Trinity College
Senior Leadership Giving Officer
Trinity College is a private liberal arts college located in the capital city of Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut. Coeducational since 1969, the college enrolls more than 2,100 full-time undergraduate and 90 graduate students. Trinity offers 41 majors and 28 interdisciplinary minors. There are 230 full-time and 45 part-time academic staff. The scenic 100-acre campus is host to 28 sports teams that are a member of Division III NESCAC. The current endowment is approximately $800 million. For more background on Trinity College, please view links below.
- https://www.trincoll.edu/
- https://www.trincoll.edu/campaign/
- https://www.trincoll.edu/alumniandfamilies/
- https://www.trincoll.edu/bicentennial/
Trinity College seeks a staff that reflects the changing demographics of our student body. Our student body is diverse, representing 41 states and 70 countries, with 21 percent U.S. students of color and 50 percent who identify as women. More than 90 percent of students live on campus. Trinity is a highly selective, independent, nonsectarian liberal arts institution. The college maintains a rigorous academic profile complemented by a vibrant and diverse co-curricular program. We consider our location in a culturally and socioeconomically diverse capital city to be among Trinity’s most distinctive assets, and we cultivate strong connections with our surrounding neighbors and with institutions and organizations throughout Hartford and the region. As a preeminent liberal arts college in an urban setting, Trinity College prepares students to be bold, independent thinkers who lead transformative lives.
Position Overview
Trinity College’s Advancement Office seeks a talented, highly motivated, client oriented, team player and experienced front-line major gift officer for the opportunity of Senior Leadership Giving Officer. The new hire will be responsible for the active management of leadership gift prospects as assigned. Individuals in the Senior Leadership Giving Officer’s portfolio of approximately 150 prospects will have the capacity to make gifts of $100,000 or more. The Senior Leadership Giving Officer is responsible for moving prospects through the donor engagement process: identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, and closing comprehensive gifts for Trinity College’s ‘All In’ Campaign. The ability and interest in willing to travel regularly and have the ability and personality to relate comfortably to a sophisticated and diverse alumni and parent constituency is essential.
At Trinity College, we seek to have our staff reflect the changing demographics of our student body. Trinity is a highly selective, independent, nonsectarian, 200 year old liberal arts institution located in Connecticut’s capital, Hartford. With over 2,100 full-time undergraduate students and 91 graduate students, the College maintains a rigorous academic profile complemented by a vibrant and diverse co-curricular program. The College enjoys the benefit of being situated in an urban center and has strong academic, social, and philanthropic connections to our home city of Hartford. Our student body is diverse, representing 41 states and 70 countries with 21% students of color and 50% women. Just over 90% of students live in campus residences. As the preeminent liberal arts college in an urban setting, Trinity College prepares students to be bold, independent thinkers who lead transformative lives.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward Trinity alumni, parents, and friends as assigned who are capable of making leadership-level commitments to the College. These gifts may include restricted/capital gifts, gifts to Annual Giving purposes, and planned gifts.
- Work closely with colleagues across the campus to set donor strategy with a focus on soliciting and closing leadership gifts of $100,000 and above.
- Develop and grow relationships with leadership gift prospects through phone, email, video call and face-to-face meetings.
- Collaborate with colleagues on key reunion classes, campaign initiatives, and annual giving.
- Assist in obtaining hosts, staffing, and executing advancement events, both on and off campus.
- Complete all assigned reporting including travel plans, itineraries, contact reports, expense reports and monthly status reports in a timely manner.
- Attend and actively contribute to staff and departmental meetings, as scheduled.
- Remain informed about the mission of the College, including its history, academic programs, current activities, and policies.
- Write donor proposals, presidential briefings, and gift documentation with precision and in a timely fashion.
- Meet mutually agreed upon performance expectations.
- Some evening and weekend work required.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Demonstrated ability and track record of success to solicit, cultivate and close 6-figure gifts.
- A bachelor’s degree is required.
- 5 – 10 years of successful leadership-level fundraising (major gifts) or comparable experience, preferably in education.
- Well-developed written and oral communication skills are essential, as well as genuine and sincere interest and ability to interact with a broad range of constituents.
- Ability to problem solve, to create and implement prospect strategies, and to engage with campus partners is required.
- Willingness and ability to spend roughly 40-50% of the time on frontline meetings through local meetings, travel, and via Zoom.
- Must be self-driven, highly organized, flexible, and able to successfully manage multiple priorities.
- Must be a team player with a highly developed sense of integrity and work ethic.
- Evidence of a commitment to a liberal arts education and mission through actual or volunteer experience preferred.
- Must demonstrate empathy and must value and foster behaviors that support a diverse college community.
- Computer fluency including Microsoft Office Suite, donor database software, and query tools is needed.
- Ability to travel within the United States independently, including a valid driver’s license, required.
Desired Qualifications:
- Familiarity with fundraising principles and experience in a higher education or academic setting
- Knowledge of and experience with Planned Giving preferred
- Experience with PeopleSoft and/or CRM systems
- Plus Delta Discipline of Frontline Fundraising training preferred.
- Comprehensive knowledge of Trinity College’s mission and programs and/or experience in another college setting
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
Mission & Vision
Trinity College is where the liberal arts meet the real world—but how that happens continues to evolve. That’s why it’s our collective endeavor—our ability and our responsibility—to envision the Trinity we want to be and to pursue it with unwavering commitment. We maintain our focus through a defined mission, a strategic plan, and a commitment to key initiatives. It’s how we advance our ideals while attending to the stability and sustainability of our tradition of independence.
Trinity College Benefits
Trinity is committed to attracting, hiring, and retaining a talented, diverse and high performing workforce across all areas of the institution. Trinity’s employees, in their individual and collective contributions, support the college and its strategic plan, Summit. We foster collaboration and engagement to support an inclusive and innovative culture on campus, further our mission, and provide an excellent education for our students. Employment at Trinity includes competitive compensation and benefits offerings that support employee well-being, development opportunities and the opportunity for community engagement.
Contact Information
To explore this superb career opportunity on a highly confidential basis please send a letter of interest, resume and the contact information for 4 references (who will only be contacted if mutual interest is determined) to:
Doug Cooney, Executive Search Consultant, DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES Executive Search, Inc.
572 Washington Street, Suite 15, Wellesley, MA 02482 Telephone: 781-237-2800.
Email: jobs@deerfieldassociates.com