CASE
Overview
Alumnae Relations & Development – Senior Philanthropic Officer for Athletics. The position works with a collaborative team toward shared engagement and fundraising goals, focusing on athletics priorities. Under the direction of the AVP for Development and in close partnership with the Athletics Director, the Senior Philanthropic Officer will recommend a campus-wide strategic plan to increase participation and philanthropic support for athletics priorities, including capital projects, the annual athletics day of giving, and other programs supporting varsity sports. The role manages an assigned donor prospect portfolio, engaging in gift conversations with emphasis on Athletics priorities. The officer will work with the president, director of athletics, senior vice president of advancement, board of trustees, and key volunteers, collaborating with alumnae engagement, other gift officers, ARD colleagues, event specialists, communications specialists, and other professionals.
Take action to support a diverse workforce and contribute to 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, and with other campus offices to ensure athletics outreach activities are integrated strategically.
Collaborate with the director of athletics, coaches, and campus leaders to leverage relationships in support of Smith’s communal well-being with a focus on athletics, coordinating with team events, game schedules, and travel.
Provide direction and management for the athletics initiative through volunteer engagement and awareness programs. Work with college relations and ARD communications to place athletics stories strategically and promote events.
Athletics Prospect Management (50%)
Manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, maintaining frequent, personalized contact, including travel to meet donors. Qualify, cultivate and solicit donors to meet institutional priorities and fundraising goals. Design and implement donor-centric strategies to engage donors and lead to solicitation. Conduct annual gift solicitations for all assigned prospects. Develop innovative approaches to inspire six- and seven-figure gifts and close gifts according to the Gift Acceptance policy and procedures.
Become fluent in the college, fundraising priorities, practices, strategic plan, values, and history. Articulate these persuasively to individuals and groups.
Provide strategic support to involve the president, vice president, and other senior leaders in developing individual major gift prospect relationships. Prepare pre-visit briefing materials, post-visit communications, and proposal plans. Meet or exceed metrics for visits, solicitations, gifts, and other contacts. Record reports and document prospect strategies in the prospect management system. Analyze activities to progress toward goals and collaborate with frontline fundraisers, Donor Relations, Gift Planning, Events, Smith Fund, and Class Managers.
Serve as a creative problem solver and prospect strategist for the Major Gifts team, participating 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, organize and staff meetings with key prospects, and produce briefing and follow-up materials.
Other Duties (5%)
Participate in departmental training and college-wide programming to understand the college and its priorities, join team meetings and task forces as appropriate, and perform related duties. All employees are expected to contribute to a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.
Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 12 years of 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.
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.
Excellent verbal, written, and listening communications skills.
Ability to establish and maintain excellent rapport with donors and on-campus colleagues.
Ability to operate independently and as part of team-based strategies and engagement activities.
Sound judgment, diplomacy, confidentiality, and professional conduct.
Proficiency with standard office software 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 a current resume and a cover letter for your application to be considered. Ensure all attachments are provided before submitting. You will not be able to attach additional files after hitting Submit.
Review of applications will begin September 29, 2025.
Position Type:
Regular
About Smith College Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is a large women’s college dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The policy on reasonable accommodation is described below.
Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, Smith College provides reasonable accommodation upon request. If accommodation is needed, contact recruiting-u@smith.edu.
Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination. The College will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Alumnae Relations & Development – Senior Philanthropic Officer for Athletics. The position works with a collaborative team toward shared engagement and fundraising goals, focusing on athletics priorities. Under the direction of the AVP for Development and in close partnership with the Athletics Director, the Senior Philanthropic Officer will recommend a campus-wide strategic plan to increase participation and philanthropic support for athletics priorities, including capital projects, the annual athletics day of giving, and other programs supporting varsity sports. The role manages an assigned donor prospect portfolio, engaging in gift conversations with emphasis on Athletics priorities. The officer will work with the president, director of athletics, senior vice president of advancement, board of trustees, and key volunteers, collaborating with alumnae engagement, other gift officers, ARD colleagues, event specialists, communications specialists, and other professionals.
Take action to support a diverse workforce and contribute to 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, and with other campus offices to ensure athletics outreach activities are integrated strategically.
Collaborate with the director of athletics, coaches, and campus leaders to leverage relationships in support of Smith’s communal well-being with a focus on athletics, coordinating with team events, game schedules, and travel.
Provide direction and management for the athletics initiative through volunteer engagement and awareness programs. Work with college relations and ARD communications to place athletics stories strategically and promote events.
Athletics Prospect Management (50%)
Manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, maintaining frequent, personalized contact, including travel to meet donors. Qualify, cultivate and solicit donors to meet institutional priorities and fundraising goals. Design and implement donor-centric strategies to engage donors and lead to solicitation. Conduct annual gift solicitations for all assigned prospects. Develop innovative approaches to inspire six- and seven-figure gifts and close gifts according to the Gift Acceptance policy and procedures.
Become fluent in the college, fundraising priorities, practices, strategic plan, values, and history. Articulate these persuasively to individuals and groups.
Provide strategic support to involve the president, vice president, and other senior leaders in developing individual major gift prospect relationships. Prepare pre-visit briefing materials, post-visit communications, and proposal plans. Meet or exceed metrics for visits, solicitations, gifts, and other contacts. Record reports and document prospect strategies in the prospect management system. Analyze activities to progress toward goals and collaborate with frontline fundraisers, Donor Relations, Gift Planning, Events, Smith Fund, and Class Managers.
Serve as a creative problem solver and prospect strategist for the Major Gifts team, participating 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, organize and staff meetings with key prospects, and produce briefing and follow-up materials.
Other Duties (5%)
Participate in departmental training and college-wide programming to understand the college and its priorities, join team meetings and task forces as appropriate, and perform related duties. All employees are expected to contribute to a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.
Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 12 years of 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.
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.
Excellent verbal, written, and listening communications skills.
Ability to establish and maintain excellent rapport with donors and on-campus colleagues.
Ability to operate independently and as part of team-based strategies and engagement activities.
Sound judgment, diplomacy, confidentiality, and professional conduct.
Proficiency with standard office software 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 a current resume and a cover letter for your application to be considered. Ensure all attachments are provided before submitting. You will not be able to attach additional files after hitting Submit.
Review of applications will begin September 29, 2025.
Position Type:
Regular
About Smith College Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is a large women’s college dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The policy on reasonable accommodation is described below.
Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, Smith College provides reasonable accommodation upon request. If accommodation is needed, contact recruiting-u@smith.edu.
Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination. The College will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status.
#J-18808-Ljbffr