Donor Experience Officer

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At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the Division of University Advancement has the privilege of championing one of the country’s leading research universities. In collaboration with our internal and external stakeholders, we maximize private support for UWM’s schools, colleges, units, and programs through a comprehensive development and alumni relations program that: 

• Promotes a university-wide culture of philanthropy and stewardship.

• Engages alums through high impact and highly visible programs and services.

• Supports and fosters investment in campus priorities. 

• Respects donors philanthropic interests and passions. 

• Provides a joyful giving experience. 

• Complies with relevant professional codes of conduct and ethics. 

• Holds parties accountable for meeting goals and objectives. 

The Donor Experience Program at UW-Milwaukee advances a relationship-driven fundraising approach powered by data, digital strategy, and multi-channel engagement to connect donors to the mission and priorities of the university. The program integrates development communications with frontline fundraising efforts to engage, retain, and grow annual and leadership annual giving donors while building a strong pipeline for future major giving support. 

The Division of University Advancement is currently seeking to fill two Donor Experience Officer (DXO) positions. The DXO reports to the Director of Annual Giving and Donor Experience and serves as a frontline fundraiser, managing a portfolio of approximately 1,000 donors and donor prospects. This role is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, stewarding, and closing annual and leadership annual level gifts through high-velocity, personalized outreach across digital and direct engagement channels. 

The DXO owns fundraising outcomes within the portfolio, including donor engagement, dollars raised, donor retention, qualification, referrals, and pipeline development. The role partners closely with Advancement colleagues, including prospect research and major gift teams, to support portfolio management, referral strategy, and donor movement across the giving continuum. Some evening and weekend work is required. 

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Actively manage and build relationships with a portfolio of approximately 1,000 donors and donor prospects through personalized, data-informed outreach and creative digital-first engagement strategies.
• Cultivate, solicit, steward, and close annual- and leadership annual-level gifts while building long-term donor engagement and major gift pipeline opportunities.
• Execute monthly and quarterly touchpoint cadences averaging 30+ outbound touchpoints per day across phone, email, video, text, social media, and virtual meetings to ensure consistent, relevant, and donor-centric communication.
• Qualify and disqualify prospects through ongoing donor discovery and engagement efforts to support effective portfolio management and donor pipeline development.
• Meet and exceed clearly defined fundraising metrics and goals related to donor outreach, engagement, solicitations, dollars raised, donor retention, referrals, and pipeline growth.
• Create targeted and segmented messaging for fundraising initiatives and campaigns based on donor interests, engagement history, affiliations, and giving behaviors.
• Leverage technology including CRM platforms, EverTrue, social media platforms, video tools, and virtual communication software to build rapport, steward donors, and drive philanthropic engagement in a high-velocity fundraising environment.
• Partner with prospect management, research and advancement colleagues to strengthen portfolio strategy, donor qualification, referral management, and fundraising outcomes.
• Be fluent in the menu of engagement and philanthropic opportunities across the university, including alumni engagement, volunteerism, mentorship, crowdfunding, events, scholarships, and institutional fundraising priorities.
• Embrace a “mile-wide and inch-deep” approach by serving as a proactive connector to university resources, engagement opportunities, and philanthropic initiatives aligned with donor interests.
• Support planning, outreach, and follow-up efforts related to donor engagement initiatives, fundraising campaigns, events, and Giving Days in partnership with Engagement and Development teams.
• Participate in professional development opportunities and engage with peers across the profession to stay knowledgeable about industry trends and emerging best practices.

Department: University Advancement

Compensation: $60,000 - $66,000

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills across multiple mediums.  

• Demonstrated relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of internal and external constituents. 

• Proficiency with technology and the ability to quickly learn and adapt to new platforms, systems, and digital tools including Microsoft Office Suite and databases. 

• Experience working independently and as part of a collaborative team environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two or more years of experience in fundraising, advancement, non-profit, sales, customer service, communications, or relationship management environments.

• Strong organizational, analytical, and strategic thinking skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. 

• Experience with digital-first engagement approaches and managing AI workflows.

• Experience with CRM platforms (Salesforce).

How to Apply:

Complete application materials must include a cover letter and a current, detailed resume addressing educational and professional level work experience as it relates to all minimum and preferred qualifications.   

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from a candidate’s application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they will be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications. 

Contact Information:

Gianna Pacioni

HR-Coordinator

414-251-8522

[email protected]

Reasonable Accommodations
Pursuant to university policy, UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact [email protected] or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC and Reference Check Policy
Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/, or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy.

Employment Authorization
In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.