Overview of Responsibilities
The Mission Advancement Major Gift Officer is focused on qualifying new prospects and building strong relationships with key donors, proactively performing major gift solicitation, and ‘closing’ gifts to meet annual fundraising goals, aiming to operate effectively in the development of a major gifts department. This position assists the Director by conducting regular prospect research on new and current donors to identify new prospects and develop donor pipelines utilizing research tools, personal insights, and donor preferences, thriving in a challenging environment that consistently ‘closes’ gifts and realizes new gift opportunities. The ideal candidate is someone who enjoys connecting with people and the art of negotiation with acute critical thinking skills. This person must embrace the challenges of an ever-changing fundraising environment and the needs of a growing major gift effort.
Key Responsibilities/Essential Functions
- Identify, cultivate, and solicit donors to meet/exceed annual fundraising goals.
- Manage and track an active portfolio of high-level donors to facilitate and build relationships, upgrade donors, and solicit gifts of $2,500 and above.
- Make 50+ weekly contacts through phone, email, handwritten notes, including 8-10 face to face meetings per year. Solicit engagement, express thanks.
- Create a comprehensive strategy for donor cultivation, solicitation and retention based on the donor’s giving capacity and history.
- Directly solicit major gifts and partner with leadership on solicitations by providing prospect briefings, strategic guidance, and assistance with donor communications.
- Serve as trusted philanthropic advisor to qualified major gift prospects and demonstrate reliable and donor-centric communications.
- Develop a high-quality donor experience through regular personalized correspondence, professional proposals, and timely acknowledgements.
- Qualify a caseload of donors by seeking out donor interests, passions, and capacity for being upgraded in giving and involvement. Analyze donor giving/involvement and potential for increasing.
- Create and execute individual plans for each donor tailored to their passions, interests, motivations, giving patterns and preferences. Execute each plan with the goal of retaining and upgrading donors.
- Identify and build relationships with prospective foundation donors.
- Write tailored funding/partnership proposals. Research each funding opportunity’s
- requirements. Write and submit tailored and compelling requests.
- Secure annual unrestricted gifts from individuals and major donors.
- Assist the Director of Mission Advancement to develop, implement and execute strategic major-gift strategy across the team, while training and assisting Mission Advancement Gift Specialists.
- Assist the Director of Mission Advancement in developing content for mission critical scripts, appeals and collateral.
- Demonstrate expert knowledge of the discipline of frontline fundraising and serve as a coach to other team members.
- Conduct monthly continuing education and training sessions with development staff.
- Partner with two Major Gift Specialist and Director of Mission Advancement on a successful major gift program.
- Responsible for development, monitoring, and achievement of budget goals for this position as part of the overall budget strategies for the Foundation
- Remain updated on current programs initiatives, marketing materials and dedicated events. Use all this information to prepare and deliver informed, impactful, tailored invitations and “asks.”
- Work closely with program staff to develop fundraising plans in support of project-specific initiatives.
- Prepare and present reports on departmental progress.
- Maintain an organized and detailed donor/prospective donor pipeline via CRM (NetForum).
- PWNA’s core values are exemplified in all interactions with internal and external donors,
stakeholders, and constituents.
- Ability to develop and sustain working relationships with current, prospective, and prior donors.
- Comfortable with actively making ‘asks ‘and closing gifts.
- Innate ability to solicit funding and comfortability in the execution of fundraising tactics and major gift strategy.
- Comfortable with travel as needed and ability to work nights and weekends as required.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Experience/Position Requirements
- 5-10 years of fundraising experience, including at least 5 years of experience securing major gifts of at least $10K from private individuals, foundations, and corporate prospects.
- Strong preference is given to candidates who can demonstrate a consistent track record of personally securing multiple major gifts annually.
- 1-3 years of experience with major gift proposal writing.
- Experience meeting sales/fundraising goals, increasing client/donor engagement, and making the “ask” and “close” is required. Experience building strong in-person and phone donor/client relationships is required.
- Excellent people skills including the ability to maintain tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
- Close attention to detail and accuracy of information, timeliness on data input.
- Service-oriented mentality and strong customer service skills.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills, ability to multi-task and prioritize workflow.
- Clear, professional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to compose, edit and proof correspondence and documents to make effective public or individual presentations.
- Self-motivated with ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
- Exceptional storyteller. Adept in public speaking
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Expressed desire to learn and familiarize oneself with the issues of Indian Country and the philanthropic landscape of Native American issues. Historical, geographical, and awareness of trauma is not required, but should be learned, or demonstrate a willingness to learn contemporary issues in Indian Country.
- Report remotely four days per week ten hours per day Monday through Thursday with an ability to work in the office. This may change at any time with days in the office as a requirement.
Education Background Required
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in a related discipline.
- Master’s Degree Preferred
Core Competencies Required for this Position
- Brand Steward: Steward of the PWNA brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results for long-term success and sustainability.
- Results-Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the organization and the Native American communities we serve
- Mission-Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to PWNA’s mission to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities throughout Indian Country.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $70,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 10 hour shift
- 8 hour shift
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Addison, TX 75001