Digital Gift Officer

Job Posting Location:

Claremont, CA

Job Posting Title:

Job Description:

ABOUT POMONA COLLEGE: Located near Los Angeles, California, Pomona College is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges. Established in 1887, Pomona College is known for small classes, a challenging curriculum, close relationships between students and faculty, and a range of student research and leadership opportunities. Pomona is a member of The Claremont Colleges.

JOB PURPOSE: Reporting to the Director of Leadership and Reunion Giving, the Digital Gift Officer plays a critical role in accelerating leadership-level annual giving to Pomona College through innovative, digital-first donor outreach. The Digital Gift Officer builds and manages a large portfolio of alumni and current family leadership annual giving prospects, using scalable and personalized engagement strategies to acquire, retain, renew, upgrade, and reactivate donors. Outreach and engagement strategies are tailored to the interests, experiences, and relationship to the College of these distinct constituencies.

Through multi-channel outreach, fundraising volunteer engagement, and close partnership with Leadership Annual Giving officers and the Associate Director of Annual Giving for Communications and Strategy, the Digital Gift Officer helps develop a robust and sustainable pipeline of leadership-level donors and qualified referrals to Leadership Annual Giving and Major Gifts. The position also supports fundraising and volunteer engagement for two reunion classes, including the 10th- and 15th-Reunion Committees, ensuring that digital outreach, volunteer activity, and reunion fundraising are coordinated with the College’s broader cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship priorities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The Digital Gift Officer works independently and collaboratively to perform the following essential duties and responsibilities:

Portfolio Management and Donor Engagement

• Build and manage a portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects using engagement, giving, demographic, and capacity data.
• Develop tailored engagement and solicitation strategies for alumni and current families, recognizing the distinct interests, experiences, and motivations of each constituency.
• Develop and execute personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies across phone, video, email, text, and other approved digital channels.
• Conduct discovery conversations to assess donor interests, philanthropic priorities, giving capacity, and readiness for leadership annual giving or major gift engagement.
• Solicit leadership annual gifts and support donor retention, renewal, upgrade, and reactivation efforts through strategic relationship management.
• Develop individualized engagement and solicitation strategies in partnership with Leadership Annual Giving colleagues and Advancement partners.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of constituent interactions, solicitations, gifts, and portfolio activity within the Advancement CRM.
• Participate in regular portfolio reviews and facilitate appropriate referrals to Leadership Annual Giving and Major Gifts officers.

Reunion Giving and Volunteer Management

• Serve as the primary Leadership Annual and Reunion Giving liaison for the 10th and 15th Reunion Committees.
• Partner with reunion volunteers to develop and execute fundraising strategies that increase participation, encourage leadership annual giving, and advance reunion campaign goals.
• Provide volunteers with fundraising guidance, prospect information, outreach strategies, and stewardship support.
• Help recruit, orient, engage, and steward class volunteers to strengthen long-term alumni involvement and philanthropic participation.

Collaboration, Strategy and Program Development

• Partner with Leadership Annual Giving officers, Advancement Services, Research and Prospect Development, Alumni and Family Engagement, and Advancement Communications on donor strategy, prospect identification, outreach, and engagement initiatives.
• Support Giving Day, reunion campaigns, and other annual giving initiatives that include leadership-level donor engagement, volunteer fundraising, matching gifts, and digital outreach.
• Help establish and refine portfolio management practices, digital engagement strategies, reporting standards, and performance benchmarks for Pomona's Digital Gift Officer program.
• Analyze donor engagement and fundraising performance data to evaluate outcomes and improve future strategies.
• Stay informed of emerging trends in digital fundraising and donor engagement and recommend new approaches that support annual giving goals.

Measures of Success

• Growth in leadership-level ($1,500+) donor acquisition, renewals, upgrades, reactivation, and revenue resulting from digital outreach and relationship-building strategies.
• Development and active management of a qualified digital portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects, with appropriate documentation, staging, and movement within the Advancement CRM.
• Increased conversion of qualified prospects into the Leadership Annual and Major Gift pipelines.
• Consistent execution of high-quality digital outreach and substantive donor conversations that advance prospects through the cultivation and solicitation cycle.
• Increased participation and leadership-level giving within assigned reunion classes through effective partnership with reunion volunteers and fundraising committees, including the 10th- and 15th-Reunion Committees.
• Strong digital campaign performance across core metrics (open rates, conversion, renewal, reactivation).

