The Discovery Officer is part of the National Discovery Team and is a road warrior role responsible for a high-volume of prospect discovery, qualification, and solicitation across the country. This team is fast-paced, collaborative, and impact-driven; its strategic priority is to rapidly strengthen Vanderbilt’s donor pipeline and raise funds for all areas and priorities in the short-term, while investing in long-term relationship building with prospects to build the foundation for future campaigns. This is an entry-level, externally facing frontline fundraising role which serves as a training ground for gift officers for schools and units and prioritizes a holistic approach toward staff development. 

About the Work Unit:

The Department of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) assists Vanderbilt University in securing the resources, both human and financial, that are required to achieve its mission and goals. The Department is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individuals and organizations whose charitable objectives are consistent with those of Vanderbilt University’s teaching and research programs.  You can find more information at www.vanderbilt.edu/dar/

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Execute a national strategy to discover and qualify as many prospects as possible.

Conduct 30 discovery visits quarterly to qualify prospects for capacity and affinity Travel 2-3 times per month to a portfolio of regions in the continental United States Identify prospects with the ability to make a major, planned, or principal gift to VU Hand-off active referrals to school/unit fundraising teams and work collaboratively with regional and school/unit gift officers on strategies for a targeted region Devise, develop, and test different outreach strategies to increase contact rates and visits, leveraging email, text messaging, phone calls, and LinkedIn Leverage visits and prospect relationships to identify new leads and tap new personal networks

Raise funds for all schools, units, and priorities by soliciting gifts of $2,500, $25,000, and higher.

Conduct 5 visits quarterly to solicit new commitments of $25,000 and higher  Solicit all prospects for leadership annual gifts of $2,500+ and multi-year commitments with strategies to upgrade Work collaboratively with planned giving staff for new bequests and other blended gifts Steward donors with thoughtful updates and personalized attention throughout the year

Actively participate in professional development, training, developing yourself as a VU fundraiser. 

Champion a generalist mindset to be informed and comfortable discussing schools, units, centers, and priorities across the university with stories, examples, and engaging content Hone fundraising pitches and conversational tactics using open-ended conversation, thoughtful follow-up, and mission-centric messaging to engage prospects in VU’s philanthropic goals  Participate fully in professional development opportunities, including informal mentorship and more formalized onboarding and training programs through the Development and Alumni Relations Academy Seek continuous improvement and learning across job functions and external activities from prospect outreach, discovery visits, crafting intentional conversations, making asks, and managing follow-up

Contribute to an outcome-driven team.

Measure individual performance and growth through a personalized gift officer scorecard with clear goals and real-time tracking; benefit from a performance-based bonus model annually Embrace a positive work-culture with the goal of balancing travel, in-office days, and flexible work arrangements     Support colleagues on the team and throughout the organization to meet their goals, share fundraising credit, and collaborate on prospects with multiple affiliations and interests

Other duties as assigned

Work Environment:

This position will be hybrid located in the Nashville area.  The expectation will be 1 day in the office per week, or more depending on business needs.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Director of Development, Discovery Team. 

Education and Certifications:

Bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent, is necessary

Experience and Skills:

One year of relevant experience, or the equivalent, is necessary and an interest in front line development/fundraising work is desired Willingness and ability to connect, engage, and directly solicit prospects Passion for making connections and having conversations daily with new people; driven to meet high-volume metrics with urgency and to make an impact Energized through social interactions and comfortable with making direct asks of alumni and having purposeful conversations that build relationships and have an impact on goals and metrics Excellent oral and written communication skills Interpersonal skills and judgment suitable for exercising appropriate discretion and demeanor when dealing with alumni, parents, friends, and employees Ability to exercise good judgment in the handling of confidential information Ability to use current computer technology, such as Windows, Excel, Word, and Vanderbilt’s donor management system Some evening and weekend work, as needed  Driving is considered an essential job function for this role. Operating a motor vehicle is a regular and necessary part of this position. A motor vehicle registration (MVR) check is routinely conducted to ensure compliance Value of the importance of equity as an organizational operating principle and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are.  We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

       Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,            gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.