Major Gifts Officer

Join Women for Women’s Development Team

Since 1993, Women for Women International, a global NGO, has invested in the power of over 500,000 women who are forgotten – the women survivors of war and conflict. We support them in learning the social and economic skills they need to rebuild their lives, their families, and their communities.  

Our core belief is that stronger women build stronger nations. Women who enroll in our programs in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan, break the isolation of war and conflict. They gain access to knowledge, resources and tools needed to earn and save money, improve health and well-being, influence decisions in their home and community, and connect to networks for support.  

Over the next ten years, our goal is to scale our impact to improve the lives of millions of the most marginalized women affected by war and conflict. Our vision is to create a world in which all women determine the course of their lives and reach their full potential.   

We know that women pass on their knowledge to their neighbors and children, creating a ripple effect for generations. By investing in women, we create a better world for all of us – a world that’s more equal, peaceful, and prosperous.  

That is the power of women, for women.  

Purpose

The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for building and managing a portfolio of individual major gift and foundation donors in the $5,000-$50,000 segment. They are directly responsible for building donor engagement strategies consistent with standard moves management operations and populating all relevant information and cultivation steps in Salesforce.

Although some research support is available, this role is ultimately responsible for their own prospect research and will share responsibility for monitoring and identifying new areas of opportunity for major gifts. They also support WfWI’s signature fundraising events, and other special major donor fund-raising activities as assigned.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Engages members of global leadership team, country directors, and volunteer leadership in donor cultivation and fundraising solicitations and supports involvement with appropriate research and briefing materials
• Organizes major donor cultivation events in coordination with Development Team and volunteer leadership. Collaborates with events team, and when appropriate UK office, to execute events
• Promotes and ensures the coordination of lead generation and corresponding research to increase donor engagement
• Participates in monthly portfolio meetings with plans for cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation of donors, and weekly 1:1 meetings with the Director of Development
• Participates in event planning meeting on organizational speaking engagements
  
• Responsible for annual fundraising goal of approximately $1 million.
• As a frontline member of the development team, creates and implements annual work plan to ensure annual fundraising goals are met/exceeded
• Builds and manages a portfolio of individual major donors and foundation donors annually and is responsible for developing donor strategies and relationships to grow financial support for WfWI – portfolio will likely be 20-30% discovery in the first year
• Recruits and supports fundraising volunteers who are engaged in major gift fundraising efforts with thorough research, briefing preparation, and staffing support.
• Advances and secures major gifts and volunteer leadership for WfWI’s signature events
• Proactively utilizes the new Salesforce database for donor management and reporting
  

Skills and Qualifications:

Required 

• Candidate located in Washington, D.C. or California
• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3-5 years of relevant experience of frontline fundraising experience focusing on portfolio management with proven success of helping increase giving
• Previous development experience with an international non-profit
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on a team and to build and maintain positive relationships with all levels of the organization, including volunteer leadership, senior management, and staff
• Strong interpersonal skills, maturity, tactfulness, and good judgment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills – includes communication with donors, senior leadership, and colleagues.
• Excellent listening skills - accepts constructive feedback
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and meets deadlines
• Excellent computer skills, including competency with standard business applications and database systems
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally (up to 50%) and to work/travel on evenings and weekends
• Initiative/proactive problem-solving skills
• Discretion with sensitive materials
• Strong commitment and respect for Women for Women International’s mission and values

Preferred

• Knowledge of Salesforce
• Working knowledge of planned giving

Physical Demands:

• May require bending, lifting, standing, sitting, computer work, etc.

*This job description may be modified from time to time in the discretion of WfWI.*

All our staff are required to adhere to WfWI’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies and to our organizational values: Empowerment, Integrity, Respect, Resilience. 

At Women for Women International, we know that our people and organizational culture provide the foundation to achieve our mission. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are central to everything we do. Read our commitment to DEI 

Application Instructions:

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, so please apply at your earliest convenience through this portal or our career page here: https://www.womenforwomen.org/about-us/careers.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.