Development Officer
Hiram College — Hiram, Ohio
Full-time, salaried position with benefits
About Hiram College
Founded in 1850, Hiram College is a private institution located in the historic village of Hiram, Ohio—just 45 minutes from both Cleveland and Akron. Rooted in its founding commitment to access and inclusion, Hiram has spent 175 years transforming lives through rigorous academics, hands-on learning, and a community defined by close faculty-student relationships. Hiram is currently in the quiet phase of a comprehensive campaign, Rising to the Challenge: The Campaign for Hiram College, an initiative focused on scholarships, student success and faculty excellence.
The Opportunity
Hiram College seeks an energetic, results-driven Development Officer to join its Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Reporting to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, the development officer will play a key role in advancing the College's fundraising success—cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumni, parents, and friends capable of making philanthropic commitments of $50,000 or more.
This individual will help drive the success of Hiram's comprehensive campaign by managing a portfolio of high-capacity prospects, crafting compelling proposals, and working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and volunteers to align donor passions with institutional priorities.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 major gift prospects with the capacity to make gifts of $50,000 or greater.
- Develop and execute individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies to secure major and planned gifts.
- Advance relationships through all stages of the donor cycle: identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Partner with the President, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, and other campus leaders to prepare and present major gift proposals.
- Collaborate with colleagues in Annual Giving, Alumni Relations, and Advancement Services to ensure coordinated donor engagement and reporting.
- Participate actively in campaign planning, goal setting, and prospect strategy sessions.
- Travel extensively within assigned regions to visit prospects; evening and weekend commitments required for events and donor meetings.
- Maintain accurate and timely contact reports and prospect information in the advancement CRM.
- Represent Hiram College at campaign events, alumni gatherings, and donor recognition programs.
Performance Expectations
A successful Development Officer will:
- Raise $1 million per year in outright and deferred commitments within 24 months of hire.
- Conduct a minimum of 144 meaningful donor meetings per year
- Identify and qualify at least 30 new prospects each year for future major gift cultivation.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor's degree and a minimum of three years of experience in fundraising, sales, or relationship management.
- Proven success in cultivating and closing significant gifts or sales.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build authentic, lasting relationships with diverse constituencies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft persuasive proposals and correspondence.
- High initiative, goal orientation, and ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
- Ability to travel frequently and work occasional evenings/weekends.
- Valid driver's license.
Preferred:
- Experience in higher education fundraising, especially within a liberal arts context.
- Familiarity with Salesforce or similar advancement databases.
- Understanding of comprehensive campaign strategy and donor pipeline development.
Why Hiram
- Be part of a dynamic, growing advancement team shaping the College's next philanthropic era.
- Engage in meaningful, mission-driven work that transforms student lives.
- Enjoy a supportive, collegial culture that values innovation, autonomy, and balance.
- Work in a beautiful, historic campus environment with flexible scheduling and professional growth opportunities.
To Apply
Please submit:
- A cover letter outlining interest and relevant experience.
- A résumé
- Names and contact information for three professional references will be requested for finalists
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Hiram College is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
To apply, please visit: https://www.hiram.edu/about-hiram-college/human-resources/careers-at-hiram/jeid-4bb5a132ffc39c4bb177838b88dbf1fc
