Major Gifts Officer

PEN America, a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of literature and human rights, seeks a dynamic and experienced fundraising professional to serve as a major gifts officer. The person will develop and manage a portfolio of high-net worth individuals, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding gifts of $10,000 and above. The Major Gifts Officer will play a key role in securing philanthropic support for PEN America at a time when free expression is at the center of public debate.

This is a full-time position based at PEN America’s New York City headquarters and reports to the Chief Development Officer.

The ideal candidate will have a strong track record of increasing revenue and building donor relationships. The individual must be personable, highly organized, accountable, and comfortable juggling workload demands and timelines calmly and with poise under pressure. An ambitious, systematic approach and a comfort level with PEN America’s community of high-profile writers, activists, and allied supporters are important assets. The major gifts officer will also work closely with programmatic leads to deepen PEN America’s relationships with individual donors and unlock new opportunities for fundraising growth.

All positions are subject to a six-month trial period and assessment. In alignment with PEN America’s current policy, all applicants should be available to report to the office at least three days per week. This policy is subject to change.

• Manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 100-120 major donors and prospects, including individuals, family foundations, and select corporate partners
• Develop and implement tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies
• Personally solicit gifts at the $10,000+ level, often in partnership with senior leadership and board members
• Work in partnership with program leads to articulate funding priorities, create compelling donor engagement opportunities, and develop strong pitches
• Maintain and update all donor data, interactions, and next steps in PEN America’s Customer Relationship Management software
• Actively identify and research new prospects to build out a major gifts pipeline
• Support the CEO, CDO and Board in donor meetings, events, and communications by preparing briefing materials and drafting communications
• Support the Development department’s annual appeals, campaign planning, and more
• Design and attend donor events and represent PEN America at public-facing events, as needed
• Other duties as assigned

All PEN America staff are considered to be stakeholders in the development of our shared organization. As such, staff play a role in varied activities within the workplace as part of their job responsibilities. These may include committees or task forces to work on office issues, diversity and inclusion, strategy projects, training or other initiatives.

• Minimum of five years of front-line fundraising experience, preferably managing an active portfolio of individual donors
• Proven track record of securing major donations at the 10K+ level
• Passionate and dynamic storyteller who thrives on building relationships and creating transformative experiences that inspire donors to take action
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Confident and professional work style with the ability to take initiative, work independently and exercise good judgment in stressful circumstances
• Flexibility and a willingness to take on new tasks as the responsibilities of the position evolve
• Excellent written, verbal, and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to connect with donors linked to our community of writers, journalists, activists, and allies
• Experience with human rights and/or arts and culture fundraising is a strong plus
• Must be able to provide valid proof of U.S. work authorization
• Commitment to PEN America’s mission, centered on the celebration and defense of free expression for all. Willingness to defend the right to engage in speech that may be offensive and discomfiting and that reflects a wide range of political opinions and ideologies. PEN America…