Major Gifts and Corporate Partnerships Officer

Friends of the Children New York, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, is a chapter of a nationwide organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through salaried, professional mentoring. We select children facing multiple systemic obstacles from all five boroughs and commit to working with those children from kindergarten to graduation. FriendsNewYork.org.

Our Mission: Impacting generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors – 12+ years, no matter what.

Major Gifts and Corporate Partnerships Officer

The Development Department at Friends of the Children New York is more than just a fundraising team. We are relationship builders, storytellers, and advocates for the children we serve. We're a diverse group of individuals united by a common passion for making a real difference. Each team member brings unique skills and perspectives, and we believe that you, with your expertise and passion, will be a wonderful addition to this dynamic team.

Basic Function / Position Objective:

As the Major Gifts and Corporate Partnerships Officer, you’ll play a pivotal role in driving the financial sustainability of Friends of the Children New York. As a key leader, you will work closely with the Director of Development and the development team to design and implement comprehensive strategies that cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with both major donors and corporate partners, ultimately driving increased financial support. Your responsibilities will include identifying potential major gift prospects, securing substantial donations, and developing strong corporate partnerships that align with the mission of Friends of the Children New York. With a proven ability to connect with high-net-worth individuals and corporations, you will be instrumental in advancing our goals and expanding our reach. This is a hybrid position, requiring at least 2 days per week in the office.

A successful candidate will be a seasoned fundraising professional with a proven ability to cultivate relationships with individual donors and secure major gifts. This highly-professional individual will possess a strategic mindset and the ability to translate organizational goals and programmatic activity into actionable fundraising strategies.

Responsibilities:

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship:

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, focusing on gifts of $10,000 and above.
• Develop personalized cultivation strategies and plans for engaging individual donors and prospects.
• Maintain regular communication with major donors, including updates on the impact of their gifts and the progress of programs they support.
• Develop and implement strategies to upgrade existing donors, secure multi-year commitments, and increase donor retention.

Corporate Partnership Development:

• Identify and secure corporate sponsorships and partnerships to support Friends of the Children New York’s programs and events.
• Develop customized partnership proposals that align corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals with the mission and needs of Friends of the Children New York.
• Foster long-term relationships with corporate partners through regular engagement, recognition opportunities, and reporting on the impact of their support.
• Work with program staff to identify opportunities for in-kind donations, employee volunteerism, and other forms of corporate engagement.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to ensure proper recognition and visibility of corporate partners in alignment with partnership agreements.

Prospect Research and Management:

• Utilize donor database to track donor interactions, manage relationships, and analyze performance metrics to inform decision-making.
• Conduct research to identify potential major gift donors and corporate partners.
• Build and manage a comprehensive pipeline of major gift and corporate partnership prospects.
• Use data-driven strategies to prioritize outreach efforts and ensure the efficient use of resources in engaging prospective donors and partners.

Fundraising Strategy and Execution:

• Collaborate with the Director of Development to create and implement strategies for achieving annual fundraising goals related to both major gifts and corporate partnerships.
• Participate in the development of compelling proposals, presentations, and reports tailored to individual donors and corporate partners.
• Plan and execute cultivation and stewardship events for both major gift donors and corporate partners, ensuring that these events support relationship-building and long-term engagement.

Relationship Building:

• Cultivate strong, meaningful relationships with individual donors, family foundations, and corporate partners to ensure ongoing support.
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors and key stakeholders to leverage their networks for introductions to potential donors and corporate partners.
• Engage regularly with program staff to stay informed about programmatic needs and outcomes, ensuring effective communication of impact to donors and partners.
• Identify and create opportunities for donor recognition and stewardship, ensuring that individual donors feel valued, appreciated, and connected to the organization.
• Serve as an eloquent and gracious ambassador and spokesperson, representing the organization at events, meetings, and other networking opportunities to promote fundraising opportunities and build awareness of the organization's mission and impact.

Job Requirements

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or CFRE certification is a plus.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in major gift fundraising and/or corporate partnership development.
• Proven track record of securing major gifts and corporate partnerships, and meeting or exceeding fundraising goals.

Skills and Competencies:

• Superb communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to craft persuasive narratives and deliver compelling presentations.
• Stature and intellectual depth, combined with poise and strong solicitation skills, to collaborate effetely with leadership and maximize the full fundraising potential of major donors.
• Experience with constituent relationship management (CRM) systems.
• Strong relationship-building and stewardship skills, with experience working with high-net-worth individuals and corporate partners.
• Strategic thinker with a proven ability to develop and implement effective fundraising and partnership strategies.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong project management skills.
• Proficient in the use of donor databases and CRM systems, with experience using data to inform decisions.
• A passion for Friends of the Children New York’s mission and values and motivated by the opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Why Join Friends of the Children New York?

• Be part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to creating lasting change for children facing systemic obstacles.
• Collaborate with a passionate and supportive team focused on innovation and excellence in youth mentoring.
• Engage with inspiring donors and corporate partners who share a commitment to social change and impact.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

EOE Statement:

A Friend is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages qualified individuals from all backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We actively seek to recruit, develop, and retain a diverse workforce and embrace the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all individuals.

We believe that diversity enriches our organization and enhances our ability to effectively serve the youth and communities we support. Our commitment to equal opportunity extends to every aspect of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

By fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, we can better fulfill our mission to positively impact the lives of youth and families. We are dedicated to creating an environment where all employees can thrive and contribute to our shared success.

We encourage individuals of all backgrounds and experiences to apply for positions with our organization and join us in our commitment to making a difference in the lives of children and adolescents.