Major Gifts Officer

Major Gift Officer

Bright Hope exists to bring hope to people living in extreme poverty by empowering the local church. We believe the church is an underutilized resource in the global fight against extreme poverty, and that empowering the church to bring hope for today, tomorrow, and eternity is the most effective way to help the poorest of the poor with their immediate, economic, and spiritual needs. We currently are active in five countries: Bolivia, Haiti, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, with plans to begin work in Benin in the near future.

The major gift officer (MGO) is a key member of the relationship management team raising funds for Bright Hope, managing a portfolio of key individual and organizational donors and cultivating prospective donors. The mission of this position is to increase revenue by 1) personally representing Bright Hope to key allies with charitable hearts and affluence, then igniting them to passion and action in support of our work, and 2) identifying, cultivating, and bringing in new, affluent allies that are aligned with our mission. Preference will be given to candidates that have connections to existing Christian philanthropic networks that they can leverage for prospective donors. The MGO will work closely with the President and the rest of the RM team in ramping up the organization's philanthropic growth. This may include planning and strategizing events, fundraisers, and other donor engagement opportunities. The MGO will report directly to the Director of Development and Marketing and work closely with the President. This position will help create opportunities for donors to experience transformation in their worldview and view of poverty, just as the program beneficiaries are experiencing transformation. This mutual transformation is a core value of the organization. Lastly, we would ask that the MGO understand and align with our statement of faith.

Position responsibilities include managing a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, including:

• Developing relationships with major donors and crafting individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Conducting in-person and virtual donor visits, locally and domestically.
• Preparing personalized gift proposals for donors, making gift solicitations, and having planned giving conversations with donors.
• Identifying and qualifying major gift prospects from existing donor base as well as from outside our existing donor base.
• In collaboration with the Deputy Director, Relationship Management, developing relationships with grantors, including researching, identifying, creating and submitting grant applications, developing contacts with grantors, keeping grant calendar up-to-date, and reporting outcomes to grantors.
• Assisting the RM team with the strategy, planning, and execution of donor events.
• In coordination with the RM team, supporting the planning and implementation of Hope Builders, our client's new mid-to-high level donor society.
• Tracking activities and moves management in Salesforce.
• Leading 2-3 international donor trips per year to program sites, creating a space for donors to be transformed through the impact of their support (mutual transformation).

Qualifications include:

• 3+ years of development experience in a major gifts role.
• Grant writing experience preferred.
• Connections to Christian philanthropic networks strongly preferred.
• Undergraduate degree preferred.
• Experience with Salesforce or other donor CRM preferred.
• Strong competency with Microsoft Office (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Ability to travel domestically approximately 5 days per month and internationally 2-3 times per year.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; must care deeply for uplifting those suffering from extreme poverty using a Christian framework.
• Demonstrable ability to ignite passion for Bright Hope's mission and vision.
• Demonstrable ability to effectively cold call prospective benefactors.
• Demonstrable ability to engage and inspire high-net-worth individuals to give generously.

Personal qualities and values include:

• Self-directed. The MGO should have the ability to work in a self-directed manner in a fluid environment where flexibility, tenacity, and a servant's heart are required.
• Personable yet goal-oriented communicator. The MGO needs to engage with donors warmly and connect with them at the level they are at, but still should move the donor touchpoint toward its desired goal, whether it is a phone call, a follow-up meeting, a connection, or an ask.
• Team-player. The MGO should prioritize team success over recognition for individual achievements. Bright Hope values each of our team members as individuals but believe that we achieve the greatest results by working together to advance our mission.
• Faithful. The MGO must be truthful, fair, and trustworthy in all aspects of their work. Bright Hope holds ourselves and our partners to the highest ethical standards as we all seek to make manifest the Kingdom of God for those in the most impoverished circumstances. To do the work of loving our neighbor in the poorest places on the planet, we have to know the guiding tenets of the Christian faith and live them in action and truth.

Job location details: Hybrid - Chicagoland area preferred. Will consider a remote position in Indiana, Tennessee, or Florida metro areas for the right candidate.