Description

Roger Williams University


Title: Leadership Advancement Officer - Roger Williams University

Location: Bristol, RI Category: Professional and Clerical Posted On: Tue Oct 21 2025 Job Description:

Under the direction of the Assistant Vice President, Major and Planned Gifts, Institutional Advancement, the Leadership Advancement Officer will focus on establishing and expanding external relationships through face to face interactions, email outreach and travel.  Key to this role is to identify, qualify and solicit prospects for our leadership annual fund societies to enhance the relationships that will result in funding for the immediate and long-term goals of the University.  This position requires travel to cultivate donors and potential donors.

In addition, the Leadership Advancement Officer will work closely with the front line major gifts team to develop individual donor strategies that elevate annual fund donor to major gift giving societies.

Essential Functions / Characteristics

Manage a discovery portfolio of 200-300 potential leadership gift prospects and identify and qualify new prospects to be added to the portfolio as needed. Establish and achieve individual fundraising and engagement targets in support of the institution's fundraising goals. Track performance metrics on an individual and team basis.

Qualify and engage Roger Williams alumni and friends through increased partnership from personal and virtual meetings, with the expectation of regional and national travel.

Be an active and collaborate member of the Leadership Gift team focusing on optimizing giving potential of all perspective donors.

Conduct a minimum of 15-20 face-to-face visits with prospects/donors per month.

Initiate opportunities for members of the college community to interact with prospects/donors and interpret interests various stakeholders.

Ensure compliance with prospect management guidelines for data entry and metric tracking.

Embrace the University community, engaging with and participating in campus activities and opportunities.

Work in cooperation with Advancement Services and Prospect Research to ensure that meaningful contacts and giving data are appropriately documented in institutional records.

Represent the University at certain campus events as requested. 

Work evenings and weekends as needed.

Job Requirements:

Bachelor's Degree in related field.

Demonstrated record of being a self-starter and having an entrepreneurial mind-set.

Ability to initiate and build relationships with prospective donors, and interact via telephone and in person with parents, families, alumni and friends of Roger Williams University.

Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and/or a Donor CRM Platform.

Communications savvy and interpersonal skills to interface with a diverse constituency.

Aptitude for persuasion, motivation and promotion.

A high level of energy, initiative and creativity.

Calculated risk-taking and entrepreneurial drive.

Ability and willingness to maintain an external travel schedule.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's Degree in related field.

Minimum of two years of fundraising experience within a not-for-profit or higher education organization.

Proven track record of successful fundraising and the ability to cultivate and develop gift prospects and secure major gifts. 

At the University's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be accepted where the candidate can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the University, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

Additional Information:

Roger Williams University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and com-mitted to a diverse workforce. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable state and federal law. For information on our Non-discrimination policy, visit here.

RWU prohibits all forms of discrimination on the basis of sex in its education programs and activities and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and its implementing regulations not to discriminate in such a manner. Complaints of Title IX sexual harassment should be reported to the Title IX Coordinator at the contact information listed below. Details regarding the formal complaint process can be found here: Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures. All complaints of sexual harassment will be taken seriously and responded to promptly. TITLE IX COORDINATOR: Dr. Jen Stanley, 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809 / Phone Number: (401) 254-3123 /Email Address: jstanley@rwu.edu

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