Major Gifts Officer

Institute for the Study of War•Washington, DC

2d•$90,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Development of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and serving as an integral member of the ISW team, the Major Gifts Officer (MGO) will initiate, manage, nurture, and enhance relationships with a portfolio of 75-100 philanthropic prospects capable of making gifts of $25,000 or more from individuals, foundations, and corporations. As a predominantly prospect-facing member of the ISW team, the MGO will be charged with ensuring effective identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects, as well as acquiring new major gift donors and improving the probability of continued and increased support among existing donors. The MGO will serve as an organizational ambassador and will provide opportunities to match donors’ interests with organizational priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Five or more years of proven major gift fundraising experience and a working knowledge of gift vehicles, including planned gift vehicles, is essential.
Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills required.
Understanding of major gift fundraising techniques, including moves management, cultivation, and stewardship techniques required.
Working knowledge of fundraising CRMs, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required.
Willingness and ability to take initiative, work independently, solve problems, handle confidential information, and navigate sensitive situations.
Availability to travel as required, domestic and international.
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
A clear understanding of ISW’s mission, vision, and value proposition required.

Nice To Haves

Proven experience working with and managing volunteers preferred.

Responsibilities

Managing a portfolio of 75-100 major gift donors, funders, and prospects and leading the process of prospect identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to ensure that ISW’s fundraising goals are met.
Completing 150 donor visits each year (including in-person, phone calls, and substantive high-touch email exchanges), making 30+ solicitations annually.
Engaging regularly with each qualified major gift prospect, emphasizing one-to-one interaction, either in person or virtually, depending upon each donor’s unique preferences.
Working in conjunction with the Director of Development, other members of the Development Team, and ISW staff to curate individual, tailored prospect engagement strategies in alignment with key ISW initiatives.
Preparing written strategies to cultivate relationships will lead to solicitation and stewardship of major gifts.
Developing a tiered prospect management system to facilitate the movement of prospects through the various stages of the gift cycle based on the moves management model.
Participating in regular prospect management meetings and consistently strategizing with the Director of Development, the President, board members, and fellow ISW staff members.
Engaging additional ISW representatives, including the Director of Development, the President, Director of Accounting, and other key stakeholders, as natural partners in cultivation and solicitation when appropriate.
Ensuring timely and appropriate acknowledgement of major gifts.
Understanding ISW’s various funding needs, as well as the various gift vehicles, donors may choose to support them.
Committing to work toward performance benchmarks set in collaboration with ISW leadership and based upon industry standard best practices for prospect engagement and philanthropic revenue.
Conducting prospect research to strengthen the prospect pipeline and undertaking regular portfolio review in collaboration with the Director of Development.
Providing feedback regarding fundraising initiatives and programs based on professional knowledge, as well as insights gleaned from donors and prospects.
Filling timely reports documenting prospect interactions to ensure seamless moves management.
Attending key ISW events to interact with donors, funders, and prospects.
Advocating for ISW and serving as an ambassador for its mission and value proposition.
Adhering to fundraising best practices and following all organizational policies and processes.
Undertaking other tasks assigned.