Major Gifts Officer

The Major Gifts Officer will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts in order to meet fundraising goals of the Arthritis Foundation.  Reporting to the National VP, Philanthropy, the Major Gifts Officer will develop and manage a portfolio of approximately 125-150 high wealth prospects by designing and developing solicitation strategies; identifying gift opportunities that match donor’s interests; continually stewarding major gift donors and personally soliciting gifts.   The Major Gifts Officer will develop and maintain a thorough and accurate understanding of The Arthritis Foundation’s programs and will possess the ability to effectively communicate these priorities face to face with donors and in writing to successfully match donor’s philanthropic interests to funding needs.   

• Achieve annual revenue goals by managing fundraising program activities including but not limited to relationship strategy development, prospect identification, solicitation and engagement, proposal development, recognition, and appreciation efforts for current and new major gift income sources.
• Oversee development and management of an individual portfolio of approximately 125-150 major gift prospects through quality, strategic contacts, and face-to-face or virtual visits to identify, cultivate, solicit and successfully close high value gifts.
• Manage and support individual, family foundation and planned giving developments strategies, initiatives, and campaigns including the coordination of cultivation events within a national portfolio as assigned.
• Practice best-in-class stewardship of donors in portfolio to increase gift size, secure multi-year gifts, and maximize retention.
• Qualify and cultivate prospective donors in assigned region in partnership with local market staff and volunteers.
• Develop and propose strategies to establish, cultivate, and steward strong professional relationships with stakeholders to build lifelong partnerships and trust while aligning their passions with the mission, priorities, and goals of the Arthritis Foundation.
• Work closely with other development team members, including Planned Giving and market-based fundraising staff, to ensure effective coordination and to reinforce the prospect relationship continuum.
• Establish and maintain a donor cultivation cycle and gift stewardship program to ensure that new major donors are developed and that ongoing donors have opportunities to increase their level of support regularly. 
• Work with the National VP, Philanthropy to train and mentor Executive Directors on major gifts. 
• Update and maintain prospect and donor records in the organization’s database by recording activities, contacts, and strategies on an ongoing basis consistent with departmental requirements.
• Travel on a regular basis to assigned region, stewarding and cultivating major donor relationships and soliciting gifts.
• Other duties as assigned by National VP, Philanthropy.

1. Five or more years of individual major gift fundraising, preferably in a voluntary health setting, and two or more years of management experience.
2. Bachelor’s degree required.
3. Innovative, self-motivated, able to manage multiple projects well, working both independently and as a team member. 
4. Collaborative problem solver who brings an entrepreneurial approach to designing personal donor engagement strategies. 
5. A can-do attitude and willingness to go the extra mile in service of our mission.
6. Ability to articulate a case for support so that individuals “buy into” the vision/mission/goals of the organization, demonstrated by a track record in closing major gifts.
7. Sophisticated and polished interpersonal communication skills (oral and written).
8. Ability to initiate, analyze, monitor, evaluate and alter strategic advancement plans.
9. Knowledge of tax laws that impact charitable giving, personal assets and estates.

Interact with donors and prospects (including travel and tracking)

60%

Develop and propose strategies for solicitation of major gifts, research, and reporting

30%

Maintain relationship with national and local community staff and volunteers, attend department meetings, and other duties as assigned by the National VP, Philanthropy

10%

Total 

100%