Director of Major Gifts

Title: Director of Major Gifts

Organization: LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute

Location: Washington, DC

Reports to: VP of Development

Summary

For over three decades, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute have helped to train, place, and elect thousands of openly LGBTQ+ public officials at every level of government. Our leaders have been catalysts for expanding legal rights for LGBTQ+ people across the country, and they have transformed our nation’s policies and shifted our political landscape towards equality, one election at a time. Today, over 1200 LGBTQ+ Americans are serving in elected office due to the work of Victory. Victory’s work continues as LGBTQ+ people are severely underrepresented in all levels of government – serving in only 0.23% of all elected offices in the United States.

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute are seeking a Director of Major Gifts. Reporting to the VP of Development, the Director of Major Gifts is responsible for supporting all aspects of the major gifts program for Victory, which includes organizational support for a 527 Political Action Committee, a 501c3 non-profit and special fundraising initiatives. They will also oversee the mid-level giving program and team members. Responsibilities include donor research and vetting, solicitations, robust pipeline development, case and collateral development, data tracking and reporting, and communications.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of raising major gifts, securing event sponsorships for non-profits and the ability to manage staff. Commitment to the mission is a must.

General Responsibilities:

• Work to strategically grow individual major gifts at Victory by tapping into qualified prospects who have not previously given at a major gift level.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward major outright and planned gift prospects by matching and advancing the organization’s fundraising priorities with prospective donors’ interests.
• Actively manage a portfolio of 100-125 high capacity prospects through multiple touch points. Creative and diligent qualification and cultivation of these prospects will be necessary to yield significant philanthropic results.
• Meet explicit performance objectives, including the completion of between 125-150 donor meetings annually.
• With the assistance of development staff, maintain accurate records of anticipated and completed donor related actions, results of constituent contacts, and recommendations or plans for follow-up work within EveryAction database.
• Oversee two Develoment Officer positions and support their efforts to achieve fundraising goals. (Positions currently vacant.)
• Shape and edit donor correspondences such as letters, emails, funding proposals and reports.
• Become an expert on Victory’s vast programmatic needs for the purpose of effective donor stewardship, using available resources and opportunities.
• Develop, organize and implement major donor cultivation events and activities.
• Engage with Victory’s Board, organizational leadership and team members to achieve fundraising goals.
• Report out on weekly and monthly goals progress.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university; plus at least six years of experience and/or training in direct major gifts fundraising; or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Proven track record to solicit gifts both independently and in collaboration with others.
  • Experience and commitment to working within a team environment to meet fundraising targets established through annual budgeting.
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and via email.
  • Commitment to the organization’s mission and goals.
  • Impeccable follow-up and follow through.
  • Detail oriented with strong organization and critical thinking skills.
  • Management experience.
  • Dexterity to work in a fast-paced, campaign-oriented environment.
  • Excellent time and project management skills; able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and delegate when needed.
  • Ability to travel 40% of time when travel restrictions lift.
  • Strong computer skills including MS Office Suite.
  • Experience with EveryAction databse a plus.