Career Center

Bridgewater State University is an inclusive community dedicated to the lifelong success of all students, focused on the continuous improvement of its people, and responsible for leading innovation that benefits Southeastern Massachusetts, the commonwealth, and the world. Bridgewater's accessible environment of teaching and learning stimulates critical thinking, pursuit of new knowledge, and deeper understanding, the cultivation of meaningful and diverse interpersonal relationships, and fostering an appreciation for global engagement, all aimed at transforming lives and improving the human condition.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in our institutional values, which ensure that all students are supported and succeed.

Driven by Bridgewater State University's overarching priorities of student success, equity and opportunity, the division of University Advancement builds capital vital to the institution's continuous impact, growth and transformation, and does so by:

An interdependent team of innovative and ambitious collaborators collectively focused on a higher purpose, University Advancement is home to Alumni Relations, the Development team, and Advancement Operations. We value best practice operations that build trust, transparency and confidence and aim to be a cohesive force to unify the meaning of BSU across many generations and perspectives. We are working towards the day when the success of Bridgewater State University is limited only by the imagination of the people it serves.

Bridgewater State University is equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. Members of underrepresented groups, and those committed to working in a diverse cultural environment, are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Major Gift & Planned Giving team is dedicated to enriching and advancing the experience for all students and building a student-centered culture with a commitment to inclusion and innovation. We are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome, and included.

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the incumbent of this position oversees the major and planned giving efforts for the university. In consultation with the Chief Development Officer, the incumbent supervises the major giving staff, develops and executes comprehensive program strategies for major and planned giving including implementation of a multi-year plan and timeline with clear goals and metrics for cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, and works directly with a portfolio of selected donors and donor prospects to advance their philanthropic relationship with the university. The incumbent of this position will identify and qualify prospective major donors, involve them with the University through personalized cultivation, and develop and execute timely and appropriate gift proposals. In collaboration with the Director of Development, responsibilities also include providing leadership to donor relations staff in their efforts to recognize and steward donors contributing at every level; ensuring that donor expectations are met and supported programmatically as specified in individual fund agreements; and increasing awareness of opportunities for philanthropic support across the university including outreach orchestrated with other campus colleagues, as a means to furthering relationships with donors and prospective donors.

This is an APA position and is subject to the terms of that union agreement.
Tour of Duty: Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 5:00

(Evening and weekend hours may be required)

(Saturday and Sundays as days off, ability to work some weekends as needed)

When you join the team at Bridgewater State University, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative, and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners.

Your Contributions:
1. Serve as the Supervisor for major and planned giving officers. Support strategic, metrics based movement of team members prospects and portfolios and provide assistance with cultivation and solicitation strategies.
2. Serve as a Major Gifts Officer for the University, with responsibility for a portfolio of approximately 125 donors. Execute individualized cultivation/solicitation contacts with assigned prospect consistent with contact-goals set annually by the Chief Development Officer.
3. Implement the moves management system in qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding individual donors using a series of visits, events and other engagement opportunities. Collaborate in prospect management meetings and efforts to fully utilize moves management throughout all stages of the development cycle. Devise strategies and initiate activities to involve donors and prospects in more meaningful and cultivating ways in the life of the University.
4. Work with the Chief Development Officer and the Director of Development to formulate and implement a comprehensive planned giving marketing program including: direct mail and e-mail; magazine and other university publications; planned giving web-pages; and visits/events with prospective planned gift donors. Manage and grow the 1840 Society, the University's stewardship program for planned giving donors.
5. Work collaboratively with the Director of Development to build the pipeline of givers, focusing on leadership level annual donors with the capacity to make major gifts.
6. Work with the Donor Relations Coordinator in expanding and executing an array of personalized stewardship programming that ensures the fulfillment of donor intention and highlights the impact of philanthropy on the educational opportunities and outcomes of individual recipients.
7. Work to advance proposal development and execution via regular prospect review meetings, consistent logging of relevant anecdotal and tactical information, and preparatory research in advance of all meetings.
8. Collaborate with interdivisional colleagues as required to develop and operationalize initiatives supported via private philanthropy to ensure that donor expectations are met as defined in specific fund agreements.
9. Collaborate with colleagues across campus to involve donors and prospects with the University, working as needed with the Academic, Student and External Affairs Divisions.
10. Develop volunteer resources in the major and planned gifts areas, working with select members of the BSU Foundation Board, various other alumni volunteer leaders and current major and planned gift donors.
11. Assist with a variety of University Advancement events and projects as assigned. Travel, primarily in New England but also nationally, is required, as well as the ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community.
1. Bachelor's degree required.
2. Minimum of seven years of professional development experience, including demonstrated knowledge of planned giving, and proven success with major and planned gift donors through personalized prospect management.
3. Commitment to customer service excellence/support to enhance an environment of equity, diversity and inclusion.
4. Ability to communicate appropriately and professionally, both verbally and in writing, a diverse student body, faculty, staff, volunteers, alumni and high-level, including correspondence and proposal writing and public presentation.
5. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a diverse student body, faculty, staff, volunteers, alumni and high-level donors to build relationships.

6. Proven facility with computers in a Windows environment and with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or an equivalent development-specific customer relationship management system a must. Proven baseline prospect research experience preferred.
7. Self-motivation and initiative; ability to carry through on projects with minimal supervision; willingness to work both independently and as part of a team.
8. Strong ethical and professional standards and the ability to motivate and inspire a commitment to the University's mission in both staff and volunteers.

1. Master degree preferred.
2. Multi-year campaign fundraising preferred.
3. Higher education or nonprofit experience preferred.

Bridgewater State University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants and employee with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for the application process, please complete and submit this electronic form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?BridgewaterStateUniv&layout_id=18

Please be aware that employment at Bridgewater State University is contingent upon completion of a successful background check.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

This position must comply with the University Covid-19 Attestation requirement. All employees must be fully vaccinated and complete the Covid-19 Attestation upon hire.

An employee may request an exemption to the vaccination requirement based on the existence of medical contraindication to vaccination. In addition, an employee may request an exemption to the vaccination requirement based on a sincere religious belief. In both cases, an employee will be required to submit documentation to support the request for an exemption. Employees who secure an exemption may be required to take additional precautions in the workplace and will be required to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing through the university's Wellness Center.

Bridgewater State University (BSU) is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer which actively seeks to increase the diversity of its workforce. We are dedicated to providing educational, working and living environments that value the diverse backgrounds of all people.

Please note the following information is required to complete your application for this position:

a minimum of one (1) employment history entry.

a minimum of three (3) professional reference entries.