Who we are

For nearly 200 years, Rensselaer has been defining the scientific and technological advances of our world. Rensselaer serves over 7,600 undergraduate and graduate students from 49 states and 63 countries. Guided by the Rensselaer Plan 2024, Rensselaer seeks to transform the delivery of pedagogical innovations, and to be a transformative agent in the 21^st century and beyond.

Job Summary

The Sr. Advancement Officer, Major Gifts is responsible for cultivating and soliciting 150-200 prospects capable of making gifts to Rensselaer of $100,000 to $2.49 million. The Sr. Advancement Officer will work in an assigned region and support a group of campus leaders to develop and implement strategies to close gift commitments.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Seven (7) years of progressively responsible fundraising experience or
• Master’s degree and Five (5) years of progressively responsible fundraising experience
• Experience in higher education and demonstrated record of cultivation and closing major gifts

Applicants must meet stated minimum education and experience requirements.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proven ability to establish and maintain relationships with major gift prospects and to close gifts.
• Ability to set priorities while also contributing to team effort in Institute Advancement.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to deal with very technical information and to translate this information into a product salable to non-technical internal and external people
• Flexibility in dealing with a wide variety of people; ability to process information quickly and accurately
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet established goals and objectives
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of Rensselaer and the major initiatives
• Ability to multi-task, handle multiple projects and deadlines
• Ability to work in a team environment

Job Duties

1. Raise new commitments from prospects capable of gifts of $100,000 - $2.49 million as identified in Goals/Objectives
2. Prepare and submit proposals as specified in Goals/Objectives.
3. Conduct pre-planned face-to-face prospecting and cultivation visits as specified in Goals/Objectives.
4. Conduct major moves as specified in Goals/Objectives.
5. Development Story as specified in Goals/Objectives.
6. Work in collaboration with specific campus leadership as determined by the Vice President of IA and with colleagues in Institute Advancement portfolio.
7. Maintain up-to-date prospect information in Advance by utilizing and maintaining prospect tracking system.
8. Participate and present in prospect strategy sessions.
9. Other duties as assigned by Vice President or designee.

Shift

Business Hours with weekends or evenings occasionally required

Travel

Application instructions

Follow the on-screen prompts to create an application. Please be ready to upload any required documents

If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact careers@rpi.edu 

COVID-19 Pandemic Protocols

As Rensselaer welcomes undergraduate and graduate students back to campus for an in-person academic experience, all faculty and staff are expected to work onsite, with no remote work allowed.

In addition, Rensselaer requires all faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Requests for exemptions for medical or religious reasons will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

We welcome candidates who will bring diverse cultural, ethnic, national and international perspectives to Rensselaer’s work and campus communities.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity, Race/Gender/Veterans/Disability Employer.