Leadership Gifts Officer

The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) is dedicated to furthering the ideals and promoting the welfare of the United States Military Academy (USMA), and to supporting and serving its graduates.  USMA is renowned as the preeminent leader development institution.  The student body, or Corps of Cadets, numbers 4,400 and each year approximately 1,000 cadets graduate and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) is seeking a Leadership Gifts Officer to serve as lead front-line fundraisers on our 52-member Development Team. The Leadership Gifts Officer will be responsible for a specific geographic area, in this case, the greater New York City area.   Reporting to the Northeast Major Gifts Officer, the incumbent is responsible for soliciting leadership gifts (at least five-figures) from alumni and non-alumni friends of West Point.  Maintaining relationships with 150 prospects and donors with the capacity to make gifts at $25,000 and higher, the incumbent will be expected to manage all phases of the gift cycle (identifying, qualifying and evaluating, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding) with these important members of the West Point community.  The Leadership Gifts Officer also works closely and collaboratively with other members of the development team as well as with key volunteer alumni leaders and natural partners who are engaged strategically in the cultivation and solicitation effort.  The Leadership Gifts Officer must become fully versed in the funding needs of the Academy and WPAOG and energetically and effectively advocate for those priorities.  The Leadership Gifts Officer must also be able to offer the range of gift vehicles available to donors to include planned giving vehicles whenever appropriate.  In addition, when appropriate, the incumbent will be responsible for soliciting Annual and Class Gifts from the prospects that he or she manages.

Strong organizational and analytical abilities and excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.  The incumbent must be goal-oriented and enjoy a competitive, but collegial, environment.   The incumbent must be willing and able to travel extensively for meeting with his or her prospects and donors (40%-50% of time) and to be available for occasional weekend duty as required.  Comfort with the use of CRM software that tracks fundraising activities, as well as the technology that supports it, is a must.  The incumbent should possess thorough knowledge of fundraising or have relevant and transferable skills in a related field.  Knowledge of capital giving programs and planned giving vehicles is desired. 

A Bachelor’s Degree is required, with advance degrees a plus.  Three to five years of experience in fundraising is strongly preferred.  We offer excellent benefits and a pleasant working environment.  Salary commensurate with skills and experience.  Please submit cover letter, resume and letters of reference. 

West Point Association of Graduates is an Equal Opportunity Employer