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
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.