Principal Gifts Officer

Austin, TX, United States

Job Summary:

UATX seeks a Principal Gifts Officer to help execute its fundraising strategy, playing a key role in meeting our phase one goal of raising $250 million, and helping us launch a much larger phase two campaign. Qualified candidates will be experienced fundraisers who are inspired by our mission and eager to work on a dynamic team, and focused on long-term relationship building with current and prospective donors. The Principal Gifts Officer will cultivate a regional portfolio of major supporters and prospects, and will plan and execute select donor events. Both team and individual success requires the development and execution of thoughtful, deliberate strategies to identify, cultivate, and solicit supporters capable of making gifts from $100k to $100M+. The position requires frequent donor meetings via phone, Zoom, and in-person, with a minimum of 25% time travel.

Overview:

The University of Austin (UATX) is a new, private, nonprofit, nonsectarian university in Austin, Texas, dedicated to the fearless pursuit of truth through freedom of inquiry, freedom of conscience, and civil discourse. Our innovative undergraduate curriculum combines the rich and varied inheritance of the past with the most compelling ideas and initiatives of the present. Students will learn from world-class scholars and expert practitioners how to bring thought into action and theory into practice, with the goal of advancing personal flourishing and a freer and more prosperous society. At UATX students will gain access to a rapidly expanding network of thoughtful and courageous leaders, independent thinkers, and bold entrepreneurs.

Three years ago, witnessing the growing crisis in higher education, our founding trustees came together to create a vision for a new kind of university. Pano Kanelos was named president and, in less than 36 months, we have established a campus, raised nearly $200M in support, built a community, and earned national attention for our commitment to academic freedom and academic merit. We have hired first-rate faculty across a broad range of fields and developed partnerships with leaders in industry and the entrepreneurial sector. We are poised to welcome our first class of students in fall 2024, and plan to scale up significantly over the next five years. UATX has already begun to exert influence on the broader American higher education landscape, modeling a return to first principles, a sustainable financial model, and a curriculum built for the 21st century, and we anticipate our impact will extend appreciably over time.

Responsibilities

Work with the Senior VP of Advancement and the Senior Director of Principal Gifts to establish quarterly fundraising goals and strategies, build a regional portfolio of donor prospects to cultivate and engage, building authentic relationships and meeting fundraising targets.

Build long-term relationships to deeply engage high-capacity donors in the University's mission and priorities, securing support at a minimum of a "Founders" level (6-7 figure gift) and maximizing their philanthropic potential over time to reach transformational levels (8-9 figure gift).

Keep abreast of the intellectual content of the University and related coverage in media, as well as of the broader higher education landscape, to engage donors and prospects in UATX's rapid growth and development.

Consider each donor in terms of potential involvement across the University, taking into account all areas of interest; expose donors to the breadth and depth of activity that makes UATX so unique. Engage donors, when appropriate, as volunteer leaders, so that they connect us to other prospects, host events, make introductions, provide guidance and ideas, and support our solicitations.

Lead an extensive, continuous, and proactive collaboration with colleagues across UATX to develop effective and coordinated strategies for each donor, along with funding proposals and donor materials.

Contribute to the identification and refinement of compelling gift opportunities to connect donors' interests with the University's priorities.

With the support of our donor events team, lead the planning and execution of donor events (dinners and receptions) in key cities, with the goal of building a community of support in the region and raising the University's profile.

Ensure each gift is well-stewarded, drawing on administrative support for appropriate, timely, and consistent recognition. Ensure all appropriate reporting and documentation is undertaken.

Collaborate with the Senior VP of Advancement, the President of UATX, and other UATX team members on major donor strategy for donors within their respective portfolios.

Qualifications Substantive development/fundraising experience is required.

Demonstrable experience in executing major gift fundraising strategies for individual and prospective supporters.

Skilled writer, ability to balance shifting and competing priorities, and the capacity to adjust strategies and tactics quickly in response to new opportunities and constraints.

A compelling dedication to the mission of UATX and an entrepreneurial spirit.

EEO / AA STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

UATX does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.