Under the direction of the Director for Student Engagement + Philanthropy, the Student Philanthropy Officer is responsible for coordinating and executing a comprehensive philanthropy program for current Northeastern undergraduate students. This position will create and implement creative opportunities for undergraduate students that will promote a lifelong philanthropic relationship with the Office of Alumni Relations (OAR), the Advancement Division, and ultimately the university. Additionally, the Student Philanthropy Officer will recruit and manage student volunteers thereby ensuring peer-to-peer connections and creating ambassadors to promote our philanthropic mission.
As the primary point of contact for student philanthropy for undergraduate students, the Student Philanthropy Officer will focus on:
Cultivating the beginning of lifelong philanthropic relationships for undergraduate students and the university through education, programming and events, and by creating meaningful opportunities for students to become involved with fundraising objectives
Conducting at least 90 face-to-face meetings per year with undergraduate students to discover their needs, learn more about their experiences, and ensure they know how to continue their philanthropic relationship with Northeastern following their graduation
Collaborating with the Engagement Officer, Senior Year Experience on cultivation, stewardship and recognition strategies, collateral, and events for the senior class to achieve the senior class donor participation goal
Creating and managing the student philanthropy council by cultivating, training, and retaining a network of student volunteers who will serve as ambassadors and peer educators for philanthropy
Managing the student crowdfunding program by developing a comprehensive outreach strategy that will result in increased participation by students and alumni
Building partnerships and cultivating relationships with key departments across campus to foster collaborative interactions, communications, and engagement
Ensuring administrative responsibilities, including but not limited to meeting follow up, post visit call reports, data tracking and entry, inquiries, and information updates, are performed accurately and responded to in a timely manner.
Additionally, the Student Philanthropy Officer will be required, as their schedule allows, to participate in university-wide, student-focused activities that will provide additional opportunities to connect with students. This position may also be asked to perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
The Student Philanthropy Officer must be able to represent the university, the Advancement Division, and the OAR team in a professional, enthusiastic manner with customer service and team focus. As a member of the Advancement Division, it is essential for the Student Philanthropy Officer to understand and actively support the role philanthropy plays in engaging the Northeastern community. This position interacts with undergraduate students on Northeastern's Boston campus, and requires the Student Philanthropy Officer to perform their duties in person on the Boston campus.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree required (graduate degree preferred). Two (2) to three (3) years of formal development experience required. Experience working in higher education with students and alumni is a plus. This role requires excellent coordination, organization, and written and oral communication skills, including a strong phone presence. Ability to work independently and be productive with minimal supervision as well as in a team environment on several projects at a time is necessary. The ideal candidate will also be detail-oriented with strong customer service and interpersonal skills and have a high level of interpersonal skills, self-confidence, and enthusiasm, as well as proficiency with virtual communication platforms and online learning tools. A self-starter who is flexible to changing priorities, adaptable to new systems and able to interact professionally and diplomatically with students, alumni, volunteers, parents, staff, faculty, vendors, and external entities is preferred.
Strong computer skills including proficient use of Microsoft Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word are required; Experience with Salesforce and Cvent is helpful.
This position requires the selected candidate to work in person on Northeastern's Boston campus. Frequent evening and weekend work required as student group meetings, event, program, and activity needs dictate, along with occasional local and regional travel.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Senior Class Fundraising Participation
Achieve senior class donor participation goal.
Meld together philanthropy and engagement to create a cohesive and philanthropic approach to the senior year experience, including the coordination of solicitations and marketing, managing recognition events and opportunities, and stewardship.
Meet with undergraduate seniors to discover their needs, learn more about their experiences, and ultimately solicit a senior gift.
Educate seniors about philanthropy, its impact, and the value of continuing their philanthropic relationship with Northeastern following graduation.
Student Philanthropy and Retention
Execute a student philanthropy program that establishes a culture of philanthropy and engagement throughout the undergraduate student life cycle.
Create new opportunities to reach students before their senior year while also strengthening participation in the senior gift program.
Conduct at least 90 face-to-face meetings with undergraduate students including seniors.
Coordinate all solicitations and marketing for undergraduate students, manage events, recognition opportunities, solicitation, and stewardship. Explore new ways to engage Northeastern students in philanthropy through cross-campus partnerships and innovative engagement and messaging.
Collaborate with colleagues in Student Affairs to engage student organizations in crowdfunding opportunities; work directly with student organizations to develop effective fundraising efforts utilizing the student crowdfunding platform.
Maintain an awareness of current student and alumni trends, interests, purchasing, participation, and philanthropic habits.
Relationship Building
Meet 1:1 with leaders of recognized student organizations to discover their needs and learn more about their experiences.
Build and cultivate relationships with key departments across campus to foster collaborative interactions, communications, and engagement.
Participate in university-wide, student-focused activities, providing more opportunities to connect with students and interact with colleagues.
Volunteer Management
Recruit, educate, manage, and steward a network of student volunteers for various positions on the student philanthropy council, as well as developing effective collateral materials to guide and foster continued volunteer interaction and participation.
Consult with student volunteers in the development and execution of effective initiatives related to philanthropy.
Consult with peer institutions to incorporate volunteer-driven philanthropy programs with proven success into Northeastern's annual schedule.
Administrative Operations
Support the general OAR and Student Engagement + Philanthropy operations (data tracking and entry, meeting follow up, call reports, etc.) and manage inquiries (email, phone, and mail) from students, alumni, campus, community, and general public related to student philanthropy events and activities.
Support the efforts of Advancement Information Systems by following procedures to maintain accurate information for students and alumni.
Position Type
Advancement
Additional Information
Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
To learn more about Northeastern University's commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.
Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a private research university located in the heart of Boston. Northeastern is a leader in worldwide experiential learning, urban engagement, and interdisciplinary research that meets global and societal needs. Our broad mix of experience-based education programs?our signature cooperative education program, as well as student research, service learning, and global learning?build the connections that enable students to transform their lives. The University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools.