Major Gifts Officer

Position:
Major Gifts Officer Employment Category:
Part-time - 80% (approximately 32 hours per week) Salary Range: $85,000-$108,000 annually Place of Work:
Berkeley, CA (Hybrid/Remote)

Reports to:

Chief Philanthropy Officer Travel: CA in the first 3-12 months;
Travel will increase with portfolio development.

Seva is a global nonprofit eye care organization that transforms lives by restoring sight and preventing blindness. Since 1978, Seva has provided sight‑saving surgeries, eyeglasses, medicine, and other eye care services to more than 72 million people in underserved communities around the world.

Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment, and of these, at least 1 billion people have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed. Our programs have been instrumental in making eye care available to those who can’t afford it. They are driven by 4 pillars – establishing self‑sustaining vision centers, eye care for kids, bringing the best in technology, and training & job creation.

Seva believes that restoring sight is one of the most cost‑effective ways to relieve suffering and reduce poverty. When a blind person gets her sight back, she can go back to work, earn and support her family. In more than 20 countries, Seva has helped 7 million people who were blind to regain their sight.

The Major Gifts Officer plays a key role in advancing Seva's fundraising success and growth. The position will maximize donor engagement by identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors capable of making five‑figure gifts and above in support of Seva’s highest priorities.

• Develop and implement customized cultivation and stewardship strategies for a portfolio of 75-150 donors, including prospect, current and past donors, with the capacity to make gifts of $10,000 and above, nurturing relationships through personalized communications, meetings, reports, and engagement opportunities in accordance with Seva's policies, procedures, and funding priorities. Ensure timely and meaningful acknowledgment, recognition, reporting, and updates on the impact of their contributions.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records in the CRM database through Moves Management, documenting all interactions, proposals, and gift agreements related to major gifts in accordance with Seva’s policies and procedures.
• With the Grants and Program teams, develop compelling proposals, presentations, and reports aligned with donor interests.
• Maintain an active, current body of knowledge of Seva and its mission, programs, activities, institutional needs, and fundraising priorities.
• Work with prospect research to identify new individual gift prospects and understand their philanthropic interests and capacity to give.
• Negotiate gift agreements and terms with donors, in collaboration with the Grants and Program teams.
• Actively participate in meetings with the Director of Grants and Leadership Gifts and the CPO to coordinate prospect review and discuss specific prospect strategies as they relate to prioritized fundraising needs.
• Analyze portfolio giving trends to inform fundraising strategies and forecasts.

This job description provides a general overview of the role and its key responsibilities. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, and Seva reserves the right to assign additional tasks as needed.

• Minimum of seven years of professional fundraising experience required, preferably in a nonprofit environment. Demonstrated track record of successful solicitation of new and upgraded giving at the major gift level (five and six‑figure gifts). Outstanding strategic thinking and analytical skills, interpersonal skills, and experience handling highly confidential information.
• Ability to build rapport with a diverse group of stakeholders, including high-net-worth individuals, colleagues, and senior executives.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with superior attention to detail and strong storytelling skills.
• Display a positive attitude and show good judgment, common sense, and excellent listening skills;…