Senior officer

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at [email protected].

Alumnae Relations & Development

Job Description

Job Summary

The Senior Philanthropic Officer for Athletics works as part of a collaborative team working toward shared engagement and fundraising goals, with a particular focus on athletics related goals. Under the direction of the AVP for Development, and in close partnership with the Athletics Director, the Senior Philanthropic Officer for Athletics will recommend a comprehensive, campus-wide, strategic plan to increase participation and philanthropic support for athletics related priorities; inclusive of capital projects, the annual athletics day of giving, other programs in support of the varsity sports teams. Operating as a gift officer for Smith College, this position will manage an assigned pool of donor prospects where gift conversations will include comprehensive support for Smith with a focus on Athletics priorities. Focusing on Smith’s top athletics prospects, work with and support the president, director of athletics, senior vice president of advancement, board of trustees, and other key fundraising volunteers; as well as collaborating with the overall alumnae engagement and fundraising program inclusive of other gift officers, alumnae relations colleagues, event specialists, communications specialists and and other professional colleagues.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Essential Functions

Athletics Gift Officer (40%)

Work in close collaboration with fundraising and engagement programs across the Alumnae Relations & Development department, with key colleagues in the Athletics Department, as well as with other offices across campus to ensure that Smith’s athletics outreach activities are integrated in strategic ways.

Work closely with the director of athletics, coaches, and other campus leaders and colleagues in order to leverage their work and relationships in support of Smith’s commitment to communal well-being with focus on athletics through coordination with team events, game schedules, and travel.

Provide direction and management for the athletics initiative through volunteer engagement and awareness programs. Work closely with college relations and ARD communications to strategically place athletics stories and promote events.

Athletics Prospect Management (50%)

Manage a portfolio of individual major and principal gift prospects, maintaining frequent personalized contact, often traveling to meet the donors. Qualify, cultivate and solicit donors for funding to meet institutional priorities and specific fundraising goals. Design and implement effective and donor-centric strategies to actively engage donors and lead to solicitation. Conduct annual gift solicitation for all assigned prospects. Spearhead creative and strategic thinking for innovative approaches that inspire donors to make major level gifts, and formally close the gift process according to the Gift Acceptance policy and other practices and procedures.

Become fluent and knowledgeable about the college, its fundraising priorities, practices and procedures, its strategic plan and future vision, its values and its history. Articulate these persuasively and compellingly to individuals and groups.

As needed, provide strategic and tactical support to involve the president, vice president, other senior cabinet members, key faculty, and volunteer leadership in developing individual major gift prospect relationships. Participate when required, in strategic planning for the president’s and other key campus leader’s development travel schedule and review of presidential prospects. Produce pre-visit briefing materials, post-visit follow-up communications, and proposal plans.

Meet or exceed established metrics and goals for visits, solicitations, gifts and other meaningful contact with assigned prospects. Promptly record contact reports and carry out other essential follow up activities and ensure accurate documentation of prospect strategies, solicitation plans and contacts and their entry into the college’s prospect management system. Analyze activities to achieve progress towards stated goals. Effectively utilize administrative support and support the work of other colleagues to achieve established goals.

Collaborate effectively with other frontline fundraisers, Donor Relations, Gift Planning, Events, Smith Fund and Class Managers to ensure effective, individualized strategies for each prospect. Serve as creative problem solver, prospect strategist, and collaborative support to the Major Gifts team. Strategize, support and participate in prospect-focused and alumnae-related events as assigned.

Support Leadership Fundraising and Regional Strategies (5%)

Participate in strategic planning for the president’s development travel schedule. Organize and staff the president, and other senior leaders and faculty, on meetings with key gift prospects assigned. Produce pre-visit briefing materials, and post-visit contact reports, follow-up communications and proposal plans.

Other Duties (5%)

Participate in departmental training, college-wide programming and other initiatives to understand the college and its history, values, priorities and constituencies. Participate in team meetings and task forces as appropriate. Performs other related duties as assigned. All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

MINIMUM REQUIRED Qualifications (education, Experience, Certifications, Licenses, Knowledge, Skills)

Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 12 years experience with major gifts ($100k+) and principal fundraising ($1M) or an equivalent combination of experience and education

Proven record of six-figure plus fundraising success

Experience with corporate sponsorships

Skills

• Demonstrated record of success in raising six and seven figure gifts.
• Demonstrated knowledge of prospect management best practices with high-capacity donors;
• Ability to engage in collaborative problem solving with prospects and colleagues;
• Highly organized in portfolio and time management
• Program management skills
• Superb verbal, written, and listening communications skills.
• Must be able to establish and maintain excellent rapport with donor constituents as well as on-campus colleagues.
• Able to operate both independently and as an active participant in team-based strategies, solicitation approaches, and engagement activities.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, diplomacy, confidentiality, and to exhibit a mature, professional approach at all times.
• Versatile in standard office computer skills and donor database systems.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

Background as a collegiate athlete is preferred. Experience in athletics fundraising in higher education is preferred.

#ALMDEV#

Please attach BOTH a current resume and a cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position . Be sure you have provided all attachments before submitting your application.

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Review of applications will begin

September 29, 2025

Position Type:

Regular

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at [email protected].

As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.