Major Gift Officer

POSITION: Major Gifts Officer

TITLE: Director of Development, Major Gifts

REPORTS TO: Chief Development Officer

POSITION DESCRIPTION:  As a member of the development team, the Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift donors to meet the school’s fundraising goals. The MGO is responsible for all aspects of the relationship between the school and selected constituents who have been identified as having the potential to make major gifts.

With securing major gifts as the primary objective, the MGO designs and implements a highly personal, donor-centric experience that is based on authentic relationships and continuity. This process will create joyful and enthusiastic gift giving, as well as contribute to the overall culture of generosity and gratitude at MPCS.

The ideal candidate will be a servant-leader, strategic thinker, a collaborative team player, and an individual who can passionately articulate the school's vision and case for support to inspire transformational giving.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ministering to students compassionately and sincerely so they may continue to grow in their faith.
• Accepting the work at Mount Paran Christian School as a personal calling and identify themselves as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 125 donor prospects capable of making gifts of $10,000 or more.

• Establish, develop, and maintain positive, meaningful relationships with each member of assigned donor portfolio.
• Collaborate with school leadership to align donor interests with institutional priorities.
• Develop and execute customized strategies for each qualified donor based on best practices and research.
• Implement donor engagement activities, cultivation, and solicitation of all types of charitable support including but not limited to: annual, capital, endowment, and planned gifts.
• Prepare compelling donor solicitation materials and correspondence.
• Create and manage appropriate donor recognition, acknowledgement, and stewardship strategies.
• Utilize systems to promptly enter call notes, track and report progress using specific metrics and moves management.
• Coordinate with the development team and business office to ensure proper gift processing, record-keeping, and reporting and analysis.
• Participate in all development team activities, knowledge sharing, and collaboration on donor approaches.
• Coordinate and plan cultivation and stewardship events
• Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer for ongoing monitoring and reporting of targets and goals.
• Passionately articulate the school’s mission, vision, ministry, needs, and accomplishments through effective verbal and written communications

QUALIFICATIONS:   

• Ability to build authentic, mission-centered relationships and demonstrate a keen interest in engaging with donors.
• Knowledgeable and communicative. Strong written and verbal communication skills to express the school’s mission, vision and goals with clarity, passion, and persuasion. Ability to recognize, curate, and communicate relevant information. Works to understand donor motivations and interests. Translates complicated or complex topics in a direct and comprehensible fashion.
• Adaptable, flexible, perceptive. Speaking style and behavior changes depend on the audience. Ability to listen and observe. Reads nonverbal cues, including body language, and adapts approach accordingly to align school needs with donors’ interests.
• Confident and strategic. Have the confidence and skill to artfully ask prospective donors to make a gift. Ask wisely for the best outcome.
• Reflective and persistent. Achievement-oriented with impeccable follow-through. Can give and receive feedback.  Accountable, goal-oriented, self-motivated, hard-working.
• Innovative and collaborative. A creative thinker who proactively solves problems. A team player with an attitude of service beyond duty. Willing to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Organized and attentive. Exceptional attention to detail, organizational and time management skills with demonstrated proficiency in prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines.
• Maintains a high level of professionalism, ethical standards, sound judgement, awareness, and discretion when handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Possesses enthusiasm for and commitment to philanthropy, education, institutional advancement, and our Christ-centered mission.
• Mission-aligned. Professes faith in Jesus Christ and accepts and exemplifies the MPCS covenant statement, culture and mission statement of Mount Paran Christian School.

EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5-10 years of successful fundraising experience, with roles of increasing responsibility and a proven track record of personally securing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Engagement in the local business community and philanthropy environment.
• Knowledge of independent school sector is an advantage.
• Proficiency in standard office software tools and applications (Microsoft Office Suite).
• Proficiency in donor database management systems or CRM, preferably Raiser’s Edge NXT.

Physical Requirements: Lifting boxes and other packages not exceeding 20 pounds, ability to sit or stand for long periods of time; excellent cognitive and hearing abilities.