Discovery Officer

Job Description

Reporting to the Associate Director of Impact Giving, the Discovery Officer is critical to growing the number of qualified prospects who can support Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT) at the major gifts level.

This candidate will focus on identifying and qualifying alumni, parents, and friends who have the potential to make high-level leadership gifts, multi-year leadership commitments, and major gifts of $100,000 and above.

This individual will solicit major, planned, and leadership annual gifts.

Primary performance goals include the number of discovery meetings, prospect qualifications, and new gifts and commitments.

This candidate must be technologically savvy and understand how to leverage their resources to reach all donors and engage the community in Stevens' development efforts. 

 

This position will be based in Hoboken, New Jersey, at the main campus of Stevens Institute of Technology, with a flexible work arrangement as set by the Division of Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE). 

 

Key Responsibilities 


* Participate in all aspects of the gift cycle: (1) identify, initiate contacts with, and qualify potential major donors; (2) develop appropriate cultivation strategies for them, including working with volunteers; (3) make solicitations when appropriate; (4) maintain stewardship contacts with donors. 



* With the goal to build a major gift portfolio, undertake efforts to systematically identify and qualify new prospects capable of making high-end leadership annual and major gift contributions in support of Stevens; develop strong working relationships with undergraduate alumni, graduate alumni, parents, and friends to identify prospects who have the capacity, potential, and inclination to support Stevens. 



* Secure commitments of support from prospects either through direct solicitations or by partnering with members of the Impact Giving team. 



* Regularly prospect for new discovery visits, relying on various strategies to uncover previously unengaged donors.

Conduct a high level of outreach on an ongoing basis to these prospects to secure digital, phone, and in-person meetings.  



* Develop and manage a personal portfolio of donors and prospects with a focus on building the link between annual and impact giving programs.  



* Maintain consistent and appropriate contact with prospects and travel to meet with them, either alone or with SIT representatives. 



* Strive to exceed mutually agreed-upon personal metrics and goals and contribute substantively to division-wide objectives.  



* With guidance from the associate director, work across DAE, academic, and administrative departments to understand priorities and engage them as needed to build strong donor relationships.  



* Strengthen prospects' interest in Stevens through substantive campus visits and engagement opportunities, such as alumni events, volunteer opportunities, exposure to acad...