Colorado Christian University Careers

Description

The Regional Philanthropy Officer is a full-time remote position within University Advancement at Colorado Christian University (CCU). Supervised by the Senior Director of Major Gifts and working collegially with the members of the Advancement Team, the Philanthropy Officer serves as a regional major gift officer identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and corporations within one of CCU’s strategic geographic regions.

 

This position is responsible for primarily building and then managing a portfolio of 100+ donors, researching and cultivating prospective donors, developing donor proposals and presentations, conducting face-to-face donor meetings and calls related to focusing on cultivating and soliciting significant gifts at the Major Gift level of $25,000+, with an emphasis on gifts of $100,000+ and building a portfolio of $1,500,000 or more. The regional Philanthropy Officer will have regular travel throughout their multi-state geographic region and occasional travel to the Denver area to the CCU campus. Comfortableness with a Metric-Driven Culture and Quantitative Metrics (KPIs) is essential.

 

CCU is looking for Philanthropy Officers based in major metropolitan areas primarily in Texas, California, and Arizona as we launch and manage a multi-year national fundraising campaign to help propel the university’s next level of growth. Colorado Christian University (CCU) offers a 100% tuition benefit for eligible full-time employees in undergraduate and graduate programs. Spouses and dependents are eligible for a 100% tuition waiver for undergraduate programs with no waiting period.

Job Location
 
Remote - must reside and work legally in the U.S. All work must be performed within the U.S.

1. Faith-friendly: CCU’s culture is unique to higher education. Where else can you pursue         academic excellence yet read the Holy Bible, pray with teammates and students at work, and   work to impact our culture in support of Christian values?
2. Convictionally Christian: As a university, we have an enduring commitment to Christ, his k     kingdom and the truth of God’s Word.
3. Live out your calling: We are a traditional evangelical university where you can invest your   God-given talents and abilities alongside coworkers and teammates, while having a profound   influence on students as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
4. Equip students for kingdom work: You can be a part of helping students discover their   callings and preparing them for positions of significant leadership in the church, business,   government, education, and other professions, as a key part of our University's Strategic   Priorities.

Key Job Responsibilities

 

Mission Contribution - Contribute to CCU’s mission of Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth by generating significant charitable gifts to CCU’s mission through exceptional relationship with and support of an active generous donor base.

 

Build and Steward an Active Portfolio 

1. Prospecting ability is foundational to build and then manage a portfolio of to 100+ individual major donors generating $1,500,000+ in annual giving.
2.  Conduct personal visits and maintain critical contacts with potential donors, with a specific emphasis on engaging high-wealth donors within your assigned area and territory.
3. Conduct a minimum of 15-20 face-to-face visits with prospects/donors per month, including scheduling appointments and hosting CCU’s President and Vice President of University Advancement for donor and prospect meetings or receptions.
4.  Cultivate strong, lasting relationships with current and prospective donors, ensuring they feel valued and informed about the impact of their gifts. This includes developing personalized stewardship plans, navigating planned giving discussions, and ensuring proper donor recognition.

 Technology Proficiency

1.  Extensive use donor management software (Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT; Research Point; Momentum AI) to capture and document essential details that inform donor strategies.
2. Maintain meticulous records of donor interactions, complete reports, and ensure efficient trip planning to maximize engagement.
3. Use public information, personal networks, and data analytics to identify new potential major donors who align with the organization's mission and have the capacity to give.

 Research & Analysis

1. Research and analyze your prospects and donor portfolio using wealth screening tools, publicly available information, and personal interactions to exceed donor contact and solicitation goals set by the organization.
2.  Work closely with the Senior Director of Major Gifts and the Vice President of University Advancement to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities and contribute to the overall strategic plan and capital campaigns.

 Ethical Stewardship

1.  Exercise discretion and fiduciary responsibility when handling cash, checks, and in-kind donations.
2.  Adhere to CCU policies and procedures and upholding our Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship.

 We’re looking for candidates who have:

1. At least a bachelor’s degree in business administration, communications, nonprofit leadership or philanthropy from an accredited institution. Professional certification or master’s level work is preferred.
2. Five+ years of major donor fundraising experience – and remote work experience preferred.
3. Experience working with senior level executives and managing sensitive issues.
4. Knowledge of higher education organizational culture, policies, and processes is preferred.
5. Proven knowledge of a variety of business software applications and specifically Microsoft 365 products.
6. Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
7. Ability to establish and maintain effecting working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.
8. Outstanding customer service skills and a donor-centric philosophy.
9. Excellent organizational skills and the ability to effectively prioritize projects.
10. Able to work independently and successfully with reliable professional judgement, often under time pressure.
11. Ability to handle confidential matters with extreme discretion.
12. Collaborative, team player.
13. Able to balance many priorities, sometimes with tight deadlines. 

Nature of Work Environment

Colorado Christian University expects all faculty and staff to become a part of the University community by participating in activities and events that occur on the campus throughout the year, which may occur during evenings and weekends. Supporting CCU Executive Leadership, and particularly the Office of University Advancement, requires a very high level of professionalism, confidentiality, decorum, and protocol.

What we offer our employees:

 

Spiritual Requirements

1. Committed follower of Jesus Christ, who believes there is no salvation apart from faith in his atonement on the cross, by grace alone becoming "born again" thus beginning a personal relationship with Christ, the Son of God.
2. Able to effectively communicate personal faith and apply biblical principles and convictions in the workplace. Must have a strong sense of calling to the ministry of Colorado Christian University.
3. Regularly attend and be engaged in meaningful involvement in a Bible-believing evangelical local church. Knowledgeable about the Word of God and passionate about Christian education.
4. Must be a traditional evangelical Christian whose lifestyle is in consonance with sound Christian principles, is compatible with CCU’s Statement of Faith, and is in agreement with the Strategic Priorities promulgated by the University.

Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Colorado Christian University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status. CCU is committed to an environment free from discrimination and harassment and calls on every member of the university community to be vigilant in deterring and reporting all violations. CCU does reserve the right to exercise preference on the basis of religion in all of its employment practices. All employees who work at CCU must demonstrate a spiritual testimony consistent with our evangelical mission and follow our lifestyle expectations.