Principal Gifts Engagement Officer at Bucknell University

Job description

Position Title: Principal Gifts Engagement Officer Position Type: Full time Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Categories: Staff Exempt Job Summary: The Principal Gifts Engagement Officer (PGEO) serves on the Principal Gifts team as a strategic partner responsible for designing and leading engagement strategies that strengthen relationships with Bucknell's highest-capacity prospects and donors, individuals whose transformational philanthropy will have the greatest impact on the university's campaign success. Through innovative engagement programs and highly personalized donor experiences, the PEO creates meaningful connections that deepen donor affinity, advance principal gift strategies, and inspire significant philanthropic investment. Reporting to the Director of Principal Gifts, the PGEO develops and leads a portfolio of strategic engagement initiatives that support seven- and eight-figure philanthropic opportunities. Working collaboratively with principal gift officers, University Advancement leadership, and campus partners, the PEO aligns donor engagement with solicitation strategies and institutional priorities while ensuring a seamless, high-touch experience for Bucknell's most significant donors. Job Duties: Reporting Relationship: Reports to Director, Principal Gifts Work Setting/Schedule: This is an on-campus position. This is a full-time role (40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year) Evening and weekend work may be required periodically based on events and donor engagement activities. What You Will Do: Principal Donor Programs: Lead the strategy, development, management, execution, and continuous enhancement of strategic engagement programs for Bucknell's highest-priority principal gift prospects and donors. Design innovative one-to-many engagement opportunities that strengthen donor affinity, build meaningful connections to the university, and advance campaign priorities. Work closely with the events team and other partners to execute event-related engagement strategies on and off campus. Ensure every engagement is strategically coordinated and executed with exceptional precision, discretion, and flawless attention to detail, delivering a seamless experience that reflects the university's highest standards and advances transformational philanthropic investment. Establish processes, tools, and best practices that strengthen the planning, coordination, and execution of principal donor engagement programs. Principal Donor Cultivation: Lead the design and execution of individualized engagement strategies for Bucknell's highest-priority principal gift prospects and donors. Develop, oversee, and continuously refine Individualized Cultivation Plans (ICPs) that coordinate multi-year engagement strategies aligned with solicitation goals. Design and deliver highly customized donor experiences, including concierge-level campus visits and strategic interactions with university leadership, faculty, students, and other key partners. Ensure every engagement is executed with exceptional precision, discretion, and flawless attention to detail, creating distinctive experiences that strengthen donor relationships and advance seven- and eight-figure philanthropic opportunities. Strategic Stewardship & Innovation: Partner with Stewardship and Donor Relations to shape and refine stewardship strategies for Bucknell's highest-priority principal gift prospects and donors. Identify opportunities to create distinctive stewardship experiences and approaches, including those connected to scholarships, named chairs and professorships, and named spaces. Establish and monitor annual engagement metrics, assess results and trends, and use insights to refine strategies and drive continued growth in principal gift engagement and philanthropic outcomes. Identify emerging opportunities and best practices and recommend enhancements that strengthen principal donor relationships and support evolving campaign priorities. The job description's listed responsibilities