About the position
The Major Gifts team is dedicated to securing sustained transformational philanthropic support for the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center by engaging with new and existing donors across the United States. Major Gift officers heavily prospect for new donor opportunities and plan/execute on deeply meaningful cultivation strategies for high net-worth constituents and stakeholders (new and established) for the purpose of soliciting and closing high six and seven-figure philanthropic gifts. Philanthropy carries forth all fundraising efforts with a donor-centric focus and gift officers are empowered to maximize the donor's engagement experience through meaningful moves along carefully planned strategies that align donor passions with areas in need of philanthropic support. In advancement of the institution's largest philanthropic campaign in history, MD Anderson Cancer Center is seeking a Senior Director, Major Gifts to join the Individual Giving team. The Senior Director, Major Gifts will heavily prospect for major gift donors in a designated travel territory, conceptualizing highly customized cultivation strategies for individual constituents and stakeholders to personally solicit and secure philanthropic gifts in excess of $100,000 for the institution's fundraising priorities. In partnership with Planned Giving colleagues, this gift officer will also qualify for and present opportunities for planned gifts. This development professional will be highly adept in matching donor interests with institutional fundraising priorities. This professional will work alongside institution Faculty, volunteers, and leadership as part of cultivating prospective donors and grateful families. The Senior Director will pursue growth and sustainability of an individual portfolio comprised of approximately 75 constituents, meaningfully engaging all donors in his/her/their accountability and establishing a constituent portfolio that generates a minimum of $8 million in gift revenue annually. In addition to personal accountability to donors under assignment, the Senior Director will provide supervision and management to a squad of major gift officers and serve as an inspirational leader to team. Leading by example, this collaborative fundraising partner will model MD Anderson's Core Values in all aspects of securing funds in support of the institution.
Responsibilities
- Drive execution of strategic plans and lead decision making around donor relationships, special projects and initiatives and the orchestration of strategic approaches.
- Continuously capture and collect significant data points, execute on deliverables with precision, develop actionable strategies and allocate appropriate resources to execute work functions.
- Provide guidance to internal and external stakeholders utilizing subject matter expertise.
- Use critical evaluation skills to interpret information and make business decisions and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
- Investigate, qualify and solicit new donors to the institution.
- Display social awareness, professional etiquette, and the ability to interact and build rapport with donors, faculty and institutional leaders.
- Engage with varied constituencies with social fluency and garner their trust as to influence donor behavior.
- Align donors to giving opportunities and orchestrate and facilitate meaningful engagements.
- Demonstrate leadership, professional assertiveness, and relationship management.
- Motivate volunteers and internal stakeholders, persuasively engage stakeholders in meaningful engagement opportunities.
- Display optimism and integrity.
- Build and maintain relationships for the benefit of the institution.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree.
- Twelve years direct fundraising experience.
- Four years supervisory experience.
- Successful completion of the LEADing Self Accelerate program may substitute for one year of required supervisory or management experience.
Nice-to-haves
- Professional Certification (CFRE, CAP, CFP).
- Twelve or more years of professional experience in portfolio-based fundraising with experience securing seven figure major gifts.
- Verifiable record of accomplishment of $10 million + in personally attributable charitable gifts closed.
- Demonstrated experience working with faculty, executive leadership teams, senior campaign/board members and fellow development professionals to execute fundraising strategies.
