Job Description: 

The Development Associate is a full-time, professional, fundraising position responsible for soliciting leadership-level ($1,000+) annual gifts principally for the Binghamton Fund.

The primary objective of leadership-level giving program is to increase the number of donors who give annually to the Binghamton Fund at the $1,000+ level, ultimately increasing the amount of private, unrestricted support raised each year. This is done through personal visits, Zoom meetings and to some degree through phone calls, with an eye towards qualification of potential donors, solicitation of past and prospective leadership society members, and thoughtful engagement of contributors to develop their interest in, and support of, Binghamton University. This position plays a vital role in identifying and engaging the supporters that will comprise the future of philanthropy at Binghamton.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities: 

Solicitation of Annual Gifts – 95%

• Solicit primarily via personal visits or Zoom meetings, and to a secondary degree through phone calls –  annual, leadership-level gifts ($1,000+) on behalf of the University, and be able to meet monthly contact/activity metrics to benchmark performance.
• Develop and implement processes and solicitation strategies for the annual solicitation of donors and prospective donors of $1,000 or more, with an emphasis on securing unrestricted support for the Binghamton Fund at this level. Solicitation activities are primarily focused on personal visits. The majority of the travel will focus on metro NYC and the northeast. At the end of the calendar year and the fiscal year, some phone solicitations to those unable to be personally reached, or as reminder calls for donors are expected. During the pandemic these visits have been done via Zoom meetings, which will likely continue to some degree.
• Concentrate on leadership society renewal, upgrades and acquisition within the leadership giving prospect pool. This will assist in raising more private support each year and enhancing the major gift prospect pipeline. Personal visits will provide the Development Associate with the opportunity to qualify prospects for possible management by the major gifts program.
• Document all travel plans, contacts and solicitations through the practices outlined by the Office of Development’s prospect tracking and management protocol, and adhere to the policies and procedures outlined by the Office of Gift and Donor Records for accepting, recording, and acknowledging gifts. Partner closely with leadership giving colleagues in the Office of Development in the identification and tracking of leadership prospects; participate in Development Associate Team meetings.

Personal and professional development 5%

• Foster and maintain productive relationships with other advancement programs and professionals (Alumni Association, Athletics, Dean of Students Office and other affiliates).
• Review fundraising trade journals, books, and listservs to improve the Leadership Giving Program and develop enhanced solicitation strategies.
• As funding allows, participate in at least one professional development conference or educational program each year, if appropriate, in an effort to improve job skills and acquire broader knowledge of fundraising techniques. Utilize opportunities to network with colleagues at other colleges and universities.

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree with 3 or more years of experience in higher education advancement, or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience in personal solicitation , knowledge of the principals and practices which underlie individual giving and philanthropy
• Prior experience as a student caller at a University is ideal
• Excellent oral and written communications skills; Ability to effectively represent the University and to work effectively in a team environment with a mix of alumni and colleagues
• Proven ability to organize efficient travel and secure appointments with prospective donors, willingness to travel 60% of time and to work evenings and weekends
• Prior experience in a University setting is preferred
• Extremely detail-oriented, organized and highly motivated
• Ability to problem solve, work collaboratively and be an effective partner in a team environment
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office projects, especially Excel, is required.

Additional Information: 

Salary: $50,000 – $55,000

The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (RF) is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action.  It is the obligation of each officer, manager, and supervisor to ensure all employment activities are conducted in an equal and equitable fashion, without regard to race, creed, religion, color, citizenship, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, genetic information, marital status, status as a domestic violence victim, arrest record, disability, military status, disabled veteran, recently separated veteran, Armed Forces Service Medal veteran, active duty or wartime campaign badge veteran, or other characteristic as protected by law.  Such activities include, but are not limited to: recruitment, advertising, selection, hiring, training, promotion, upgrade, demotion, transfer, layoff, discharge, return from layoff, performance evaluation, rate of pay, other compensation and fringe benefits.