Major Gifts Officer

Position Title:
Major Gifts Officer

Department: Development

Grade Range/Job Status: Full Time/Exempt

Reporting Relationship: Chief Development Officer

Supervisory Responsibilities: NA

Typical Schedule: Primarily M-F Days. Must occasionally be willing and able to work flexible hours/days, including evenings and weekends, reflective of the dynamic schedule of the organization.

Position Summary

The Major Gifts Officer works to improve relationships with donors to Hammer & NER resulting in financial revenue that meets the needs of the organization. Responsibilities include leading annual giving plans, developing systems, creating timelines, coordinating, and implementing relevant fundraising strategies. The Major Gifts Officer plays a key role in evaluating and improving the effectiveness of annual giving strategies. All employees are expected to center, model and champion Hammer & NER’s core values:
Person-Centered, Relational, Opportunistic and Stewardship to provide people with intellectual and other disabilities the opportunity to live life to its fullest.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Advise strategic plans and target goals for the annual fundraising budget.
• Create and coordinate annual fundraising plan with the team to increase overall contributions from individuals, retain existing donors and acquire new donors.
• Manage and grow the monthly donor program.
• Collaborate with the development team and other departments to host effective fundraising events.
• Lead sponsorship efforts with development team and volunteers.
• Assist in identifying organizations’ needs and articulate details for relevant fundraising strategies like grants, appeals and major donor plans.

• Manage new donor prospects utilizing Raiser’s Edge systems.
• Manage personal portfolio, using database systems for regular documenting and reporting.
• Provide back up for Fundraising Database Administrator to generate lists, reports, track donor audiences and analyze effectiveness.
• Participate in donor research efforts to effectively work within personal portfolio.
• Offer donor research as a back up to team members

• Identify relevant organization needs/programs/projects for granting.
• Collaborate with grant writer to write, edit, and post applications and reports.
• Work with grantors to understand and provide necessary documentation.
• Follow up with internal teams to ensure grant requirements are complete and funds are spent.

• Communicate individually with donors, in person, by telephone and digitally to create positive donor experiences, bringing them closer to our mission.

• Participate in donor discovery, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship.
• Engage with volunteers to cultivate them into deeper relationships that result in financial support.
• Network with potential donor groups and grantors to bring them closer to the mission.

Essential Knowledge and Qualifications

• Intermediate, successful experience in nonprofit fundraising including cultivation, soliciting, and stewarding of major donors. Formal, informal, and cross-disciplinary experiences will be considered.
• Strong commitment and demonstrated passion for the organization’s mission to support individuals with disabilities.
• Demonstrated relationship and influence builder with major donors.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills with a strong attention to detail.
• Proven track record as an implementer who thrives on managing and initiating a variety of key initiatives concurrently.
• Self-starter, able to work both independently and with fellow team members as needed.
• Ability to take knowledge and transform it into exciting and useful messages and disseminate it to the right audiences.
• Experience with and ability to use Raiser’s Edge or other donor database technologies for fundraising efforts.
• Excellent computer skills including MS Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point, and various other internet applications.
• Requires a valid driver’s license, access to a personal auto and driving record that meets Hammer & NERs insurance requirements. Ability to travel in own vehicle to locations in the greater metro area on a…