Gift Officer

Northwest MI Habitat For Humanity•Bear Creek Township, MI

3d•$55,203 - $71,240•Hybrid

About The Position

The Gift Officer position plays a critical role in expanding the organization's major and mid-level gift portfolio by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual and corporate donors capable of making meaningful, transformational contributions by moving prospects through a structured pipeline with intentional, face-to-face relationship development. The Gift Officer works in close coordination with the Director of Development and the Development team to deliver a cohesive, donor-centered experience that deepens commitment to NMHFH's mission of affordable homeownership.

Requirements

Minimum of 2–3 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, major gifts, or a closely related development role.
Demonstrated success cultivating and closing major gifts, ideally at the $5,000+ level preferred.
Proficiency with donor management software (Bloomerang, Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or similar); strong data hygiene discipline.
Excellent written communication skills — ability to craft compelling proposals, letters of inquiry, impact reports, and donor correspondence.
Strong presentation and public speaking skills; able to engage one-on-one as comfortably as in front of a room.
Familiarity with philanthropy best practices.
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required.
Willingness to work outside of standard office hours on occasion.
Must pass a Criminal Background Check (convictions will be reviewed based on the seriousness of the crime; a conviction does not necessarily mean disqualification).
Must pass a Sexual Offender Check. Being listed will result in automatic disqualification from employment.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree required; CFRE, CFRM, or enrollment in a related certification program is a plus.
Experience in affordable housing, community development, or mission-driven nonprofit work is a plus.
Position may involve occasional local travel between work sites and offices.
Willingness to travel in-state and out-of-state for appropriate training, conferences, and donor meetings.
Willingness to work outside of standard office hours as needed on a regular basis.
Willingness to speak publicly to small and large groups.
Due to the nature of affiliate operations, all affiliate positions may be subject to random credit, background, or drug-use checks.

Responsibilities

Manage an active portfolio of 75–125 major and mid-level gift prospects and donors, with a focus on individuals capable of gifts of $5,000 and above.
Conduct regular in-person meetings, site visits, and one-on-one engagements to build authentic, long-term donor relationships.
Develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies for each portfolio donor in collaboration with the Director of Development.
Prepare and present compelling gift proposals, case statements, and solicitation materials tailored to each donor's interests and capacity.
Execute timely, personalized asks — in person, by phone, or in writing — aligned with the donor's readiness and relationship stage.
Provide thoughtful post-gift stewardship, including impact updates, acknowledgment, and engagement activities that reinforce donor connection to the mission.
Identify new major gift prospects through community engagement, referrals, research, and collaboration with board members and the Director of Development.
Support planned-giving conversations and help introduce legacy-giving opportunities to the appropriate donor relationships.
Conduct and synthesize donor research to assess capacity, affinity, and readiness for major gift conversations.
Maintain timely, accurate, and thorough records of all prospect interactions, cultivation activities, and solicitation status in the donor database (Bloomerang or equivalent).
Prepare regular portfolio reports, management updates, and revenue projections for review with the Director of Development.
Collaborate with the Philanthropy Engagement Manager to identify mid-level annual donors with major gift potential and facilitate warm transitions within the portfolio.
Monitor donor engagement signals (event attendance, giving history, communications response) to inform strategy and timing.
Attend community events, business gatherings, civic functions, and networking opportunities to cultivate new relationships and identify prospects for NMHFH.
Represent the organization confidently and knowledgeably with external audiences, serving as a compelling ambassador for affordable housing in northern Michigan.
Engage and support board members in their donor outreach, providing briefings, talking points, and coordination as needed.
Work with the Director of Development to support corporate partnership cultivation, including sponsorships and workplace giving relationships that align with the major gift strategy.
Partner with the Marketing & Events Manager to leverage events as cultivation and stewardship touchpoints — but with distinct ownership of the personal donor relationship before and after the event.
Coordinate with the Philanthropy Engagement Manager to ensure consistent messaging and to avoid duplicative outreach to shared donors.
Participate in department planning, goal-setting, and reporting processes.
Represent the Development team's major gift work in cross-departmental settings as needed.
Other duties as assigned.