Director of Major Gifts

About Trickle Up

Trickle Up’s mission is to partner with women to forge resilient pathways out of poverty by empowering them to build sustainable livelihoods, gain confidence, and become decision-makers in their families and communities. Since 1979, Trickle Up has focused on the poorest and most vulnerable groups, working with those who live in extreme poverty and face multiple levels of exclusion due to gender, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We have partnered with nearly a half-million program participants, 97% of whom are women, in their work building microenterprises and pathways to savings, improved food security, and greater agency, sustainably lifting more than two million people out of poverty in Africa, India, and Latin America. We work alongside local partners to achieve transformative impact and amplify our reach through strategic communications.

Position Overview

This is a new position in the development department created to achieve our aggressive growth goals. The successful candidate will have a demonstrable history of raising four-figure to six-figure gifts. Reporting to the VP of Development, the Director of Major Gifts is responsible for securing four-figure to six-figure gifts from current major donors and new major donor prospects to support Trickle Up’s mission. The director’s focus will be: (i) engaging, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of up to 100 qualified, current individual donors and major donors, and (ii) identifying and cultivating a pipeline of approximately 50 strong new prospects.

The Director of Major Gifts will implement effective strategies that ultimately result in gifts being made at their maximum possible levels of support. The role entails stewarding and soliciting a robust donor pipeline, nurturing relationships with current donors, identifying, cultivating, and making asks to new prospects, and identifying and exploring new external networks for prospecting. They will work closely with our successful, growing development team and our highly engaged board of directors. They will also collaborate with colleagues across several departments, including communications, programs, finance, and Trickle Up’s regional teams based in India and Latin America.

Principal Functions

Donor Identification, Engagement, and Solicitation

• Manage and move up a pool of 100 current major donors and rising major donors.
• Research, identify, and activate up to 50 new prospects who can make major gifts.
• Act as a primary point of contact for stewardship, cultivation, and solicitation with current major donors and with the new pipeline of major prospects whom the Director will cultivate and activate.
• Create and execute a strategy for each donor through phone calls, correspondence, face-to-face meetings, and events.
• Identify, research, and cultivate new donor prospects through research tools, networks, and new external opportunities, as well as by leveraging current donor relationships within and beyond the Trickle Up family of supporters.

Cultivation, Stewardship, and Monitoring Progress

• Partner with the VP of Development and President to develop a clear and ambitious strategy and framework for giving in support of Trickle Up’s goal to achieve our aggressive growth goals.
• Proactively learn and stay abreast of Trickle Up programs, priorities, and funding needs.
• Become an expert in telling Trickle Up’s story, getting to know key staff members, programs and projects, and participant stories to best articulate clear cases for support.
• Collaborate with development, communications, and program team colleagues to develop compelling fundraising materials, appeals, and campaigns that will resonate with target audiences.
• Nurture donor loyalty through personalized communications and outreach, including phone calls, emails, written contact, and events.
• Tailor stewardship efforts based on donor giving levels and interests.
• With support from the Database & Donor Records Manager, maintain accurate records of donor interactions in the Raiser’s Edge/NXT platform.
• Report on metrics and goals regularly, modifying strategies when necessary to meet objectives.
• Identify assessment metrics, and analyze rates, retention, and upgrades.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 7 to 10 years of front-line major gifts and donor engagement experience. Proven track record of soliciting, closing, and stewarding four-figure to six-figure(+) gifts.
• Experience managing a large pool of donors. Skilled at cultivating strong relationships with donors through personalized communications and outreach to retain and upgrade their support.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to be an effective spokesperson for Trickle Up.
• Team player and collaborator with a positive, flexible attitude and disposition.
• Exceptional project management and execution skills.
• Self-starter skilled at completing tasks with minimal support.
• Good listener with excellent interpersonal skills; someone who asks insightful questions and enjoys the process and art of fundraising.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Commitment to Trickle Up's mission.
• Microsoft Office Suite skills (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience with Raiser's Edge/NXT is preferred but not required.

Other Requirements

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally several times per year and to attend evening receptions/events several times per year.

Location

Our office is in New York City and operates under a hybrid model of on-site and remote work. This role requires 1 day per week in the office. Periodically, 2+ days per week may be required for in-person meetings and collaboration with other team members and colleagues.

Salary and Benefits

We offer a salary between $110,000 and $120,000 commensurate with experience and benefits for this full-time position. The successful applicant will join a dynamic, passionate, multicultural team deeply committed to the alleviation of extreme poverty. Trickle Up promotes a collegial, high-performing organizational culture where staff communicate clearly and openly and are reflective, innovative, and mutually accountable.

To Apply

To be considered, please click the link and follow the instructions to upload your cover letter and resume by December 18, 2024. Only applicants with a demonstrable history of raising four-figure to six-figure gifts will be considered. We are sorry, but we cannot entertain phone calls related to this posting.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which include criminal records checks and other reference-check databases. Trickle Up participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this initiative, as part of the referencing process, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment during employment. By applying, you confirm your understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Trickle Up requires that employees be vaccinated for COVID-19 before visiting or working in a Trickle Up office or conducting any travel or in-person meetings on behalf of our organization. If you are hired for this position, Trickle Up will require proof that you have received the COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.

Trickle Up is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and extend equal opportunity to all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform essential job functions.