Major Gift Officer

Description

The Major Gift Officer is a critical member of the Strategic Giving team responsible for a collective revenue goal of $14 million out of a $53.7 million Development Department revenue goal. The Major Gift Officer will work to support the Organization’s fundraising strategy to secure individual major gifts of $10,000 and above.

The successful candidate will be highly collaborative and adept at networking and forming relationships, with experience of closing major gifts. This position will serve as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of approximately 125-150 major gift and planned giving prospects with the capacity to make gifts of at least $10,000 or significant planned gifts by providing personal outreach, engagement, and direct asks for support. They will oversee individual relationships throughout the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycle. This individual will be responsible for annual revenue goals for their portfolio within the Strategic Giving team. The candidate should demonstrate a strong command of fundraising principles, including direct solicitation experience, and a proven fundraising track record that includes directly soliciting, negotiating, and closing five-figure gifts and planned gifts. In addition, the role will support and advance key equity, diversity and inclusion efforts in our fundraising.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Major Gift Responsibilities

• Manage a major gift portfolio of 100-125 prospects with a focus on qualification and discovery towards gifts of $10,000 .

• Plan and implement outreach and cultivation activities, to enhance prospect identification and move solicitation and stewardship processes forward; conduct approximately 100 in-person or virtual visits with prospects and donors per year.

• Have a comprehensive understanding of development and GCFD priorities to support donor work, match the interest of prospects/donor

• Collaborate with supervisor and other team members to develop “top prospect” lists based on giving histories, research, and relationship history

• Create individualized relationship action plans for a portfolio of prospects in line with financial goals

• Work with senior management to plan and execute solicitations for major gift donors

• Oversee appropriate recognition opportunities for major donors, which may include special events, targeted print and online publications, or program engagement

• Collaborate with other development team members on cultivation and stewardship activities as needed

• Prepare comprehensive and sophisticated documents including but not limited to; briefings for leadership and colleagues; gift opportunity presentations, gift proposals, budget forecasts, etc.

• Updates donor records in a timely matter with relevant data including contact reports, demographic updates, and other similar types of pertinent information

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated Major Gifts experience within a non-profit organization, educational institution or other environment of similar complexity.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Excellent interpersonal skills to relate to donors, volunteers, and colleague

• Enthusiastic contributor to the Major Gifts team and the broader Food Depository community.

• Highly organized & detail oriented.

• Adaptable and flexible in fast-paced environment, able to multi-task and handle several priorities simultaneously.

• Understanding and commitment to embrace equity, diversity and inclusion in fundraising practices.

• Demonstrated initiative and willingness to take on new projects.

• Proficiency in MS Office – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.

• Development database experience.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

· Highly motivated self-starter

· Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills

· Ability to independently carry out multiple and diverse tasks concurrently to meet deadlines

Salary : $14 - $54