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Licenses/Certificates: Valid driver’s license or access to reliable transportation for potential off-site meetings and events.
• Experience: A minimum of 2-3 years of relevant experience in digital fundraising, marketing or constituent engagement. Experience with digital fundraising portfolio management or pipeline development preferred. Fundraising experience in higher education or a nonprofit setting is strongly preferred.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND CRITICAL SKILLS: This position must possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to be able to successfully perform the essential functions of the job or must be able to demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed (with or without reasonable accommodation) using other knowledge, skills and abilities not listed below.

1. Strong command of CRM and digital marketing tools (e.g., email/text/video platforms).

2. Excellent communication and storytelling skills with a digital-first mindset and the ability to adapt messaging and engagement strategies for different constituent audiences, including alumni and current families.

3. Proven ability to analyze engagement data and adapt strategy for improved results.

4. Comfortable managing multiple fundraising projects, workflows, and partnerships simultaneously.

5. Deploy professional skills in fundraising, in collaboration with colleagues, to best promote the College’s strategic interests.

• Able to recognize opportunities, identify critical/high pay-off activities, and prioritize them to attain goals.
• Must have an understanding of the principles and techniques relevant to fundraising.

6. Must understand and communicate the mission and history of Pomona College and the liberal arts education.

7. Demonstrate effective, accurate and clear communication with excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, reading, phone, customer service and leadership skills to engage, motivate and collaborate with a highly diverse set of internal and external partners.

8. Operate computers proficiently with basic Microsoft Office software (such as Word, Excel, Outlook) and associated professional tools. Use assigned technology/devices/equipment to achieve annual goals and maintain confidentiality.

9. Handle all activities and highly confidential information with patience, discretion, good judgment, courtesy and tact while working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.

10. Prioritize and perform multiple projects/tasks, handle changing priorities, meet deadlines/timelines, proactively respond to others in a consistent and timely manner, and work both independently and as a collaborative member of the College with a high standard of integrity and ethics, in support of the College’s strategic vision and the department’s annual goals.

11. Use exceptional organizational, time management, and analytical skills to complete work with accuracy and a keen attention to detail.

12. Demonstrated ability to work as a self-starter and self-motivator.

13. Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a complex organization.

REQUIRED HOURS: The regular hours for this full-time position are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. This position is expected to work in a hybrid arrangement consistent with College and division guidelines. Occasional travel to meet constituents or support events may be required. Holiday, weekend, and evening work hours may be required. Regular hours and work location may vary based on the needs of the College or division.

ADDITIONAL POSITION DETAILS: This position is a regular, full-time, exempt position, benefits eligible. Annual Salary for this position is between $78,000 to $86,000 with a competitive benefits package. The specific factors that the College will consider when offering a salary to an individual will include, but not be limited to: education, training, relevant prior experience, and performance in prior roles. All staff positions are ineligible for visa or permanent resident card sponsorship. As a California employer, Pomona College requires all employees to be residents of California.

Physical Activities:

Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like.
☐ Never ☒ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.
☐ Never ☒ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.
☐ Never ☐ Occasionally ☒ Constantly

Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
☐ Never ☒ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Adjusting or moving objects up to __ pounds in all directions.
☐ Never ☒ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Communicating with others to exchange information.
☐ Never ☐ Occasionally ☒ Constantly

Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
☐ Never ☐ Occasionally ☒ Constantly

Operating machinery and/or power tools.
☒ Never ☐ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Operating motor vehicles or heavy equipment.
☒ Never ☐ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.
☐ Never ☒ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Environmental Conditions:

Low temperatures.
☒ Never ☐ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

High temperatures.
☐ Never ☒ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Outdoor elements such as precipitation and wind.
☐ Never ☒ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Noisy environments.
☐ Never ☒ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Hazardous conditions.
☒ Never ☐ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Poor ventilation.
☒ Never ☐ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Small and/or enclosed spaces.
☒ Never ☐ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Other adverse environmental conditions not listed above..
☒ Never ☐ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Physical Demands:

Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing.
☐ Never ☐ Occasionally ☒ Constantly

Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds.
☐ Never ☒ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Medium work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds.
☒ Never ☐ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

Heavy work that includes moving objects up to 100 pounds or more.
☒ Never ☐ Occasionally ☐ Constantly

ADA/OSHA: This job description defines the essential job duties of this position. The College expects that employees hired for this position can perform the essential functions of this job without imposing risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others. It may also include marginal functions, generally defined within Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

DISCLAIMER: This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position. When duties and responsibilities change and develop, the College will review this job description and make changes of business necessity.

About Us

Located near Los Angeles, California, Pomona College is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges. Established in 1887, Pomona College is known for its small classes, challenging curriculum, close relationships between students and faculty, and a range of student research and leadership opportunities. Pomona is a member of The Claremont Colleges.

Pomona College employees enjoy excellent benefits and perks and work in a diverse environment of equal opportunity, intellectual development and personal growth.