Philanthropy Officer

FIRE•Philadelphia, PA

1d•$70,000 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is seeking a Philanthropy Officer to cultivate and upgrade the giving of existing donors, while also working to attract new donors across the country. This position requires a significant amount of travel; approximately 30-40% of the job will be on the road. Occasional work on weekends and evenings should be expected. The Philanthropy Officer will report directly to FIRE’s Chief Development Officer, while working closely with the rest of the development team and occasionally with FIRE’s President and CEO. Additionally, the Philanthropy Officer will consult with FIRE’s other department heads to keep abreast of all programming initiatives.

Requirements

A four year undergraduate degree.
2-5 years experience in development, preferably with personal solicitation of major gifts.
A goal-oriented mindset and the ability to directly ask supporters for money.
A high-level of interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
An understanding of how to personalize FIRE’s mission and stories.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
The ability to be compelling, a good listener, and be able to think on their feet.
A willingness to travel often.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Applicants with non-development yet relevant experience in fields like law, policy, or advocacy are also encouraged to apply.
A working knowledge of donor prospecting methods (preferred, not required).
A working knowledge of donor database platforms like Salesforce (preferred, not required).

Responsibilities

Maintain an active relationship with current supporters for upgraded and continued annual gift support, and personally direct the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of these supporters by attending events, traveling for meetings, and coordinating regular communication for the assigned portfolio.
Identify and research new potential supporters and design strategies to cultivate and solicit them to support FIRE, including written letters of introduction, personal introductions, and formal requests for support.
Produce regular reports and update donor records/profiles on a regular basis, and establish and maintain performance metrics, including overall portfolio management.
Work with FIRE’s development and program staff to create written proposals/pitches, slide decks, email solicitations, donor emails, and newsletter articles.
Work with FIRE’s development staff to plan and execute FIRE donor events in various cities, with approximately six events per year.