Regional Development Officer

The Regional Development team builds lasting relationships with alumni, donors, and friends of the University of Minnesota to inspire meaningful philanthropic support. This work includes identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gifts through personal engagement with individuals in assigned regions. Regional Development Officers partner closely with unit-base development staff, central advancement colleagues, and other University leaders to align donor interests with University priorities.

Position Impact

Regional Development Officers play a critical role in connecting donors' passions with the University's highest priorities. By fostering authentic relationships and securing transformative gifts, this position helps advance groundbreaking research, expand educational opportunities, and strengthen the University's ability to serve communities locally and globally

Responsibilities

Major Gifts Development (70%)

• Personally engage transformational and major gift donors capable of making gifts of $50k+ by conducting qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship visits.
• Develop and implement individual strategies for each prospect, connecting their interests with University priorities.
• Collaborate with unit-based development colleagues and decentralized teams to build trust, coordinate strategies, and strengthen donor engagement.
• Use current and panned giving vehicles to meet donors' philanthropic goals and financial capacities.
• Support fundraising in both established and emerging markets where prospects are concentrated.
• Track and report activity consistently, including donor visits, solicitations, and outcomes, using the University's donor management system.
• Meet or exceed established annual performance metrics (e.g. number of visits, solicitations, closed gifts, and qualified prospects).

Regional Advancement Leadership (20%)

• Serve as the University's primary advancement leader for the assigned geographic region.
• Act as a liaison across campus, unit, medicine & health, and central development teams, ensuring strong communication and coordination.
• Build and execute engagement plans for alumni and donors in the region to increase awareness, connection, and philanthropic support.
• Partner on planning and delivering high quality, multidisciplinary engagement opportunities that highlight the University's broad impact.

Additional Responsibilities (10%)

• Participate in or lead special project and committees as assigned (e.g. process improvement or search committees)
• Travel extensively (approximately 50% of work time; averaging 10-15 prospect visits per month); evening and weekend events may occasionally be required.
• Maintain secure, timely, and detailed records of donor activity in the Donor Management System.

Demonstrate commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an equitable and inclusive working and learning environment (exhibit 100% of the time)

• Continuous learning in diversity, equity and inclusion for oneself and team via training, podcasts, articles, etc.
• Seek to explore and understand cultural differences and create a culture of belonging.
• Develop and employ anti-racist practices and principles to accomplish work.
• Advocate for employees of all ethnicities, genders, ages and backgrounds
• Cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with employees, colleagues, stakeholders, etc.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• Four or more years of experience in major gift fundraising, or comparable experience in relationship-focused fields such as marketing, sales, financial advising, or public relations.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating and soliciting individuals or organizations.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain professional, collaborative relationships.
• Experience in joint prospect cultivation and solicitation with colleagues or partners.
• Ability to travel nationally for approximately two weeks each month (typically 2-4 business days per trip).
• Strong oral and written communication skills; able to convey a compelling case for support.
• Adaptability and creativity in problem-solving while exercising sound judgment.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends for donor engagement.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in a large, complex organization.
• Six or more years of experience facilitating gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Experience working in higher education or a land-grant research University.
• Capital campaign fundraising experience.
• Genuine commitment to advancing the mission of pubic higher education

At the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF), our mission is to connect passion with possibility, inspire generosity, and support greatness at the University of Minnesota by placing donors at the heart of everything we do and every decision we make. UMF is a nonprofit organization responsible for raising and managing gifts to the University of Minnesota.

For more information about UMF, please visit https://give.umn.edu/about/about-umf.

Pay Range: $85,000-100,000 + eligible for 10% incentive opportunity; depending on education/qualifications/experience; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment Category: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).