Kentucky Wesleyan College, a private, liberal arts college with a long-standing reputation for quality and academic excellence, invites applications for a full-time Philanthropy Director to join our community and lead fundraising efforts for the college.

Major Responsibilities

Plan, implement, and evaluate annual giving programs in support of the College’s mission and strategic goals.
Inform potential contributors of the needs of Kentucky Wesleyan College and encourage gifts to endowments, annual fund, and projects.
Implement specific strategies to increase the number of donors and the size of gifts.
Identify, cultivate, and solicit financial support for the College with an emphasis on annual leadership gifts of $1,000 or more and multi-year pledges.
Maintain a portfolio of approximately 75-100 individuals to evaluate for major gift capacity, as assigned by the Vice President of External Relations.
Direct the College’s Phonathon program, ensuring effectiveness in reaching annual giving goals; Oversee the creation and execution of broad-based appeals, including mail, email, and digital campaigns.
Assist with alumni and development activities and events, as necessary.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Two or more years of progressively responsible fundraising experience. Experience in developing and executing successful annual giving programs. Preference will be given to those with experience in higher education fundraising.
Outstanding relationship building skills, with the ability to communicate, both verbally and written, in an effective manner.
A strong command of fundraising principles and factors which influence individuals and organizations to act philanthropically.
A high level of organization and professionalism with the ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects efficiently.
Enthusiasm and collaborative spirit to excel in a team environment.

Compensation and Benefits

This full-time position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including the following:

Insurance – health, dental, vision, supplemental
Life insurance at no cost to the employee
Paid time off – 21 days per year
Paid holidays – 20 days per year
Retirement plan
Free tuition at KWC after one year plus tuition arrangements with hundreds of other colleges and universities
As Kentucky Wesleyan is a not-for-profit institution, employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program of the US Department of Education, as applicable.

This position is exempt and paid on a salary basis. The position description provides an overview of the level of work to be performed by an employee in this position and does not constitute a contract of employment. This is not a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and/or qualifications, as the College reserves the right to change the description at any time.

Application Process

To apply, please complete the online application at https://kwc.edu/application-for-employment/. As part of the online application, please attach a file that contains a cover letter, current resume, and contact information for three professional references, along with your salary expectations.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. An official transcript for the highest degree awarded will be required of the hired candidate, as will a background check. The College is not able to sponsor applicants for work visas.

Kentucky Wesleyan College is an equal opportunity employer and remains committed to attracting qualified candidates looking to be part of a growing and successful higher educational organization.

Additional Information

About Kentucky Wesleyan College

Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, four-year liberal arts institution located in the vibrant city of Owensboro. A United Methodist-related college founded in 1858, Wesleyan is known for excellence in academics and a superior residential experience. Kentucky Wesleyan College has been consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Regional Colleges in the South and one of the Top Performers in Social Mobility in the South. The Princeton Review has also recognized KWC as a “Best in the Southeast” college for several consecutive years.

Kentucky Wesleyan students can choose from 29 majors and 13 pre-professional programs. Classes have a 13-to-1 student-faculty ratio, and 88 percent of the faculty have a Ph.D. or terminal degree. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers compete in NCAA Division II and are charter members of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Athletic teams include baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling.

The College employs approximately 200 faculty and staff who work together on a single campus. Kentucky Wesleyan provides a challenging and supportive academic experience for students and a positive and stimulating work environment for employees.

A hallmark of the Kentucky Wesleyan experience includes “The Wesleyan Way” which guides our community:

We do everything with honor.
We always support each other.
We will compete with integrity.
We love each other in Christ.

Kentucky Wesleyan College values the unique contributions of all members of our campus community. As part of our mission to prepare future leaders intellectually, spiritually, and physically, we strive to provide an atmosphere that encourages and challenges all members of the Kentucky Wesleyan College campus community to exhibit an understanding and appreciation of cultural and human differences. We are committed to being a community that reflects the diversity of our larger society. We expect all members of our institution to actively create and maintain an inclusive learning and living environment that embraces diversity in all forms, including race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, socio-economic status, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and thought.

About Owensboro, KY

Kentucky Wesleyan College is located in the hospitable city of Owensboro, Kentucky, a vibrant, beautiful, and safe city nestled on the banks of the Ohio River. Owensboro is small enough to promote a hometown atmosphere yet large enough to support many amenities usually only available in much larger cities. Daviess County is home to 110,000 residents and is easily accessible from metropolitan locations such as Louisville, KY; Nashville, TN; and St. Louis, MO.

Owensboro’s revitalized downtown area features a state-of-the-art convention center, several new hotels, and a range of entertainment options with unique restaurants and shops. Twenty-five parks, totaling 953 acres, encircle the city, which hosts over 20 annual festivals – attracting visitors from throughout the region.

Suggested Websites

Additional information about Kentucky Wesleyan, the KWC Panthers, and the Owensboro community may be found at:

Kentucky Wesleyan College

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Philanthropy Director