Philanthropy Officer

Help provide the best education money can’t buy.

Berea College admits only academically promising students with limited financial resources—primarily from Appalachia—and no student pays tuition. As one of ten federally recognized Work Colleges, all students work at least 10 hours per week to help cover books, housing, and meals.

To sustain our Tuition Promise Scholarship for every admitted student, we seek a mission-driven Philanthropy Officer to join our Alumni, Communications & Philanthropy (ACP) division.

Philanthropy Officers are central to:

• Helping meet an annual fund goal of nearly $5M
• Securing major gifts that complement a $1.7B endowment
• Advancing special campaigns for capital and programmatic priorities

If you are an experienced major gifts fundraiser—or a high-performing relationship-based sales professional ready to pivot into philanthropy—this role offers the opportunity to change lives at scale.

Please note:

References provided at the time of application will not be contacted until the applicant has been offered the position.

You will manage a portfolio of alumni and friend donors capable of making gifts of $50,000+ and guide them through the full donor lifecycle (discovery, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship).

• Build and manage a strategic portfolio of major and planned giving prospects.
• Develop individualized strategies for discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Maintain a disciplined cadence of meaningful engagement (in-person visits, virtual meetings, proposals, and strategic communications).
• Serve as a trusted liaison between donors and the College, ensuring an exceptional donor experience.
• Secure outright major gifts, multi-year commitments, life income gifts, and planned gift commitments.
• Align donor interests with Berea’s mission, annual fund, and other institutional priorities.
• Partner with academic leaders, advancement colleagues, and senior leadership on donor strategies.
• Participate in College and ACP events, including some evenings and weekends.

• Manage travel planning, itineraries, contact reports, expense reports, correspondence, and proposals with accurate and timely documentation.
• Demonstrate fiscal responsibility in the use of College resources (travel, events, technology).
• Actively participate in meetings, contributing ideas to strengthen Berea’s philanthropy program.
• Serve as a teacher and mentor to ACP colleagues and Berea students as opportunities arise.
• Engage in ongoing professional development related to major gifts, planned giving, campaigns, foundation, and corporate giving.

• Minimum 3 years of successful fundraising experience (higher education or nonprofit preferred) with demonstrated success in soliciting and closing major gifts,
• OR
• 5+ years of success in a related field (e.g., relationship-based sales) with a track record of cultivating and closing high-value commitments.

• Strong commitment to the mission of Berea College and excitement about its distinctive place in higher education.
• Demonstrated negotiation, solicitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication
  ; strong listening skills, curiosity, and strategic thinking.
• Highly developed organizational and follow-through skills; ability to balance autonomy with accountability.
• Ability to manage multiple strategies and timelines simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Unwavering integrity, discretion, sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and professionalism.
• Collaborative team orientation; celebrates and supports colleagues’ success.
• Ability to work independently, synthesize information, and recognize opportunities to deepen donor engagement.
• Willingness to learn and effectively articulate concepts related to major gifts, planned giving, campaigns, foundation, and corporate giving.

• Valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• Successful completion of a background check.

• Extensive travel (up to two business weeks per month) plus significant phone and virtual engagement.
• Ability to travel independently by car and plane…