Planned Giving/Major Gifts Officer

Covenant House Texas•Houston, TX

About The Position

Covenant House Texas is a faith-based organization committed to giving homeless youth a safe haven, absolute respect, unconditional love, and a path to lasting independence. In partnership with the community, we are the voice for homeless youth. Located on 2.7 acres in the Montrose area, Covenant House Texas (CHTX) was founded as an affiliate site to Covenant House International in 1983. Originally established as an overnight shelter, it has grown to include comprehensive housing programs and support services that foster responsibility and independence in young people. Covenant House Texas remains the only organization in Houston that comprehensively and exclusively offers homeless services and a complete continuum of care to youth ages 18 – 24. Through building meaningful relationships with Covenant House Texas donors, the Planned Giving/Major Gifts Officer develops and assists in the implementing engagement and fundraising strategies to enhance and grow revenue and annual support.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Three years of experience in non-profit advancement including demonstrated success in fundraising, planned giving, and managing a portfolio of high-level donors preferred.
Highly organized, creative, ability to prioritize, strong interpersonal skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, attention to detail and aesthetics.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and knowledge of social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Ability to effectively identify, analyze and solve problems.
Self-motivated with a strong work ethic.
Ability to work independently, combined with the skills to thrive in a team environment.
Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines.
Demonstrated accomplishment in fostering productive relationships with donors.
High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.
Flexibility and willingness to assume new tasks and special projects.
Ability to participate in cross-departmental projects, using tact and diplomacy.
Knowledge of fundraising/constituent database.

Responsibilities

Qualifies, develops, and manages a portfolio of assigned, existing, and prospective major donors ($25K and higher).
Develops and executes ongoing strategy to ensure retention, growth of donor contributions, planned giving, and the recapture of lapsed donors.
Develops cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans, planned giving, utilizing a moves management approach to engage prospects and donors resulting in strategic and knowledgeable asks.
Assesses capacity, determines inclination, and identifies donors’ passions for areas of support through discovery research, phone calls and face-to-face visits.
Develops a strategic pipeline of major gift solicitations from existing, assigned and new prospects.
Works collaboratively with other departments, partners, and development team to create customized solicitation strategies matching the objectives of Covenant House Texas and interests of the donor/prospect.
Tracks all fundraising activity in database in a timely manner.
Works with the CDO and team routinely to acquire the knowledge needed to solicit funding proposals and build donor relationships effectively.
Acknowledges major donors through public and private recognition including but not limited to receptions and major stewardship events.
Helps to conceptualize and implement programs and activities to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major giving level donors.
Using fundraising and cultivation events as key vehicles, keep donors and prospects abreast of Covenant House Texas activities and programs.
With the CDO, manages major donor recognition programs.
With the CDO, strategizes and implements planned giving initiatives to steward current planned giving donors and identify, cultivate, and solicit planned giving prospects.
Contributes to the development of donor-centric communications, including newsletters, annual campaigns, and operational fundraising collateral.
Supports cultivation and stewardship at fundraising events.
Understands and affirms the mission of Covenant House Texas.