Development Officer for Leadership Annual Giving (Pool)

Posting Details

This position is designated as Exempt from the Human Resources Act (EHRA).

Posting Details

Benefits of Working at UNCW

At the University of North Carolina Wilmington, we are driven by a clear purpose: to empower student success, advance innovation, and strengthen the communities we serve. Guided by our strategic vision and commitment to excellence, UNCW offers a dynamic and collaborative environment where employees can make meaningful contributions while growing their careers.

Located in coastal North Carolina, UNCW combines the energy of a thriving academic community with the natural beauty of nearby beaches and outdoor spaces. Here, professional opportunity is balanced with an exceptional quality of life-creating a workplace where you can thrive both personally and professionally.

As a member of the Seahawk community, you'll benefit from a culture that values well-being, lifelong learning, and connection. UNCW offers a competitive and flexible benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and professional growth. From comprehensive health coverage and retirement options to generous paid leave, tuition opportunities within the UNC System, learning and development opportunities, and wellness programs, UNCW is committed to helping you thrive both at work and in your personal life.

Hiring Range $60,000 - $70,000 Working Title Development Officer for Leadership Annual Giving (Pool) External Link to Posting https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/41425 Vacancy Number E1645 Position Number 1458 Location of Workplace Main UNCW Campus Home Department University Advancement - 50000 Division University Advancement - 50 Division Brief Summary of Work for this Position

The Development Officer for Leadership Annual Giving will function as a vital member of the Annual Giving and fundraising teams within the Division for University Advancement. The position is responsible for securing leadership annual gifts of $1,000 to $24,999 from university constituents, including alumni, parents, and friends of the university. Through strategic, personalized engagement, the Development Officer will qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward assigned prospects while contributing to the growth of UNCW's donor pipeline and overall philanthropic support. Fundraising activities will utilize a multi-channel approach, including phone calls, email, video, digital outreach, and personal visits.

Key responsibilities include:

• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward assigned prospects with the goal of securing leadership annual gifts between $1,000 and $24,999.
• Manage a portfolio between 250-500 leadership annual giving donors and develop strategies to move prospects through the donor cycle.
• Plan, design, implement, and evaluate strategies to secure outright leadership annual gifts and pledges through multi-channel donor outreach; including phone calls, emails, videos, digital solicitations and personal visits.
• Cultivate and steward donors and prospective donors through participation in university events, board meetings, and other engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with University Advancement colleagues to align donors' philanthropic interests with priorities across the university.
• Identify prospects with major gift potential and appropriately refer or transition those prospects to the Major Gifts team.
• Provide timely follow-up and maintain appropriate documentation of prospect activity, moves, and solicitations.
• Collaborate with Annual Giving, Major Gifts, Prospect Development, Advancement Services, and other University Advancement colleagues to maximize fundraising productivity and strengthen UNCW's donor pipeline.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Bachelor's degree with a minimum of two years of professional fundraising experience and/or experience in sales, marketing, communications, or higher education development.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Strong organizational and analytical skills, with great attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative environment.
• Professional experience with donor management or customer relations.
• Understanding and knowledge of the principles, practices, and ethics of fundraising, as well as the development process and donor cycle.
• Customer Relationship/Database Management systems experience (preferably Raisers Edge)
• Superior verbal and written communication, interpersonal, relationship-building, and creative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to organize workload and collaborate with colleagues to prioritize competing demands effectively.
• Knowledge of UNCW's organizational structure, culture, policies, and procedures, as well as familiarity with its mission and strategic goals.

Required Certifications or Licensures

N/A

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Division for University Advancement is responsible for the following primary goals:

• Coordinate a campus-wide, comprehensive effort to raise philanthropic funds that support the strategic plan and mission of the university.
• Manage an inclusive alumni engagement program designed to serve and engage over 115,000 alumni as ambassadors, advocates, and donors.
• Strengthen and expand UNCW's donor pipeline through effective discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Ensure that external boards (UNCW Foundation Board, Board of Visitors, Student Aid Association Board, Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the Friends of UNCW) are effective in their mission of supporting UNCW.

The division's fundraising efforts are enhanced by effective partnerships with the campus community as well as external constituents including alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, volunteers, and friends. Development areas include annual giving, leadership annual giving, major gifts, principal gifts, corporate and foundation engagement, and planned giving, as well as alumni engagement. Prospect development, events and board management, stewardship, communications, and advancement services are support services for the fundraising activities of the division.

College/School Information University Information

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research, and service. UNCW is distinguished by its commitment to putting students first, supporting world-class faculty and staff, delivering transformative learning experiences, and leveraging its unique proximity to the ocean. Recognized nationally for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking and reflects emerging industries and interdisciplinary innovation.

A public institution with nearly 20,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation's first bachelor's degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Founded as Wilmington College in 1947, UNCW moved to its present location in the heart of New Hanover County in 1961. The 660-acre campus is only minutes from Wrightsville Beach and historic downtown Wilmington and features Georgian architecture and designated conservation areas. Wilmington International Airport (ILM) provides commercial air service to cities both domestic and abroad and is just six miles from the UNCW campus.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

EEO Statement

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

Eligibility for Employment

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Number of Openings Multi-Positions Special Notes to Applicants

PLEASE NOTE: This posting will close at 11:59PM (Eastern time) on the posted closing date. To receive full consideration, please be sure you have fully completed the entire application before you submit for this position.

Applications must be submitted through the online application system to be considered.

Months Per Year 12 Months FTE 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week) Type of Position Permanent Anticipated Ending Date if Time-Limited Positions Job Posting Date 11/06/2026 Posting Close Date 12/31/2026

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • How did you learn of this opportunity with UNCW? (2026)

• UNCW Website

• UNCW LinkedIn Page

• UNCW X Account (formerly Twitter)

• UNCW Employee Referral

• UNCW Instagram Account (UNCW_jobs)

• UNCW Job Alert

• Chronical of Higher Education

• Glassdoor

• Higher Ed Jobs

• Indeed

• Inside Higher Ed

• North Carolina Job Network

• Craigslist

• Career Events/Job Fairs

• Billboards/Marquee

• Other

• If you selected "Other" to the question above, please explain how you found out about this opportunity. Enter N/A if not applicable.

(Open Ended Question)