Major Gifts Officer

Major Gifts Officer

The Major Gifts Officer is an essential member of Resource Development, on the Major Gifts and Grants Team. The Major Gifts Officer serves as a trusted philanthropic advisor to major gifts donors, creating plans that support the donors' interests and passions. This position will steward a portfolio of existing donors and be responsible for cultivating and stewarding a portfolio of prospective donors.

Successful individuals in this role will be collaborative, have a growth mindset, demonstrate integrity in all donor communications and interactions, be able to balance strategic thinking and execution, and steward meaningful and transformative relationships on behalf of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas in support of our mission.

What applicants need to bring to this work:

• Mission-Focused: Passion for creating real social change that leads to improving lives in our community.
• Relationship-Oriented: Ability to communicate effectively to develop, grow and sustain productive relationships that advance the mission and support of UWMD.
• Results-Driven: Dedicated to delivering on measurable goals; creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad impact. Responsible for measured revenue contribution from existing and new corporate partners.
• Highest Ethical Standards: Stewards strong trusting relationships through actions, behaviors, and decisions on behalf of our donors. Must be transparent, and align with organizational goals.

Essential Position Responsibilities:

• Responsible for cultivating major gift relationships and soliciting gifts with the ability to effectively close five- and six-figure gifts.
• Responsible for maintaining annual gift support for a portfolio of current and prospective donors.
• Develop cultivation and solicitation strategies for prospects and donors within assigned portfolio collaborating with Resource Development team and Leadership.
• Seek out donor interests and passions for volunteer involvement and giving.
• Develop a high-quality donor experience through personalized correspondence, professional proposals, and timely acknowledgements.
• Execute individual plans for each donor tailored to their preferences and giving goals.
• Partner with Leadership on solicitations by providing prospect briefings, strategic guidance and assistance with donor communications
• Partner with Leadership Giving to develop a portfolio of prospects with high likelihood for transformational gifts
• Actively engage donors and prospects through established UWMD events.
• Track and report on progress and projections toward financial goals. Meet revenue metrics as established.
• Recruit and steward individual donors by building year-round engagement activities.
• Collaborate with Prospecting to implement prospect management strategies utilizing CRM.
• Maintain an understanding of industry standards regarding donor stewardship, solicitation, confidentiality, gift crediting and financial principles
• Maintain a valid Drivers License for traveling to meet donors and attend events.
• Must be able to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Skills and Competencies for Success:

• A strong and successful background in fundraising
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Articulate and persuasive oral presentation skills.
• Appreciation of the importance, impact, and value of Philanthropy in Dallas
• Aptitude for making cold calls and securing in-person meetings with donor prospects.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to solicit funds through personal contacts with donors and prospects.
• Innovative, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple projects well.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with all constituents including vendors, donors, staff, volunteers, wish families, and the public.
• Time-sensitive, goal orientated, and deadline driven.
• Strong analysis, concept development and implementation skills
• Experience in utilization of CRM data
• Demonstrated proficiency in MS Office and database management software such as Salesforce.
• Self-motivated; team oriented

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or higher or related equivalent experience.
• Minimum five years of fundraising experience working with individual and prospective donors
• Proven track record of securing major gifts and advancing gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Demonstrated campaign experience as well as successfully managing and building a portfolio of major gift donors
• CFRE a plus.