Alumni Relations Officer jobs in Oakland, CA

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. To find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley, visit grow.berkeley.edu.

University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR) helps build Berkeley's excellence through communications, public outreach, and fundraising to raise public awareness about Berkeley and increase private philanthropy. UDAR provides overall direction for the campus's philanthropic advancement strategies and strengthens campus unit development in partnership with campus fundraisers. It handles a range of central activities and services encompassing prospect development, communications, donor stewardship, gift management, and more.

Office of Gift Planning Overview

The Office of Gift Planning conducts and oversees gift planning fundraising for the entire campus. Working with hundreds of donors on a variety of outright, life income, and estate gifts and bequest commitments, each year the Office partners with colleagues across the campus on more than $120 million in gifts.

Position Overview

The Gift Planning Officer acts as the initial gift planning point of contact for direct prospect inquiries and campus referrals. Communicates sophisticated gift and estate planning information in an accurate and timely manner. Closes bequest commitments, outright gifts (including real estate and privately held securities), and life income gifts (charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts).

Using advanced gift planning fundraising concepts, the Gift Planning Officer cultivates, solicits, and closes estate gifts, outright gifts, and life income gifts. Results have major impact on overall program goals and assignments, and are typically at the "major gifts" level, including managing portfolios of donors capable of creating life income gifts of an average of $100,000 and bequest commitments in the millions of dollars. May attend functions, meetings and serve on internal/external committees as a campus representative. After ramping up and within two years, position is expected to develop on an annual basis 50 individualized gift proposals and close annually $1M in outright and life income gifts and $2M in bequest commitments.

• Writes proposals, using sophisticated specialized software and with an understanding of estate and tax law for solicitation of individual gift planning prospects and donors. For example, using software to demonstrate prospect's/donor's estimated charitable income tax deduction, taxation of payments, life expectancy, non-charitable portion of gift.
• Ensures that predetermined fundraising goals are met. These goals for an Fundraiser 4 are expected to meet or exceed annually: $1M in outright and/or life income gifts, $2M bequest commitments and 50 individualized proposals. Goal results have a major impact on the campus-wide gift planning fundraising goals.
• Identifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards gift planning prospects and donors capable of making gifts ranging from an average $100,000 life income gifts to multimillion-dollar estate gifts.
• Work with assigned campus units (schools, colleges, and other units), averaging 5 -8 units per each Fundraiser 4 to create prospect and donor strategies and proposals. Implement these strategies working collaboratively with the unit based fundraisers.
• May attend functions, meetings and serve on internal/external committees as a representative of the campus and/or UDAR such as the Berkeley Advancement Community Executive Committee, advancement staff search committees, business process improvements in a variety of planned giving functions.
• Special gift planning projects as assigned, including but not limited to serving as the fundraiser partner to our marketing associate director on all prospect and donor communications from our office.

• Minimum three years of experience demonstrating advanced knowledge of all aspects of estate planning and gift planning fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.
• Minimum three years of experience applying advanced knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc to gift planning fundraising.
• Advanced written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen, to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies. Ability to make persuasive and compelling presentations of goals and objectives for campus in order to secure gifts.
• Advanced organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills, including skill in creative and effective decision-making and problem identification / avoidance / resolution, and strong project management skills.
• Very strong skills in maintaining confidentiality surrounding prospects and donors financial, philanthropic and estate planning goals and capacity.

Education/Training

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience or training
• JD

• Demonstrate advanced working knowledge of all aspects of a university campus, including current issues of concern for both the campus and/or throughout higher education generally.
• Advanced working knowledge of a university campus vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements, and infrastructure.
• Member of California State Bar

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $120,000.00- $140,000.00, commensurate with experience.

• This is an exempt career position, which is paid monthly and eligible for full UC Benefits.
• This is a Bay Area-based position.
• This is a hybrid position. The in-person percentage to be determined and will vary based on the needs of the department. This role will be expected to attend some in-person meetings on campus, including donor meetings, team meetings, divisional and university gatherings, as well as off-site donor meetings.
• This is not a visa opportunity.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

The minimum posting duration of this position is 14 calendar days. The department will not initiate the application review process prior to February 28, 2024

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.

For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, please see the University of California Discrimination, Harassment, and Affirmative Action in the Workplace policy.