Collegiate School seeks a Major Giving Officer to oversee and advance the strategy for capital and endowment campaigns and other key fundraising initiatives. The Major Giving Officer is a strategic member of the development team and will work collaboratively with development colleagues, Trustees, key administrators and volunteers to support all aspects of the School’s annual, capital, endowment campaigns and priorities. This is a full-time, benefited, 12-month position.
General responsibilities will include
- Managing a portfolio of approximately 125 dynamic major giving and planned giving prospects.
- Developing and implementing multi-step gifts strategy for each individual that moves them closer to Collegiate with the ultimate goal of a major gift to the School.
- Conducting approximately 100 face-to-face visits annually with rated and assigned prospects. Contact is meaningful and purposeful, the interaction deepens the individuals’ understanding of School priorities and brings them further along in the solicitation process.
- Preparing outright, planned and blended gift proposals for current and prospective donors and their advisers – both in response to specific inquiries and as a proactive strategy.
- The Major Giving Officer must understand how planned gifts relate to a donor’s financial and estate plan and be able to convey this information simply and understandably, being sensitive to the role of donor’s advisers.
- Acquiring and maintaining a strong working knowledge of planned giving arrangements, and familiarity with related federal and state law governing these contributions, estate planning, retirement planning, and investments.
- Pursuing new and steward existing members of the Helen Baker Society, Collegiate’s planned giving recognition society, to document estate and planned gifts and maintain donor’s connection to the School.
- Developing planned giving marketing materials and presentations for current and prospective donors.
- Working collaboratively with the Chief Development Officer on the successful implementation of multi-year fundraising strategies.
- Building a robust individual donor program, maintaining and expanding the School’s existing relationships as well as constituencies in support of fundraising goals.
- Expanding the current culture of engagement and giving by educating the School community on importance of volunteerism and philanthropy.
- Participating in the development and implementation of all School fundraising campaigns, including direct mail, phonathons, and donor appreciation events.
- Establish and execute forward-thinking strategic development programs that optimally grow the annual fund and major and capital campaigns.
- Enhancing existing relationships while building new relationships, systems and programs to further tap into the generous resources of the community.
- Participating in School-sponsored activities.
- Bachelor’s Degree preferred
- Seven to ten years of progressively responsible fundraising experience with demonstrated success in relationship building and closing major gifts
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Ability to think strategically about identifying prospects, understanding motivations and connecting donors to Collegiate
- Exceptional interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated ability to handle multiple fundraising activities simultaneously
- High level of initiative, creativity and motivation. Possesses resourcefulness and has a high degree of flexibility as well as problem solving ability
- Ability to create basic reports to support departmental/division processes; proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Blackbaud/Raiser’s Edge Knowledge of best practice trends related to fundraising
- Ability to travel locally, regionally and nationally, and participate in occasional evening and weekend activities
- Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times given the nature of donor related work.
- Experience in and commitment to the ongoing development and maintenance of an inclusive campus community