Job Title: Major Gifts Officer
Department: Development
Reports To: Chief Development Officer
FLSA Status: Exempt/Salaried
Position Summary
The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for raising $1.5M+ in annual revenue and supervising Community Partner Coordinator, and up to two other fundraising staff. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Major Gifts Officer oversees all major gifts, major gift strategy, Community Advisory Board activations and a top-tier portfolio of donors. In conjunction with the CDO, The MGO plots out the major donor revenue and expense strategy for the upcoming year. Areas of responsibility and oversight include strategic planning, overseeing Community Partners, matching for specific fundraising campaigns, development, and implementation of the Community Advisory Board. This position serves on the Caritas Leadership Team, Development Manager Team and attends the monthly Development Manager Team meeting, Leadership Team meetings and occasionally Board meetings where appropriate.
The Major Gifts Officer Manager must be a highly energetic professional with a record of accomplishment of building donor relationships and closing gifts. In addition to maintaining and driving the current Major Donor portfolio, the MGO will also be responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding new major donors ($10,000+) in support of the overall organization’s growth.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities (inclusive but not exhaustive):
Fundraising Goals
- In conjunction with CDO and Development Management, Create a comprehensive year-round development solicitation and stewardship plan that aligns with Caritas of Austin’s organizational goals, Keys To Well-Being Expansion Campaign fundraising goals and annual fundraising goals.
- Use industry standards, develop an annual strategy for current and prospective Major Donors ($10,000+)
- Participate in fundraising for Caritas of Austin’s $12.5M Keys To Well-Being Campaign.
- Develop an annual fundraising strategy, cultivation plan and implementation and activations for the Community Advisory Board.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Growing operational funding for the organization through charitable donations.
- Keeping donors aware of the mission, accomplishments, and needs of the organization.
- Developing and executing planned and measurable actions, steps and contacts designed to acknowledge the donors’ generosity, gather additional insight into their motivations to give, their resource capacity, deepen the relationships through strategic meetings and event involvement in order to renew and grow giving.
- Meeting and exceeding performance objectives and goals as determined and outlined in the annual goal setting and evaluation.
- Assuring high level of accuracy when providing information about the organization.
- Performing maintenance on assigned donor database records for both financial and non-financial updates in donor software.
- Focusing on securing support for varied teams, events and projects, program expansion, awareness and promotions activities and other initiatives as defined.
- Working collaboratively with development, executive staff, and volunteer leadership in identifying, cultivating, and stewarding existing and prospective relationships.
Participate in all aspects of the gift cycle:
- Identify and qualify contacts with potential for a major gift donation.
- Set strategic financial and cultivation goals for each Top-tier Donor along with milestone dates.
- Move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure.
- Make solicitations.
- Track and document the plans and progress for all donors in your portfolio.
- Maintain stewardship contacts with donors; adhere to the highest ethical standards; demonstrate empathetic disposition, and perseverance; reflect optimistic and positive attitude and convey sensitivity to needs of the donors.
Administrative
- In conjunction with the Development Data Analyst, oversee all major donor invoicing/ collections.
- Annual Fundraising Goal Setting with each direct report under their management.
- Track actual year to date, quarterly and monthly fundraising for you and your direct reports.
- Support the Community Partner Coordinator with overall identification and cultivation of business and community partners.
- Oversee development reports as needed/requested, including Board Development reports.
- Participate in development budget & revenue meetings.
- Consistently research best practices that could improve donor retention and new donor acquisition.
Qualifications:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Business, Non-profit Management, Sociology, Social Work, or related field.
- Certified Fundraising Executive Certification (complete 1 year from hire date).
Experience
- Required: Minimum three - five years’ experience in non-profit sector.
- Required: Experience in large scale gift solicitation.
- Required: Knowledge of fundraising principles and strategies.
- Required: MUST have a minimum of two (2) years of leadership and/ or management experience.
- Must have excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated record of completing assignments.
Computer Skills
- Must be computer literate.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
Other Requirement(s)
- Valid Driver’s License and reliable transportation required.
Work Schedule and Special Events
- Opportunity to work remotely 1–2 days per week, with prior supervisor approval, after successful completion of a 6-month orientation period.
- Participation required at the annual ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day.
Salary/Benefits:
- Base Salary Range: $90,000-$105,000
- Employer paid health, dental, vision, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance for employees.
- 14 Paid Holidays per year.
- 20 days of accrued PTO in year one with increases up to 31 days per year.
- Retirement plan with employer match.
- Discounted Rates on Gold’s Gym and Legal Shield memberships.
- Mileage Reimbursement.
- Monthly Phone Stipend.
- Monthly Paid Parking for employees who office from Downtown Location.
Application Requirement
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed or considered. To be considered for this position, applicants must submit all of the following:
- A detailed resume outlining relevant experience
- A cover letter tailored to the position
- A list of professional references
- A fully completed application
Applications missing any of these components will be considered incomplete and will not move forward in the review process.
Caritas of Austin is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
