Job Details
Reporting to the Director of Development, the Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is responsible for developing and managing relationships with prospects determined to have the ability to make major and planned gifts to the School. The MGO will identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major gift donors, working to cultivate lasting relationships with these key stakeholders of the School. As the Seven Hills development team is small and nimble, the MGO will join a highly collaborative group of professionals to ensure a coordinated and effective execution of major gifts moves management. The MGO will be expected to steward, retain, and upgrade current major gift donors and bring new major gifts donors to Seven Hills. Success will be measured not only in dollars raised, but by such metrics as contacts, face-to-face visits, and stewardship touches.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities
- Working strategically with the Director of Development to achieve fundraising goals in support of the financial priorities of the School.
- Securing major gift support for a set of School-wide institutional priorities that include sustaining academic and co-curricular programs, providing support for financial aid, increasing the endowment, and raising funds for the School s emerging capital priorities.
- Managing a portfolio of 150+ prospects with a primary focus on qualifying prospects and closing gifts of $10,000 and above.
- Participating in all aspects of the gifts cycle: identification, research, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, gift closure and stewardship.
- Managing the Head of School s and Director of Development s principal gifts portfolio. This includes developing strategies, providing written materials and oral briefings, and assisting with solicitation and stewardship strategies.
- Collaborating with the Director of Development and other colleagues to identify, rate, and assign new prospects, creating prospect and donor relationship strategies, engaging volunteers effectively and generally creating a high functioning major gift program at the School.
- Conducting an average of 20 face-to-face visits per month.
- Completing contact reports after every donor visit, and continually updating database information on donors and prospects as appropriate.
- Participating in prospect management meetings by contributing to the development and implementation of strategies that will encourage giving at the major gifts level for Seven Hills.
- Assisting in planning and implementing donor recognition and campaign events.
- Assisting in building a robust planned giving program through relationship building, marketing efforts and learning about planned gift methodologies.
- Working with the Alumni Office and Director of Development to plan and implement regional events for Seven Hills to engage current and prospective major gift donors to the School.
- Preparing operating plans and budget for a robust principal and major gifts program.
- Developing individual stewardship plans for top major and planned giving prospects, with the assistance of the Advancement Services Manager.
- Serving as a member of the Development Team and participating in Development events as appropriate.
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Qualifications/Skills
- A commitment to the mission of Seven Hills School and an appreciation for the uniqueness of an independent school environment. Direct experience with an independent school is a plus.
- Proven record of securing major gifts and a demonstrated knowledge of planned giving practices.
- Strong oral and written communication skills; the ability to learn and communicate to stakeholders the school s unique strengths.
- An ability to work independently (within a team setting) and the drive to achieve results.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to cultivate lasting relationships.
- Ability to respond well to constructive criticism and deal successfully with challenging circumstances.
- Competence in word processing, Excel, PowerPoint and comfort in a digital environment. Experience in fundraising software preferred.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is competitive and based on experience and qualifications. Seven Hills School. Benefits include health insurance, retirement contributions and PTO.