JOB SUMMARY:
The Senior Philanthropy Officer (SPO) is responsible for the strategic management of a portfolio of 125+ individual and foundation major gift donors and prospects capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more. Soliciting and growing annual leadership gifts ($5,000+) is also an important responsibility of the role, both with their portfolio of prospects and via targeted outreach to other donors/prospects, as assigned.
The SPO will also have annual goals focused on the identification and cultivation of new prospects and will be empowered to develop and execute strategies to grow the existing annual leadership ($5,000+) and major gift ($100,000+) prospect pools. Regular national travel and face-to-face prospect visits are a core expectation of the position, along with periodic international travel. This position may be strategically deployed to advance product sales and corporate philanthropy, partnerships, and gifts-in-kind.
Edesia believes strongly in a mission-motivated, relationship-based fundraising philosophy rooted in a firm conviction that a demonstrated passion for our mission, coupled with constant personalized engagement and relationship-building, will significantly enhance a person or organization's propensity to increase their philanthropic support. Therefore, the SPO must exhibit curiosity, persistence, superior interpersonal skills, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a proven ability in persuasive written and oral communication. A competitive, goal-oriented mindset is essential to success.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
Manage a portfolio of 125+ assigned individual and foundation prospects with demonstrated capacity to make gifts of $100,000+ and consistently identify and qualify new prospects [70%]
Within the overall scope of prospective portfolio management, specific expectations include:
- A significant volume of face-to-face visits with assigned prospects. Clear objectives will be set each year.
- Personal solicitation and effective stewardship of major and planned gifts.
- Achievement of specific fundraising dollar goals from assigned prospects for annual leadership and major gifts. Clear objectives will be set each year commensurate with the capacity and engagement level of the prospect pool.
- Consistent written documentation of prospect visits, solicitations, and key actions must be maintained in Edesia's fundraising CRM system (Sales Force & Funraise).
- The planning and execution of targeted prospect engagement and donor recognition events.
- The development and execution of written prospect strategies for top assigned prospects, including solicitation timelines and target solicitation amounts.
- New prospect identification and qualification. Clear objectives will be set each year.
- As directed and/or when prospect relationships present strategic opportunities, solicit corporate partnerships, philanthropy, gifts-in-kind, and direct product sales to NGOs.
Solicitation of Annual Leadership Gifts ($5,000+) (15%]
- Ensure all prospects in your portfolio, not otherwise committed to a major gift, are personally solicited for annual leadership gifts. Utilize annual leadership giving solicitations as a key tool in prospective qualification and cultivation.
- Support Edesia's overall fundraising success through the active personal solicitation of annual leadership giving prospects and donors beyond the SPSO's assigned prospects, particularly during high-volume giving periods (calendar year-end).
Special Projects, Events, and Transformational/Principal Gifts Fundraising Support [15%]
- As significant opportunities present themselves, supporting the CEO and CDGSO in transformational ($10M+) and principal ($1M+) gift work.
- Support the planning and execution of special events.
- Periodically represent Edesia at industry and philanthropic events.
- Other special projects and duties, as assigned.
