Major Gifts Officer

Position Summary: The Major Gifts Officer supports the Director of Development/Director of Individual Giving in creating and implementing a successful major gifts strategy. Along with a second Major Gifts Officer, this role is charged with managing relationships and securing support from donors who are capable of making major gifts (4, 5, and 6 figures). The Major Gifts Officer ensures the major gifts strategy is well integrated into existing annual fund plans. This position is based in our Harlem Headquarters with a hybrid work schedule. The role also has the necessity to visit with donors throughout New York City and its surrounding areas.

Essential Duties:

• Manages portfolio of $2,500+ donors, with additional donors capable of laddering at lower giving levels, through moves management, to meet annual fundraising goals.
• Develops relationships with prospects/donors through individualized plans:
• Initiates contact with major gift donors.
• Strategizes on level of gift and best approaches for making an ask.
• Develops appropriate cultivation strategies for major gift donors.
• Creates collateral and communications to aid outreach and cultivation efforts.
• Identifies key staff members to be involved in cultivation and subsequent solicitation.
• Completes solicitations and all necessary follow-up and stewardship appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Coordinates an effective program for recognition, involvement, and stewardship of major donors.
• Solicits support through in-person and written communications.
• Partners internally to understand program budgets and outcomes, to relay strong cases for support and reports.
• Prepares all correspondence, reports, and records, leveraging existing division materials and developing required ones.
• Assists in creation of the annual development plan, including annual revenue projections and realization assessments.
• Researches new and existing donors.
• Works collaboratively with Director of Development, Chief Development Officer, and Chief Executive Officer on prospect research; identifying new giving opportunities; and developing proposals, briefing and gift reports, budgets, and related correspondence.
• Coordinates and hosts site visits across target areas of New York City and Westchester.
• Maintains fundraising database records and tracks all donor activity in Raiser’s Edge.
• Works in partnership with entire Development team to accomplish department goals.
• Attends all fundraising and stewardship events, cultivating and stewarding donors.
• Develops and maintains relationships with various program staff.
• Performs other prospect and donor-related activities as the annual program evolves, as related to role.
• In-person collaboration is an essential function of the job.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum three to five years’ experience in related positions preferred.
• Non-profit and development experience preferred.

Key Competencies:

• Ability to motivate and to take initiative as a self-starter.
• Must have excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Must have excellent writing, interpersonal communication, and relationship building skills.
• Experience with donor cultivation preferred.
• Display transparency about research, calls, meetings, activities, and all work with manager and team.
• Dependability and good organizational skills.
• Excellent planning and project management skills and attention to detail.
• Flexible, curious, and skilled problem-solver.
• Strong belief in the mission of Children’s Aid.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and a willingness to expand personal understanding of the root cause of poverty.
• Experience with CRM or fundraising database management preferred

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not to tolerate discrimination, harassment or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children’s Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children’s Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children’s Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.