Development Officer

Job Description 

FLSA Status: Exempt 

Job Title:  Development Officer  

Organizational Context 

Since its founding in 1986, Student Sponsor Partners (SSP) has
been providing private high school education to economically and
educationally disadvantaged students.  Thousands of students
are supported by a sponsor and a mentor and attend private partner
high schools located in New York City. 

Reporting to an Executive Director/CEO, SSP is made up of
Philanthropy & Resource Development, Programs. Data &
Research, and General Administration (Finance, HR, IT.)  The
Major Gifts Officer is a director level role, reporting to either
the VP of Philanthropy & Resource Development and/or the
Executive Director.   

Essential Function 

The Major Gift Officer is responsible for the identification,
cultivation, and stewardship of individual giving to Student
Sponsor Partners. As such, they are responsible for managing a
portfolio of donors.   

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Demonstrated ability in
  personally and consistently closing six-figure or larger
  philanthropic gifts from donors. Utilizes industry standard best
  practices and a donor-centric approach in managing a donor
  portfolio.   Determines donor philanthropic interests
  related to specific fundraising goals.  
• Responsible for
  personally cultivating, soliciting and stewarding individuals for
  SSP’s major donor program, including setting solicitation
  strategies and financial targets, developing stewardship and
  solicitation plans for donors and creating annual and multi-year
  financial projections. 
• Focus’ on
  sponsorship/mentor recruitment and major gift
  cultivation  
• Will analyze past year’s
  major gift results and make recommendations for strategies to
  improve return rates across donor levels. 
• Will work closely with
  the team to develop and implement strategies to promote lower-level
  donors to the major gift level. Develop and maintain a thorough
  working knowledge of SSP’s strategic plan, mission, and vision.
  Maintain a portfolio of individuals and formulate a customized
  moves-management strategy to grow their book of business, Form and
  implement a growth strategy and pipeline to increase dollars raised
  and number of patrons in the short term. 
• Responsible for
  developing special gift opportunities (programmatic and capital)
  and securing support for them at significant
  levels.   
• Responsible for
  prospecting, solicitation calls and face to face meetings,
  stewardship of donors, event planning, and the preparation of a
  variety of written and other materials, as well as participation in
  events and activities that impact the development department and
  organization as a whole.   
• Achieve a high-level of
  donor satisfaction and engagement. Be mindful of the donor
  experience and implement cost-effective strategies for donor
  service. 
• Monitors and meets
  annual fund-raising targets for all event-based fundraising revenue
  streams. 
• Establish relationships
  with vendors and suppliers, as well as leverage established
  relationships with vendors and supplier management. 
• Develops, writes, and
  submits request letters and/or proposals to potential funding
  sources tailored to the needs and specific requirements of the
  potential supporters. 
• Stewards current and
  prospective event donors through activities such as phone calls,
  emails, meetings and visits, as appropriate. 
• Works closely with
  SSP’s Sponsorship, Major Gifts and Corporate Relations divisions to
  maximize engagement in development-related special
  events.  
• Works closely with
  SSP’s Program team to lead the execution of all non-development
  related events.  
• Maximizes engagement of
  New York City’s philanthropic community. 
• Monitors the success of
  community engagement strategies and revenue, making course
  corrections as required. 
• Aspire to improve
  team’s effectiveness, foster innovation and balance cost/benefit of
  investments verses status quo. 
• Close communication
  with the organization’s Board of Directors, Executive Director,
  senior leadership team and SSP staff. 
• Act as a team member in
  supporting overall development activities; special events, gala,
  and other duties outside the scope of major gifts (deemed by
  management and business objectives) that enhance the organizational
  goals 

• Other duties as
  assigned 

EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES 

• Minimum five years of
  effective fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in
  major gifts fundraising. 
• Bachelor’s degree,
  advance degree preferred. 
• Strong organizational
  skills and the ability to communicate effectively, think
  strategically, prioritize and meet deadlines. 
• Computer fluency in MS
  Office, Raisers Edge (strongly preferred), web applications, and
  knowledgeable about the role of technology and electronic
  communication in fundraising. 
• Understanding of the
  record-keeping and stewardship systems that support a successful
  donor relations program. 
• Comfortable with working
  in a collaborative environment, as part of a team. 
• Excellent communications
  (written and verbal) and presentation skills. 
• Ability and willingness
  to participate in events outside the workday schedule.