Gifts Officer

Description

School Mission Statement & Profile

Founded and rooted in the Gospel values of the Catholic Church and the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace (OLP) empowers young women in an innovative learning environment that honors the individual while fostering community, and develops faith-filled leaders dedicated to the “love of God and the dear neighbor without distinction.”

OLP is a school of approximately 750 students, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive educational community. The school emphasizes 21st-century learning, academic excellence, and the development of leadership skills. Our professional culture values collaboration, lifelong learning, and a growth mindset. Students are encouraged to actively participate in the school community, and OLP graduates are prepared to make a positive impact in STEAM fields and beyond.

 Position Overview 

Reporting to the Director of Institutional Advancement, the Gifts Officer advances a comprehensive, mission-aligned culture of philanthropy at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace (OLP). This role supports schoolwide fundraising efforts including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, and alumnae and parent philanthropy. The Gifts Officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors across multiple giving levels while contributing to integrated fundraising strategies aligned with institutional priorities.

Working collaboratively with colleagues in Advancement, Finance, Communications, and across the School, the Gifts Officer helps ensure a coordinated and donor-centered approach to fundraising that strengthens relationships and maximizes lifelong engagement. This role plays a key part in campaign planning and readiness and supports the School’s long range philanthropic goals through data informed strategy, thoughtful stewardship, and strong execution.

The Gifts Officer uses Blackbaud NXT as a primary tool to manage donor relationships, track engagement, monitor pipelines, evaluate progress toward goals, and ensure accurate reporting and stewardship.

 Essential Responsibilities 

These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. 

• Support and advance the School’s Catholic identity and the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, ensuring that all fundraising efforts align with OLP’s Strategic Plan and institutional values.
• Manage and develop a portfolio of assigned donors and prospects across a range of giving levels, including major gifts, with an emphasis on long term relationship-building and sustained philanthropic engagement.
• Develop and execute individualized donor strategies that support engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, coordinating efforts across annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and alumnae initiatives to ensure a cohesive donor experience.
• Collaborate with the Director of Institutional Advancement and advancement colleagues to support annual giving programs, including appeals, special initiatives, and participation based campaigns.
• Support planned giving efforts by identifying, cultivating, and stewarding prospective planned gift donors, in partnership with senior advancement leadership and external advisors as appropriate.
• Partner closely with alumnae relations to cultivate, solicit, and steward alumnae donors, including support of alumnae major gift strategies and engagement opportunities.
• Contribute to the development of donor proposals, solicitations, and case materials in collaboration with Advancement leadership, Finance, and Communications.
• Collaborate closely with the Finance Office to ensure alignment on gift processing, fund designation, reporting, and fiscal accountability.
• Work in partnership with the Communications and Marketing team to develop compelling fundraising messaging, donor communications, campaign materials, and stewardship and impact reports.
• Support the planning and execution of integrated fundraising campaigns, feasibility studies, and capital or comprehensive campaign preparation as the School’s advancement efforts evolve.
• Plan, staff, and support events that advance fundraising, stewardship, and donor and alumnae engagement.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and meaningful stewardship of all donors, including acknowledgments, impact reporting, and ongoing communication that demonstrates the impact of philanthropy on students and mission.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and up to date donor and prospect records in Blackbaud NXT, including contact reports, proposals, moves management, pipeline tracking, and performance metrics.
• Monitor progress toward individual and departmental fundraising goals, using data and reporting tools to inform strategy, evaluate outcomes, and recommend adjustments.
• Work collaboratively with the Head of School, Board members, Advancement volunteers, and school leadership to support donor strategy, cultivation, and solicitation efforts.
• Identify and recommend potential volunteers and leaders to support fundraising priorities and institutional initiatives.
• Represent the School at advancement related events, committees, and professional conferences as required.
• Provide leadership support to cross departmental projects and, as appropriate, mentor interns, volunteers, or project based team members.

Requirements

 Qualifications & Skills 

• Bachelor’s degree required, with a minimum of three to five years of fundraising experience or a comparable, transferable skill set demonstrating success in relationship based fundraising.
• Demonstrated commitment to and appreciation for the mission, values, and educational philosophy of the Academy of Our Lady of Peace.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across departments and contribute to an integrated advancement program.
• Strategic, proactive, and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and relationships simultaneously.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the maturity, discretion, and diplomacy required to work effectively with donors, volunteers, Board members, and colleagues.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to articulate a compelling case for support and the School’s mission, vision, and impact.
• Proficiency with donor relationship management systems, including Blackbaud NXT, as well as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and other advancement related digital platforms.
• Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and a high level of integrity and fiscal responsibility.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and to travel domestically or internationally as needed. A valid passport is required.
• Commitment to the core values of the Institutional Advancement Department, including professionalism, collaboration, transparency, adaptability, creativity, and a shared commitment to excellence.

 Required Documents & Pre-Employment Requirements: 

 Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and two professional references from current or former supervisors. Candidates must also provide official transcripts, a current negative TB test result or TB Risk Assessment Questionnaire, complete required training, and successfully complete Livescan fingerprinting. Employment is contingent upon obtaining fingerprint clearance from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The Academy of Our Lady of Peace (OLP), located at 4860 Oregon Street, San Diego, CA 92116, is in an area that may experience earthquake activity and is near a low flood zone. For more information on potential natural hazards, please visit the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services at https://myhazards.caloes.ca.gov/.

Fair Chance Act Compliance:

OLP will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or undergo a background check until after a conditional job offer has been made. If a background check reveals information that OLP believes is directly related to the position, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances, provide mitigating evidence, or dispute the accuracy of the report. For more information, visit https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act/.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The Academy of Our Lady of Peace is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all qualified applicants receive equal consideration for employment. OLP prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law.