Giving Officer solicits prospective donors to Yale University for gifts of $50,000 to $500,000 and plays a central role in collaborating with colleagues in Major Gifts, the Alumni Fund, Reunion Giving, and Planned Giving to ensure prospects are solicited comprehensively. The Leadership Giving Officer carries their own portfolio of individual prospects within specific geographic regions and also functions in a discovery role. In addition to annual fundraising goals, this position will identify new major- and principal-gift prospects through superior qualification work. This position is an ideal opportunity for a high-performing, collaborative and motivated development professional to be a part of Yale's central development team.

Required Skill & Abilities

1: Demonstrated ability to consistently close philanthropic gifts. Utilizes best practices and a donor-centric approach to manage a donor portfolio. Ability and willingness to travel regularly to meet prospects; includes work during evenings and weekends. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

2: Active listener with successful track record of interacting with donors, volunteers, and colleagues. Ability to translate approved fundraising priorities into enticing philanthropic giving opportunities. Leverages relationships to implement strategic solicitation of donors for stretch gifts.

3: Proactive, productive team contributor with a positive attitude and sense of humor. Is inspired by challenging team goals. Commitment to an inclusive workplace.

4: Demonstrates initiative and has a resourceful and data-driven work ethic. Innovative, flexible, excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills. Demonstrated ability to fulfill commitments and take responsibility for outcomes. Persistent, results oriented and driven to succeed.

5: Exhibits behavioral and linguistic flexibility as well as strong intellectual and social curiosity. Demonstrated ability synthesizing and prioritizing information from a wide array of sources while maintaining an attention to detail and effectively managing overall workflow.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:

Demonstrated ability soliciting and closing 5- & 6-figure gifts. Demonstrated ability fundraising in higher education and moves management systems.

Principal Responsibilities

1.Qualifies, cultivates and solicits Yale alumni capable of making leadership annual and capital gifts to the University. 2.Devises and implements cultivation and solicitation strategies and meets activity and revenue goals by planning, managing and maintaining an aggressive travel schedule. Executes cultivation methods to solicit gifts. Raises leadership annual and capital gifts to fund university priorities. 3 Develops and implements retention strategies to upgrade donors. Recognizes disinterested donors and devises strategies to redirect their interests. 4.Participates in execution of events and programs in support of development activities. Engages key volunteers and effectively utilizes events and other activities to move solicitations forward. Conducts appropriate stewardship activities to further enhance the relationship between assigned donors and Yale. Initiates and maintains contact to promote positive donor relations. 5.Solicits leadership annual and capital gifts working with donors directly and working with department colleagues and volunteers. 6.Qualifies prospects for potential major gift capacity and interest. Provides appropriate background on prospects to be assigned to Major Gift portfolios. 7.Effectively communicates progress of cultivation efforts and results of visits to appropriate personnel. 8.Exercises good judgment in discussing alumni, issues and results. Maintains composure and calm demeanor in difficult situations. 9.Acts as liaison between various university departments and donors. 10.May perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of three years of fund raising or an equivalent combination of education and related experience. Required License(s) or Certification(s) Valid Driver's license

Job Posting Date

07/06/2026

Job Category

Professional

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Development

Compensation Grade Profile

Development Officer (Ungraded)

Salary Range

0.00 - 0.00

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff

Work Model

Hybrid

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role's grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual's sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.