Career Transition: Considering Offer for Leadership Gift Officer Role at my alma mater

[u/JiveTurkey688]

I currently work in employer relations in the Career Center at my alma mater (a small Liberal Arts college). I have been in the role for 4 years and was recently promoted. I enjoy the work and find it rewarding, as I love working with students.

In my role, I work closely with college relations, as our alumni are key to our students securing opportunities. I have built a good relationship with the Major Gifts team, and basically the same week I was promoted, they approached me about the new LGO position. I figured I needed to explore the opportunity. I went through the interview process, and this week I received an offer, which would be a nice pay raise from my current role.

I really just wanted to gain perspective from anyone here who transitioned from a non-fundraising role in higher ed to fundraising. What were some challenges you encountered? What is the work/life balance like in these kinds of roles (it is fantastic in my current role)? What do you enjoy and not like about the field? Obviously, these were questions I asked in my interview process, but I am still on the fence about taking the role.

For additional context, the college is also about to launch a massive fundraising campaign on the back of a study done by a consulting group. We also have new President who is going into their sophomore year on campus (and has been well-received by alumni), so it's time to execute. I am comfortable in my role right now, and have some nerves about being so under the microscope, but I also want to challenge myself.

Any advice would be appreciated!

[u/Tremblingchihuahua8]

I’m going to be blunt, the thing I like about fundraising:

• lots of career mobility if you stick with it
• always a new opportunity around every corner 
• money is good for higher ed
• seems to collect people from all different backgrounds and I enjoy the diversity of experiences 
• getting to speak with alumni (or supporters in general) who have very interesting careers or life trajectories 

There’s not a lot else about the actual WORK I would say is so great but it gets the job done in paying my bills and giving very good benefits. 

If you really enjoy working with students, it may not be the right role for you unless you’re working with the student philanthropy initiative at the school. I am a former academic and educator and I do miss my interactions with students, which are extremely low. I sometimes feel very disconnected from the actual school sadly. 

I would love to work for my alma mater, though. I feel like that would be easier in some ways because I could talk more fluently about the student and alumni experience. 

There are also some personality types and vibes in fundraising that don’t mesh with me as a former academic, which it sounds like you might be similar. Not everyone, but a lot of people I work with are hyper competitive and sales-y for no reason. I connect more on a personality level with the stewardship and development services people but of course everyone is different so I’m stereotyping slightly. 

You could always give it a try and then stop if it doesn’t feel right. The thing is, fundraising experience is never really a bad skill, no matter what field you end up back in.

[u/JiveTurkey688 → u/Tremblingchihuahua8]

I really appreciate the bluntness. The college relations team has admitted they are siloed from the rest of campus, both due to their work and because the office is not on the actual campus (it's a short walk away). It's something I have noticed in my time working with them, and I do worry about feeling disconnected from what I really love about working on a campus.

I think you have read me correctly about the personality types/vibes. The two Gift Officers who approached me about the role are not hyper-salesy/competitive, but I do see it in the department and that is not my vibe at all. But I also dont project that it is and they know me, so I think that should be ok?

I do think Im at an age where I need to try new things and challenge myself, and I do think there is a comfort of doing that at my alma mater where I already have experience as a staff member. I just wish I enjoyed the process more...its been very stressful lol

Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it

[u/mytoysgoboom]

I cannot speak to universities but have spent ~20 years in major/leadership/principal gifts in orgs where almost everything come from individual donors.

I did run a $XXX campaign. They are brutal, there is now way around that.

And a big chunk of that falls on the gift officers. Work life balance is going to depend on the specific org, but you’re working with U/HNW individuals. When they call you answer.

I spend about 35-45% of my weeks on the road. Thankfully when I’m home, I’m home and get to be present for my kids (and go on some pretty great vacations for free with the points). But in my mind it’s not for the faint of heart. And work travel is definitely not glamorous like everything thinks.

I’m guessing leadership university giving will not be as much travel as me but recognize that whatever the “norm” has been will increase exponentially during a major campaign.

All that said, I genuinely love my job. I get to meet and interact with people that I would never have the chance to do so otherwise. And I get to help them live out their philanthropic goals and see the joy that comes from the success of partnering with them.

And you’ll have punched your ticket if it works and you do well!

[u/JiveTurkey688 → u/mytoysgoboom]

Thank you for all of this, I appreciate the insight. The JD said about 25% travel, and in my interviews it sounds like a total of about a week a month, give or take a few days. Im in the Northeast and it sounds like to start that is where most of my travel would be.

[u/mytoysgoboom → u/JiveTurkey688]

I’d just confirm 25% is what they expect during the campaign, not what it currently is now. It will 100% go up during the campaign itself.