Seminary of the Southwest
Job Announcement
Direct of Major and Planned Gifts
NOTE: This job is no longer available.
The mission of Seminary of the Southwest, an Episcopal Seminary, is to form men and women for the service of Christ in lay or ordained ministry within the church and the larger society. The primary commitment of Southwest is to the students’ growth in the knowledge and love of God as witnessed to in Holy Scripture, the Creeds, and in the universal and ecumenical traditions of the Church through the ages. Its purpose is to foster Christian ministers who are faithful, imaginative, and skilled. Four educational principles underlie the curriculum, involving worship and prayer, knowledge of Scripture and the Christian tradition, reconciliation, and leadership.
Shaded by stately live oak trees on the north edge of the University of Texas campus, Southwest offers both the advantages of a close-knit community and a world-class city on the edge of the Texas Hill Country. The enrollment is 80 students for the 2008-09 academic year. Two out of three students pursuing a Master of Divinity came from outside Province VII. Twenty-five dioceses are represented, ranging from Olympia, Northern California and Montana, to Virginia, Atlanta and Southeast Florida. The student body also includes students from a variety of other denominational and religious backgrounds. About half of Southwest’s students pursue a Master of Divinity degree and ordination in the Episcopal Church or some other denomination. Through the Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation, Southwest offers degrees and other programs for laity who serve a variety of communities within and outside the Church.
Summary
Southwest seeks an energetic, self-motivated, experienced professional for the Director of Major and Planned Gifts position. The successful candidate will have a proven track record in fundraising, personal solicitations and stewardship. The ideal candidate will provide leadership in the development of a major and planned gifts program with strategies to increase personal communication with donors, build individual giving through effective cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, identification and research of prospective donors, coordination of prospect management, and engagement of volunteers and Board members in fundraising.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop and direct a systematic major and planned gifts program that builds a strong foundation upon which to build a campaign;
- Identify major giving opportunities within Southwest’s needs;
- Conduct regular face-to-face cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities;
- Actively identify and oversee research of major and planned gift prospects;
- Coordinate fundraising volunteers in support of major and planned gifts;
- Interface and maintain positive relationships with donors, alumni, students, faculty and staff;
- Seek continuous improvement of the major and planned gifts program including streamlining tasks and developing efficiencies;
- Focus on implementation of best practices in fundraising;
- Work with staff to plan and execute fundraising events, donor recognition activities, and other special events;
- Oversee the preparation of all major and planned gift correspondence including, but not limited to: acknowledgement letters, stewardship reports, invitations and proposals required to support major gift and campaign fundraising efforts;
- Ensure all donors are appropriately thanked and receive regular communication by making donor stewardship a priority;
- Manage the major and planned gifts budget and adhere to internal policies, procedures, and internal controls;
- Participate in donor and alumni-related events—bi-annual lectures, Visitors Weekend, regional alumni events, etc.;
- Manage and oversee the work of the Campaign Coordinator and Development Assistant;
- Work in collaboration with the Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations to achieve annual fundraising goals;
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience
- A minimum of five years experience in fundraising, especially the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major donors; CFRE and/or AFP member preferred
- Understanding and experience marketing and soliciting planned gifts
- Willingness to travel statewide and nationally
- Excellent oral and written communication skills; exceptional interpersonal skills related to developing donor and alumni relationships
- Strong organizational skills; ability to multi-task and set priorities
- Ability to work independently and in a team environment
- Ability to respond with sensitivity and awareness to those with diverse cultural, ethnic, social backgrounds, values, attitudes and languages
- Computer literate with a solid knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, and donor management software; Raiser’s Edge experience preferred
- Knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the Episcopal Church
- Evening and weekend hours as needed
Benefits/Compensation
A competitive compensation package will be offered for this position based upon the successful candidate’s education, skills, experience, and potential for contribution toward the success of the Seminary of the Southwest. The position offers attractive benefits/vacation package and excellent working environment.
Contact
To apply for this position, please email your résumé, cover letter and reference list by
5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 to:
Mollie Butler
Bacon Lee & Associates
P. O. Box 15018
San Antonio, Texas 78212
Email: jobs@baconlee.com
Please indicate the position for which you are applying in the subject line of your email.
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We fully respect the need for confidentiality of information supplied by interested parties and assure them that their backgrounds and interests will not be discussed with anyone, including the leadership of the Seminary of the Southwest, without prior consent, nor will reference contacts be made until mutual interest has been established
Tags: director, episcopal, gifts, Job, posting, seminary, southwest
