Development Officer, Duke Gardens Annual Giving

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director of Development & Major Gifts, the Development Officer is an integral member of Sarah P. Duke Gardens’ Development Team and a frontline fundraiser for the Gardens. The Development Officer identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards prospects and donors through both individual and programmatic outreach. With a special focus on creating strategic and mission-aligned annual fund and membership programs for alumni, parents, and the community, the Development Officer will engage with Gardens constituents in person (both on campus and in region) and virtually. Working in collaboration with the development team and other Gardens staff, the Development Officer will be responsible for developing strategic growth initiatives and providing excellent cultivation and stewardship for Gardens members and donors.

This position may qualify for a partial remote work arrangement.

The ideal candidate will be motivated, professional, strategic, and results-driven. We’re looking for someone who believes in the missions of Sarah P. Duke Gardens and Duke University and has exceptional drive to advance our office’s fundraising efforts.

· The Development Officer will have strong organization and interpersonal skills, and will demonstrate a commitment to team work, curiosity and initiative.

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required. This person must have the ability to understand the big picture, communicating how a desired strategy or objective fits into the overall vision and mission of the organization, and must demonstrate optimism and commitment.

Responsibilities

· Work to increase Sarah P. Duke Gardens’ Annual Fund contributions from alumni by assisting in developing and implementing new strategies.

· Promote and grow membership to the Duke Gardens Society ($1,000+), by recruiting, retaining and upgrading members.

· Maintain correspondence with Sarah P. Duke Gardens annual fund supporters and members to acknowledge and steward their gifts.

· Enhance our outreach to students and coordinate efforts with the Senior Class Gift program in Duke Alumni Engagement and Development to increase student engagement.

· Work closely with the Gardens Learning and Engagement department to create an engaging calendar for events to enhance donor participation and to create more member engagement opportunities and strategies.

· Supports efforts to grow and enrich the Gardens prospect pipelines by researching and identifying individuals who have the capacity and inclination to provide philanthropic support.

· Write content for event invitations, renewal notices, solicitations and acknowledgment letters.

· Work with the Gardens’ Business Manager and Director of Development to manage and establish departmental budgets, monitor, verify and reconcile expenditure of budgeted funds. May assign and supervise the work of staff and volunteers.

· Identify, cultivate, solicit and track annual fund gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundation prospects to develop their interest in future fundraising projects and to provide information concerning the utilization of gifts.

· Carry out face-to-face Annual Fund solicitations, traveling occasionally/as necessary.

· Utilizes university-wide prospect tracking systems to assure efficient and well-coordinated efforts.

· Assist in developing and implementing policies and procedures related to gift acknowledgement, donor recognition, record keeping, communications and other related activities. Maintain effective collecting, recording, accounting, acknowledgement and follow-up on all private gifts.

· Liaise with the Communication department to develop appropriate communications such as newsletters, brochures, and pamphlets to include writing and editing of publications, digital content, and print communication projects.

· Provides oversight, planning, and implementation of special events, as needed. Represent the Gardens at events and functions both on- and off-site. Assists with the management of volunteer boards, committees, and advisory groups as needed.

· Coordinate engagement, cultivation and solicitation for additional donor constituencies as designated.

· Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Competencies

· Goal & Task Management: Prioritize and coordinate tasks with attention to deadlines, concurrent management of projects and ability to create and follow a set strategy for short and long-term goals and objectives. Gives and seeks feedback on own performance.

Perseveres in the face of performance obstacles for the achievement of work objectives. Consistently chooses an ethical course of action for workplace behavior. Forms relations with seniors, staff and peers that produce trust and approachability

· Attention to Detail: Regularly follows up with others to ensure information is complete. Work requires no review.

· Flexibility: The ability to adapt to and work effectively with a variety of situations, and with various individuals. Adapts tactics appropriately.

· Organizational Awareness: Ability to learn and understand organizational relationships and dynamics. Uses networks, alliances and individuals to achieve objectives.

· Shares Knowledge: Identifies novel approaches to organizational processes and procedures to increase effectiveness and efficiency in said processes/procedures, and shares this information with others at staff/program meetings to maximize benefit. Involves people with relevant expertise in projects and activities. Creates and supports systems and procedures that individuals can use to file, catalogue and share knowledge. Makes effective use of available media to share knowledge across the organization. Encourages others to use knowledge sharing systems. Encourages communication and collaboration.

· Collaborating with others: Ability to work collaboratively, formally and informally within one’s team and across the organization.

· Expressing ideas orally and in writing: Ability to effectively and persuasively communicate ideas, thoughts, and facts orally and in writing.

· Curiosity & Information Seeking: Expresses an underlying curiosity in people and the intellectual life of a major research university and an ability to go beyond questions that are routine to gain an understanding of the prospects capacity, affinity and inclination.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

How to apply:

Qualified applicants should apply through Duke careers web portal at https://hr.duke.edu, job requisition #249260, and send a copy of your résumé and cover letter only to GardensJobs@duke.edu.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education/Training:

Work requires the communications, analytical and organizational skills and knowledge normally acquired through completion of a Bachelor's degree.

Experience Required:

Work requires 3 years progressive experience in fundraising, alumni relations, prospect research, data analysis, and/or communications, or a related field to acquire skills necessary to administer, coordinate, and/or participate in general fundraising activities in a team environment. Proven verbal and written communication skills and computer experience. Occasional travel required. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

In addition, the ideal candidate will possess the following qualities/attributes:

· Ability to prioritize and execute multiple tasks and projects, working both independently and as a team member.

· Collaborative nature, flexibility, and willingness to work occasional weekends and evenings.

· Familiarity with database management and/or Excel is desirable.

· Knowledge of Duke University preferred.

Skills:

Given the nature of the role, the successful candidate with possess all physical and mental skills needed to spend time in the Gardens and to plan and execute domestic travel without restriction.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Minimum Qualifications

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.