Director of Philanthropy (Remote)

Position description

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability. 

About Heifer International   

In 1944, Heifer International’s founder, Dan West, began outlining a simple but groundbreaking plan to tackle hunger around the world. West, a farmer from the Midwest and Church of the Brethren member, had recently returned from feeding weary refugees during volunteer service in the Spanish Civil War.     

He had seen firsthand that giving people food was a short-term solution, whereas providing them with animals offered a steady supply of nutritious food for an entire family. His philosophy still inspires Heifer’s work today. Partnering with farmers across a range of different livestock and crops, we create unique solutions to local challenges.      

Today, Heifer International has operations in 19 countries around the world, working alongside local farmers, business owners and their communities, as they mobilize and envision their futures. Together, we build inclusive, resilient economies, so communities can develop effective ways to end global hunger and poverty in a sustainable way.    

ROLE FUNCTION 

The Director of Philanthropy works to cultivate, solicit, steward and retain a qualified portfolio of donors and prospects with the capacity to give five, six and seven figure leadership level gifts. 

Reporting to Heifer’s Senior Director of Philanthropy, the Director is part of a high-performing team and will possess a strong ability to develop key donor relationships to grow revenue in an assigned donor portfolio. The successful Director of Philanthropy will understand the intersection of finance, operations, philanthropy, and programs, and engage donors as active investors in Heifer’s work around the globe.  

The Director is a results-oriented, creative, entrepreneurial professional who enjoys high-level, front-line relationship building, solicitation, and strategy development for cultivating relationships. They are a team player and are willing to take ownership of special projects and strategic initiatives to benefit the team’s overall growth and success.  

Key responsibilities include executing strategies to engage donors and prospects and developing highly tailored proposals and engagement plans, with strategic responsibility for growing relationships and revenue in the assigned portfolio. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Donor Leadership and Fundraising Management 70% 

• Work closely with manager to determine annual fundraising goals and develop an integrated short- and long-term strategy and plan for the assigned portfolio, seeking to upgrade giving and establish two-way engagement with managed donors, including in person meetings.
• Provide leadership and direction for a portfolio of approximately 150 major gift donors and prospects with the capacity to give five, six, and seven figure gifts.
• Partner effectively with Philanthropy leadership, Heifer Headquarters (HQ) and field staff to obtain appropriate program information for donors. Prepare proposals and tailored fundraising materials to inspire and engage assigned portfolio.
• Develop a growing knowledge of the work of Heifer regarding the issues of hunger and poverty, community development, and environmentally sound, sustainable farming practices. Demonstrate conversant knowledge in the mission and programs and be able to articulately respond to donor questions in a timely manner.
• Nurture and cultivate long-term partnerships and relationships with current and prospective donors through donor recognition programs, engagement opportunities, and stewardship.
• In coordination and collaboration with department leadership and peer Directors of Philanthropy, work with a Moves Management system to best enhance donor involvement and potential giving.
• Utilize donor insight to implement strategies for donor segmentation, providing an appropriate communication and engagement plan for each donor based on their needs and desires.
• Work with Heifer International Foundation staff to identify, cultivate, and refer planned gift opportunities.
• Collaborate with all resource mobilization teams to ensure a seamless transition for donors and prospects into appropriate relationship management based on donor needs and desires.
• Adhere to ethical fundraising practices as outlined in the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practice.

Development Operations and Administration 15% 

• Ensure all donor files are maintained in the database with adherence to current standard operating procedures, including call notes, correspondence, gift acknowledgements, etc.
• Track all donor work weekly in established systems and use data to effectively design and monitor development strategy, moves and goals.
• Adhere to team communication standards and processes using established applications and channels.

Special Projects and Initiatives 15% 

• Lead philanthropy team special projects and strategic initiatives to benefit the team’s overall growth and success.
• May perform other job-related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• A minimum of ten years professional experience with eight years of experience fundraising with an emphasis on major gifts.
• Proven fundraising skills, including major donor development with experience in proactive donor cultivation and tailored asks based on donor interests. Ability to prospect, cultivate, and acquire donations from high-net-worth individuals.
• Career track record that shows stability with an organization and capacity to develop and nurture relationships culminating in overall success.
• Minimum of 4 years of leadership experience
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education/experience
• Based on the travel elements of the position, a candidate located in the Northeast U.S. is high preferred.

Most Critical Proficiencies: 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, including maintaining records in a timely and accurate manner.
• Excellent problem-solving skills based on the analysis of available data to identify solutions to complex problems.
• Knowledge of and experience with raising funds within the parameters of the assigned portfolio (North-East U.S.)
• Strong multicultural and cultural-sensitivity skills. Comfortable working with stakeholders at all levels, from entry to executive levels.
• Excellent problem-solving skills based on the analysis of available data to identify solutions to complex problems.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and to maintain confidentiality.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands: 

• May require constant sitting; working at a computer for extended periods.
• Regular face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the public.
• Ability and willingness to travel within the assigned portfolio region, domestically and internationally and adequate physical condition necessary to project sites in rural areas.
• Ability to prepare and present documents and reports with superior attention to detail to a wide-ranging audience.
• Proven interpersonal and communication skills, with the aptitude to relate to individuals and groups diplomatically and tactfully. Constant telephone, face-to-face and electronic communication with colleagues and the public.
• Willingness and capability to work effectively from a home office.
• Commitment to Heifer’s mission, Cornerstones values, and rural development model. Knowledge of the nonprofit sector with awareness of the context in which nonprofit organizations operate.
• Make strategic decisions with regard to budgets and resources based on available information.
• Negotiate contract terms and conditions favorable to the organization for services to be rendered by external agency partners in order to carry out strategies.

Salary Information:  

The expected base salary range for this position is $123,000 to $150,000 annually. Placement within the range will be based on the experience and competency level of the candidate. 

What We Offer:  

• Heifer International offers a variety of benefits for U.S. based employees working 30 or more hours per week.
• Health and wellness benefits including Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Saving Account
• Employee assistance program
• 403(b) retirement plan (match 1% employee to 2% employer up to a maximum of 4% match +3% employer discretionary contribution regardless of employee contribution)
• 22 vacation days in addition to 12 statutory and discretionary holidays, and 10 sick days per year
• Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
• Professional development and annual merit increase opportunities
• Optional critical illness insurance, legal assistance plan and pet protection
• And more!

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on tendersglobal.net