Major Gifts Officer

THE ORGANIZATION :

Be one of the first applicants, read the complete overview of the role below, then send your application for consideration.

Downtown Streets Team (DST) is an innovative social impact organization fighting homelessness through the power of community and dignity of work.

Located across 20 Northern California communities, DST sets out to provide meaningful daily activities including volunteering opportunities, paid work experience, and community celebration for individuals who are currently experiencing homelessness and / or are reentering after incarceration.

What sets DST apart is our approach to this work, rooted in the belief that all humans deserve dignity, self-determination, social connection, and a chance to live a purpose-driven life.

SUMMARY :

Downtown Streets Team is seeking a highly motivated Major Gifts Officer (MGO) to join our dynamic Advancement team. In this key position, you will play a pivotal role in securing significant philanthropic contributions to fuel our mission.

You will cultivate relationships with major donors and prospects across Northern California to help identify their philanthropic interests and craft compelling support strategies that secure transformational gifts.

As a fundraising trailblazer, the MGO will work with the Advancement team to secure $3M in contributed revenue, $1.5M of which is contributed by major donors.

The MGO manages the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual and family foundation philanthropic supporters and is responsible for a portfolio of 100-125 households.

This role will join an Advancement team that currently consists of a Marketing and Events Coordinator, Development Database Strategist, and Grant Writer.

This role reports to the Chief Executive Officer, and later the Senior Director of Development.

Schedule and Work Environment : This is a full-time hybrid role with a flexible Monday through Friday daytime schedule as evening and weekend work will be required to meet with donors outside of working hours to represent the agency at events and board / volunteer committee meetings.

This role requires regular local travel across our service areas. Residing in the greater Bay Area is ideal.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

The following reflects management’s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job.

Donor and Prospect Research :

• Identify, research, qualify, and prioritize lapsed and prospective donors for major gift and campaign cultivation and solicitation.
• Actively participate in Advancement strategy sessions and help inform colleagues of major gifts strategies.
• Identify planned giving prospects and partner with the CEO to secure new planned gift intentions.

Solicitation and Cultivation :

• Build and manage a portfolio of approximately 100-125 households with gifts of four to six figures for the purpose of deepening engagement among existing major donors, increasing giving among those donors, increasing the number of major donors to DST, and growing annual operating and campaign-specific revenue.
• Draft and edit operational and campaign donor correspondences, proposals, reports, acknowledgements, and solicitations.
• Cultivate, steward, and solicit individual campaign supporters as well as provide operational support.

File Management, Documentation, and Organization :

• Create, document, and implement individual moves management strategies and solicitation plans for 100-125 major donor households for the campaign and operational gifts.
• Support ongoing improvements to the systems and processes that operationalize and organize major gift work.
• Adeptly manage Raisersedge and other processes such as tracking donor gift projections and list management for your portfolio.

Team Responsibilities :

• Work with the Marketing and Events Coordinator and regional Directors to plan events that maximize donor and prospect cultivation opportunities.
• Collaborate with development team members to shape and execute donor cultivation, engagement, and stewardship opportunities for all supporters.
• Engage, as needed, in producing and editing materials, such as briefings, collateral, solicitation letters, articles, newsletters, and reports.
• Build relationships with participants, staff, key volunteers, community members, agency supporters, and board members.
• Develop and maintain expert familiarity with programmatic needs, budgets, institutional priorities, and regional work.
• Adhere to the Code of Conduct and Core Values of DST.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILL AND EXPERIENCE :

• At least 3 years of experience in fundraising with a record of securing major gifts from individuals, advancing gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Desire and ability to attend after-hour meetings / events to cultivate relationships.
• People person with an enthusiasm in picking up the phone to place cold calls, able to secure face-to-face meetings with donor prospects, and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to overcome obstacles, working independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to take initiative and anticipate the needs of donors, stakeholders, and colleagues.
• Comfortable talking about and asking for money.
• High degree of emotional intelligence.
• Driven by self-discipline and personal accountability.
• Results-driven with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced service environment.
• Understanding of industry standards regarding donor solicitation, confidentiality, gift crediting, stewardship, and financial principles that shape the work of fundraising professionals.
• Valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS :

While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to do the following :

Sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling and lifting (up to 25 lbs.)

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU :

• A chance to positively impact your community on one of the biggest domestic challenges of the day.
• Competitive nonprofit compensation.
• Options for fully paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage for employees, with FSA and HSA health plans available.
• Option to enroll in 401k after 90 days, and up to 6% company match, after one year of employment.
• 15 days off PTO, increasing with tenure.
• Over 10 paid holidays annually.
• Paid company closure for five days during the summer.
• Paid company closure for five days between Christmas and New Year.
• Day off on your birthday.
• One month paid sabbatical after five years, not charging PTO.
• Internal growth opportunities.
• Access to professional development resources and reimbursement.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY :

We thrive as an organization when unique identities, experiences & perspectives are represented. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

WE HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER JOINING US TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

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