Major Gifts Officer

Overview WABE is Atlanta’s choice for NPR, PBS, and local news and storytelling. We inform, inspire, reflect, and empower greater Atlanta to drive community belonging, stoke civic participation, and advance equity. Major Gifts Officer Responsibilities Report to the Executive Vice President, Membership & Development and manage the strategic identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual prospects with capacity at the $1,000-$25,000+ level. Maintain a portfolio of prospects and collaborate across the organization to build on WABE’s fundraising success. Identify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospects across all phases of the fundraising cycle, focusing on gifts of $1,000-$25,000 and above. Develop and manage a portfolio of prospects; evaluate prospects identified through fieldwork, screening, and research. Develop, execute, and lead strategies for involvement, cultivation, and solicitation of single and multi-interest donors. Communicate clearly to learn qualification information and invite prospects into collaborative discussions. Confirm details of proposals verbally with prospects by asking clarifying questions and maintain ethical, donor-centered conversations grounded in measurable and emotional impacts of gifts. Strategically utilize resources for cultivation and solicitation and collaborate with higher-level WABE staff to leverage donor stories. Demonstrate decisiveness and sound judgment to predict how decisions affect individuals and groups, and develop strategies to build support for decisions. Develop thoughtful stewardship plans for key donors, including high-level impact reports, dedications, and special events. Maintain focus on re-qualifying donors as they move from stewardship back into donor engagement. Assist with planning and/or executing cultivation events or programs; stay informed about organization-wide funding priorities and program funding priorities. Assist leadership in recognizing and prioritizing institutional and departmental funding needs; maintain awareness of organizational priorities, programs, personalities, and events. Facilitate collaboration among functional or stakeholder groups and maintain active communication with fellow development officers to coordinate prospect activity and referrals. Knowledge and Skills Three to six years fundraising experience, preferably in leadership annual giving or major gifts for an academic environment or public radio. Willingness to travel. Ability to understand the needs and interests of leadership and prospects to align them with WABE priorities. Interest in all aspects of public media and a dedication to promoting WABE’s fundraising priorities. Demonstrates a high probability of gift closure; strong collaborative abilities and enthusiasm for teamwork. Experience staffing major gift volunteers; campaign volunteer management preferred. Demonstrated ability to handle multiple complex fundraising activities simultaneously. Excellent oral and written communication skills with active listening. High level of creativity, initiative, and motivation; maintain confidentiality with respect to prospects and donors. Desired Attributes and Traits Collaborating with others: ability to work collaboratively within a team and across the organization. Goal & Task Management: prioritize and coordinate tasks with deadlines and long-term strategy. Curiosity & Information Seeking: seek understanding beyond routine questions. Decisiveness & Judgment: use sound, timely judgment in complex situations. Ability to influence: persuade others to act with indirect influence. Flexibility: adapt to various situations and individuals; adjust tactics as needed. Dealing with Ambiguity: make decisions with limited information; anticipate organizational change. Expressing ideas: effectively communicate ideas in writing and orally. Listening: active listener; establish rapport and interpret underlying messages. Organizational Awareness: understand organizational relationships and dynamics; leverage networks to achieve objectives. Leadership: guide group efforts and develop motivational strategies. Work Environment & Physical Demands The work environment described is representative of what is required to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities. Candidates may need to sit or stand as needed and may walk on level surfaces during the day. Lifting up to 5 lbs. in handling documents or materials may be required. Proper lifting techniques are expected. Typical office temperatures and lighting apply. A hybrid work arrangement is expected, with transportation to the station as needed. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required for departmental events or high-volume periods such as membership campaigns. AETC is an equal opportunity employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr Association of Fundraising Professionals