Major Gifts Officer

Overview

The General Board of Global Ministries is the worldwide mission, relief, and development agency of The United Methodist Church, working with partners and churches in more than 115 countries to equip and transform people and places for God’s mission. Global Ministries connects the church in mission through the sending of missionaries, evangelism and church revitalization, disaster response and recovery led by the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and global health.

About the Role:

The Major Gifts Officer will play a crucial role in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gift prospects to secure substantial donations for our agency’s programs and initiatives. Reporting to the head of development, the Major Gifts Officer will be instrumental in sustaining our major gifts pipeline and maximizing philanthropic support. The ideal candidate will be responsible for articulating UMC’s structure, theology, polity, and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion to potential donors and stakeholders. Therefore, they must possess or be willing to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the denominations’ theological principles, organizational structure, and governance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Major Gift Prospecting: Identify and cultivate relationships with major gift prospects annually. Develop tailored cultivation strategies based on donor interests and organizational priorities.
• Solicitation Strategies: Develop and execute solicitation strategies to secure major gifts that align with our funding priorities. Collaborate with the Director of Development and key stakeholders to craft compelling proposals and presentations for donor engagement.
• Donor Stewardship: Build and maintain long-term relationships with major donors through personalized stewardship activities. Ensure donors receive timely acknowledgments and reports on the impact of their gifts.
• Proposal Preparation: Prepare detailed and compelling proposals and stewardship reports for major gift prospects and donors. Tailor communications to align with donor interests and organizational goals.
• Reporting and Tracking: Track and report on major gift activities monthly to monitor progress towards fundraising goals. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of donor interactions and contributions in the database.
• Goal Achievement: Regularly meet and exceed internal goals set for activity and revenue secured. Cultivate relationships with a portfolio of 75-125 major gift prospects and maintain ongoing engagement with major donors.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field such as public relations, marketing, or communications.
• Proven experience in fundraising, particularly in securing $100k plus in major gifts from individuals or corporations. A minimum of five (5) years of fundraising experience is a plus.
• High energy, positive, can-do attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail; high degree of initiative.
• Strong strategic planning and organizational skills.
• Five (5) years plus donor management and relationship experience with donor database background, preferably within the nonprofit sector.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with donors.
• A solid understanding of finances and budgeting.

Qualities and Critical Competencies

• The position requires contact on a regular basis with individuals and groups which may or may not be part of the church's official structure. This work has an integrity which Global Ministries respects as part of its work. In all areas of Global Ministries work, confidentiality in relationships must be respected.
• A commitment to develop a comprehensive understanding of the denominations’ theological principles, organizational structure, governance and act with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Team Collaboration and Participation is a key area of focus at Global Ministries, it may be requested to participate on joint taskforces, special projects and/or events planning team. Participation in these circumstances is factored into the overall evaluation of performance
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Computer Proficiency — Using data bases, CRM systems and fundraising platforms to support the program, set up functions, enter data, or process information, distribute information, collect data, and generate reports
• Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Persons Outside the Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to members, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Professionalism Approaches others in a professional manner. Reacts well under pressure and always treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position. Accepts responsibility for own actions and follows through on commitments. Demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement of processes, procedures, and policies. Copes effectively with change and is comfortable working with uncertainty.
• Teamwork Contributes to building a positive team spirit by placing success of team above own interest. Supports other staff in their efforts towards a completed project.

Working Conditions:

• Location: Remote
• Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm (Monday - Friday; flexible start and stop time)
• Travel as required to attend meetings, training, or other events; outside the US may be necessary on occasion.
• Evening and weekend meetings as necessary.
• Department: Fund Development
• Full-Time Exempt