Director of Major Gifts

Organization Mission

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children of Atlantic, Cape May, and Camden Counties and its trained volunteers advocate for the best interests of children in the foster care system. Through collaborative efforts, CASA ensures children receive the individual attention and support they need to thrive.

Role Description

The Director of Major Gifts will be responsible for developing and executing the organization’s strategy for major gift fundraising. This role is key to expanding CASA’s capacity to advocate for children in foster care by cultivating, securing, and stewarding significant contributions from high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and corporations. The Director will work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Trustees to build relationships with prospective major donors, ensuring that CASA continues to grow its impact.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Major Gift Strategy & Fundraising:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive major gifts strategy, with specific targets for annual and multi-year giving.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors with a focus on securing gifts of $5,000+.
• Build and maintain a portfolio of major gift prospects, ensuring personalized stewardship plans.
• Monitor fundraising progress, analyze trends, and adjust strategies as needed to meet objectives.

2. Donor Cultivation & Stewardship:

• Lead cultivation and stewardship efforts for major donors and prospects, ensuring they feel connected to the organization's mission and the impact of their contributions.
• Plan and execute high-level donor gatherings.
• Ensure timely and effective donor acknowledgment and recognition, including personalized thank-you notes, impact reports, and regular updates.

3. Collaboration & Leadership:

• Collaborate with the development team to integrate major gifts fundraising into broader fundraising campaigns, including annual giving, planned giving, and corporate sponsorships.
• Provide regular updates to the Executive Director on progress toward major gift goals.
• Work with the Board of Trustees to engage them in major gift efforts, providing them with the tools, training, and support they need to solicit and steward major gifts.
• Help maintain donor records and track fundraising progress using the organization’s database.

4. Relationship Building:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for major gift donors, building long-term relationships.
• Actively participate in networking events and opportunities to connect with potential major donors.
• Ensure CASA’s visibility in the community, attending key events and promoting CASA’s mission.

EXPERIENCE:

• The ideal candidate will have 5+ years experience in non-profit major gift fundraising, with a proven track record of securing five-figure gifts and managing a high-net-worth donor portfolio.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA/BS Degree is required
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with donors, board members, and other key stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messages and presentations for major donors.
• Strategic thinker with a demonstrated ability to develop and implement fundraising strategies.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a collaborative environment.
• Deep understanding of the nonprofit sector and fundraising best practices.
• Knowledge of child welfare issues, foster care, and the CASA mission is a plus.
• Familiarity with planned giving, foundation giving, and corporate sponsorships is an advantage.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule is also required
• Experience with donor management software
• Travel required between three-county service area of Atlantic, Cape May, and Camden. Occasional participation in evening and weekend community events would also be expected.

Our Values

Volunteerism: We recognize that volunteers are the heart and soul of our mission

• We believe that volunteerism enriches not only our community but also the personal growth and development of those who contribute.
• We value the time, energy, and passion that volunteers contribute, understanding that their support is vital to our ability to make a lasting impact.
• Together with our volunteers, we strive to build a stronger, more connected community, and to create a culture where giving back is encouraged, supported, and celebrated.

Equity and Respect: We foster an inclusive culture of belonging and acceptance.

• We confront, resist, and dismantle inequities within our organization and challenge inequities in the systems that impact the children we serve.
• We address both direct and implicit racism, and support each other in unlearning our unconscious bias.
• We believe respect is the foundation of all successful relationships, both within our team and with the communities we serve.
• We value open communication, active listening, and empathy, knowing that mutual respect strengthens collaboration and innovation.

Community Support and Trust: We develop healthy and enduring relationships that build trust with children and youth, families, volunteers, key partners, and donors to effectively carry out our mission.

• We prioritize building authentic connections and see each other as allies on whom we can rely for support.
• We are committed to adhering to professional standards, being accountable, operating legally and ethically, and exercising a high level of transparency around the financial resources we have been entrusted to manage.
• We create innovative support and unique solutions for the children we serve.
• We ensure our Advocates are equipped to mobilize systems and people to act in the best interest of children and families and communities who support them.

Quality: We pursue excellence in providing the best advocacy for children living in foster care.

• We continually strive to increase our individual and collective knowledge and skills to apply them to our work.
• We benchmark our work and adopt best practices across the network, using performance measurement processes that are in alignment with targeted outcomes.

Salary range: $85,000-$100,000