Description

External Retirement Plan TRS or ORP Employment Type Employee Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible Full/Part time Full Time Work Schedule Additional Schedule Information
8:00am-5:00pm; Must be willing and able to work evenings and weekends, as necessary.
Advertised Salary $59,280 Posting Date 01/22/2026 Open until filled Yes Closing Date Proposed Starting Date 04/01/2026 Special Instructions to Applicants

• This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position.

Location of Vacancy Athens Area EEO Policy Statement
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Position Information

Classification Title Major Gifts Officer I FLSA Exempt FTE 1.00 Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent
Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 1-3 years of professional experience related to fundraising, nonprofit management, higher education, sales, marketing, development, business administration, project management, or relationship management. Graduate-level degree may be substituted for experience.
• Knowledge of the University of Georgia is desired.

Position Summary
The Development Officer serves as a frontline fundraiser for the University of Georgia central development office and is responsible for raising financial support for university-wide priorities as well as priorities for each of the 17 schools, colleges, and units within the university. Through frequent travel to assigned geographic areas, the Development Officer will conduct in-person meetings to qualify, cultivate and solicit individual prospects with a focus on securing annual leadership level gifts of $1,500-$10,000 while also qualifying major gift prospects for future cultivation in collaboration with major gift officers. The position reports to the Associate Senior Regional Director of Development and collaborates with the Development and Alumni Relations department (DAR) and other University departments on prospect strategy and special initiatives.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Innovative self-starter who displays an ability to learn quickly and easily adapts to changing situations.
• Emotionally intelligent individual with excellent written and oral communication skills who can work effectively with various stakeholders.
• Highly motivated professional who is coachable and desires to learn and grow in this position.
• Results-driven performer who is comfortable setting and achieving challenging goals.
• Active collaborator who enjoys working with people and desires to work in a team-based environment.
• Trustworthy teammate who operates with the highest level of integrity, honesty, and respect.
• Comfortable working with database management software and maintaining sensitive information.
• Knowledgeable of Word, Excel, and email.

Additional Division Expectations:

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

Physical Demands

• Work in a standard office environment
• Sit and work at a computer workstation for an extended amount of time
• Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence
• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening
• Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task
• Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb

Is driving a responsibility of this position? Yes Is this a Position of Trust? Yes Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? No Does this position require a P-Card? No Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) Yes Credit and P-Card policy
Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Duties/Responsibilities
Conduct scheduled face-to-face meetings with prospective donors, alumni, and UGA constituents in assigned geographic areas. The purpose of the meetings is to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward University-wide prospects and donors. Goals are established and agreed upon annually by the Associate Senior Regional Director and the Development Officer.

• Responsible for achieving all annual fundraising and performance goals and for allocating and prioritizing time and resources to achieve the greatest return on investment.

Percentage of time 50 Duties/Responsibilities
Complete managerial processes critical to travel, scheduled meetings, and fundraising performance.

• Record all meetings, interactions, and plans in the giving & alumni database (GAIL) in a thorough and timely manner.
• Regularly complete reports and submit required information needed to track fundraising performance.

Percentage of time 20 Duties/Responsibilities
Create collaborative partnerships with development and alumni colleagues across campus to build effective fundraising strategies and maximize donor potential.

• When appropriate, partner with colleagues from the 17 schools, colleges and units to secure gifts benefiting their respective areas.
• Attend division and development staff meetings and scheduled individual strategy meetings.

Percentage of time 15 Duties/Responsibilities
Pursue continuous learning and growth.

• Actively participate in opportunities for professional development to gain new skills, take on new challenges, receive professional mentorship, explore the field of Development and Alumni Relations, and expand knowledge about the University and its mission.

Percentage of time 10 Duties/Responsibilities
Perform other duties as assigned to include, but not limited to:

• Completing special projects and initiatives
• Collecting and presenting data
• Staffing university-related events
• Cultivating and stewarding prospects not originally assigned

Percentage of time 5

Contact Information

Recruitment Contact

Contact Details
For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.
Recruitment Contact Name Development & Alumni Relations' Office of Talent Management Recruitment Contact Email dartalent@uga.edu Recruitment Contact Phone

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * How did you hear about this job opportunity in the Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR)?
   • Chronicle of Higher Education
   • DAR Careers Page
   • Handshake
   • Insight Into Academia
   • Inside Higher Ed
   • LinkedIn
   • UGAJobs (UGA's job board)
   • Other (Please provide name of source)

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents