SENIOR MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER

Department: Communications & Fundraising Department at the JRS International Office
Location: Rome, Italy
Reports to: International Director of Communications & Fundraising  
Duration: 12 months (renewable) 

Organizational Context

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is ministry of the Society of Jesus, incorporated as an international non-governmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. The organisation was founded in November 1980 and now has a presence in over 58 countries. JRS undertakes services at national and regional levels with the support and guidance of an international office (IO) in Rome. The style of JRS service is human and spiritual, working in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term well-being of refugees and displaced people while not neglecting their immediate or urgent needs.
The main services provided are in the field of education, reconciliation, livelihood activities and psychosocial support. Currently, almost 1 million individuals are direct beneficiaries of JRS projects.

Resource mobilisation at the International Office is carried out by the Communications & Fundraising Department – C&F (raising donations from individuals, religious congregations, and small family foundations) and the Grants Unit of the Programmes & Innovation Department – P&I (raising funding from grant makers).

The Major Gifts Officer will be part of the Fundraising Department and will also work in close relationship with the Programmes & Innovation’s colleagues to ensure an aligned implementation of the global resource mobilisation strategy, and with the Finance Department.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The Major Gifts Officer is a full-time position, whose main responsibility is to steward relationships with Major Donors, Religious Congregations, Corporations, and Foundations. The position will be responsible for managing a portfolio of existing donors and delivering excellent account management. A significant part of the role will focus on identifying, researching, and engaging new prospects, as well as coordinating and supporting cultivation activities, with the aim of sustaining and increasing the financial support to JRS.

Portfolio Management: 40%

·       Donor Portfolio Management & Building: build and manage a portfolio of 75+ active and prospective major donors with a goal of totaling $1M+ in contributed revenue annually.

·       Expand New Donor Opportunities: Increase support and build relationships with new international donors (excluding those in the U.S. market) to acquire gifts of $100,000+

·       Donor Prospecting: Research and qualify prospective donors in selected markets in line with the JRS global investment and fundraising strategy

·     Creation of Stewardship Materials: Create stewardship materials in collaboration with colleagues from other departments and JRS Offices worldwide

·      CRM management: Develop, maintain, and grow mailing lists and keep CRM donor records updated and use CRM data for donor analysis and reporting

Donor Cultivation, Strategy, and Solicitation: 40%

·     Strategic Partnership: Support in planning and executing the JRS global strategic fundraising initiatives for unrestricted and program-designated giving; contribute to the creation and management of the budgets related to the position’s activities

·       Develop and Pitch Proposals: Build a pipeline and develop and pitch proposals of $100,000+ for potential funders

·       Project Reporting: Submit periodic progress and final project reports to fulfill donor compliance expectations and foster opportunities for new gifts

·    Cultivation material: Prepare briefing materials, proposals, presentations and other dissemination materials needed to coordinate successful cultivation and solicitation

·       Events and other initiatives: Plan, manage and organize logistical arrangements for meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops, and events

Capacity building: 20%

·       Create and disseminate appropriate tools and training materials for capacity building activities for country staff

·       Participate in the global fundraising team, so that the candidate can advise, train and support JRS’s fundraising focal points worldwide on resources mobilization with individuals, religious congregations, corporations, foundation, aiming at a more effective global effort on managing donors and raising resources.

·    Perform other relate duties as assigned

Qualifications and competencies

§  University Degree in a relevant field;

§  At least 8-10 years of related relevant professional experience in fundraising and donor relations;

§  Demonstrated experience with major gifts programme management and securing five and six figure gifts;

§  Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office and any experience with development software, Salesforce, Active Campaign, Asana, a plus;

§  Super editing, and verbal communications skills;

§  Strong organizational skills and ability to handle multiple responsibilities;

§  Strong interpersonal and communications skills, and the ability to work in a multi-cultural, international, and intense work environment;

§  Fluent in English; French or Spanish a plus;

§  Experience and / or knowledge of faith-based organizations is a plus.

Core values and ethics

§  Commitment to JRS’s mission, vision and values; ability to convey with enthusiasm JRS’s role in accompanying and serving forcibly. displaced people and to advocate for their right to protection and a life in dignity.

§  High integrity, honesty and confidentiality; ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with people, situations and information.

§  Acceptance of diversity and inclusion as a core value.

Travel

§  The position may require travel to JRS locations.

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Terms and Conditions

Please note that this position is only open to candidates who possess EU citizenship or other legal authorization to work in the European Union.

How to apply

All applicants are requested to submit the following documents to [email protected] no later than 26 January 2024:         

1.     A cover letter describing the candidate’s desire and motivation to work for JRS and how her/his qualifications and experience are a good fit for this position

2.     Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English, including three (3) professional references with contact information, phone and email address.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Thank you for your interest in joining JRS