Major Gifts Officer

IDEA•Santa Clara, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Major Gifts Officer manages relationships with current and prospective major donors to generate revenue and deepen support for IDEA’s mission. Reporting to the Regional Manager, the Major Gifts Officer identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards donors through personalized engagement strategies, meetings, proposals, and other meaningful outreach. The role works closely with regional staff, organizational leadership, volunteers, and cross-functional departments to grow the major-gifts pipeline, strengthen donor relationships, and advance IDEA’s fundraising and community-development goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
5 years successful fundraising experience for nonprofit organization(s), preferred.
Must excel in working with high net-worth individuals, families and businesses, and have the ability to compel investment in IDEA’s mission.
Demonstrated successful experience and effectiveness in prospect identification, relationship building, donor solicitation, portfolio management, and stewardship.
Strong ability to communicate (written and orally) persuasively and strategically, with tact and diplomacy as necessary.
Ability to lead face-to-face meetings and the confidence to solicit funding using effective and appropriate language.
Experience in writing effective proposals, summaries, and reports and updates for fundraising purposes.
Strong collaborative skills and ability to contribute to the team environment.
Confident and technical proficiency in Google Workspace
Strong organizational and project-management skills that exhibit proven ability to follow through and follow up appropriately on assignments, and that exhibit strong time management skills.
Ability and desire to work independently and collaboratively to accomplish goals and projects.
Understanding of key international and national current events/political issues that affect humanitarian aid and development work.
Strong research skills along with proficiency in database and membership management.
Ability to travel independently within the assigned region and occasionally nationally as required.
Availability to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours during events and campaigns.
Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

CFRE certification is preferred
familiarity with ClickUp or similar platforms is preferred
Experience in using Salesforce or similar fundraising database or CRM preferred

Responsibilities

Manages and grows relationships with a portfolio of major donors and qualified prospects.
Develops and implements strategies for the identification of new donors, and for the cultivation and stewardship of current donors through appropriate personalized outreach initiatives.
Implements fundraising strategies from individuals through major gift campaigns, personal cultivation/solicitation, planned giving vehicles and special events designed for individual donors.
Contributes to major-gifts strategy and develops individualized engagement plans for assigned donors and prospects in coordination with the Regional Manager and appropriate Fund Development leadership.
Develops and manages the major gifts annual operational and revenue plans in conjunction with the regional team’s annual plan.
Coordinates and liaises with other Fund Development team members, executive management, and other relevant departments regarding relationship building and donor cultivation events, including briefings, private and public presentations, and special events to provide a source of targeted funding.
Contacts and meets with prospective and current donors through personal or virtual visits, spending approximately 50% of time meeting with active and prospective donors.
Participates in and assists with the regional development strategy and community outreach.
Liaises with consultants and external contacts to progress and facilitate corporate giving and like strategies.
Works closely with executive management and fund development staff to ensure that major donors are acknowledged in a personal and time-sensitive manner and receive appropriate stewardship and impact reporting.
Writes and/or edits proposals, reports, acknowledgements, briefings, and letters to donors and prospects, pledge reminder letters and other documents.
Maintains and provides accurate records of all donor-related activities, engagement strategies, opportunities, and personalized notes.
Maintain familiarity with IDEA’s current campaigns, programs, projects, talking points, and relevant humanitarian and development issues.
Serves as a well-informed representative and advocate for IDEA at donor meetings, community events, fundraising activities, masajid, and other regional activities as assigned.
Performs other related duties as necessary.