Overview

Woodberry Forest School seeks an experienced and energetic advancement professional to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gifts supporting the school’s strategic imperatives. The Principal Gifts Officer is a senior member of the Alumni & Development Team and reports to the Assistant Headmaster for Institutional Advancement.

Woodberry Forest School is a leading independent boarding school for boys in grades nine through twelve, and one of the only all-boys, all-boarding schools in the United States. Nestled on 1,200 picturesque acres in Madison County, Virginia, and located near Charlottesville and Washington, DC. The school enrolls approximately 400 students and has been committed to shaping the lives of young men since 1889.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a fluid portfolio of approximately 175 prospects by qualifying new prospects, cultivating donor interest and building relationships that support the school’s mission.  
• Plan and execute a total of 180 face-to-face visits per year. Complete contact reports and deliver timely and effective follow-ups to prospects and donors.
• Work collaboratively to determine creative cultivation and solicitation strategies; and maintain active efforts to evaluate prospects identified through fieldwork, screening, and research.
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Donor Relations to maintain a strong stewardship strategy for portfolio donors.
• Maintain strong relationships with faculty, staff, and administrators to fully understand and articulate to prospects Woodberry today and its priorities for the future. 
• Participate in major events on campus, i.e. Board meetings, Reunions, and other special events.  This will entail occasional weekend work.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and direct front-line fundraising, sales, business development, or related experience.
• Proven success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts.
• Appreciation for, understanding of, and a strong commitment to the mission and value of Woodberry Forest School.
• Superior interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organized and able to manage and prioritize multiple and competing projects on an ongoing basis.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently as well as with a team.
• Experience in developing and implementing strategies for achieving operating goals.
• Ability to listen carefully and understand constituents’ needs while proactively responding to those needs in a consistent and timely manner.
• Strong problem-solving skills combined with a collaborative approach.
• Solid knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
• Able to exercise confidentiality and discretion.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively including overnight travel.
• Periodic weekend and evening work is required.

Woodberry Forest School is an equal-opportunity employer.