Senior Development Officer

Job Description

Job Summary

Reporting to the Head of Development ( Head ) and serving as a key member of the Individual Giving (IG) team within the Advancement department, the (Lead) Senior Development Officer, Major & Principal Gifts, advances the mission of Success Academy Charter Schools (SA) through the engagement and solicitation of high net-worth individual donors and prospects at Major Gift and Principal Gift levels (i.

e., gifts $100,000 up to $1 million). Specifically, this includes managing and coordinating the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of an assigned portfolio with the goal of significantly increasing philanthropic revenues in support of SA’s ambitious goals for operational, programmatic, and capital purposes.

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated track record of managing a portfolio and soliciting / closing significant philanthropic gifts.

The Senior Development Officer is a proactive, confident self-starter that thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment that values results.

They are persistent and driven to succeed in advancing efforts to grow a robust pipeline of individual donors and in meeting or exceeding goals.

Success in this role will require the following qualities :

Self-motivated, self-sufficient, and driven to lead and collaborate with others to achieve success.

• Detail-oriented and analytical;
• Strategic, proactive, and forward thinking;

Persuasive, outgoing, and confident with exceptional communication skills.

Possesses the highest standards of personal and professional integrity; and

Adheres to and promotes SA’s mission, culture, and strategic priorities.

Essential Functions :

1. Qualify, Cultivate, Solicit, Close, and Steward Prospects and Donors (50%)

Manage and grow a portfolio of existing and prospective individual and family foundation donors for gifts of $100,000+, with the goal of significantly increasing (primarily) general operating revenue to meet Advancement team goals.

Lead and participate in the solicitation of support for special events (e.g., Spring Benefit) to meet / exceed Advancement team goals.

Identify, cultivate, solicit, close, and steward individual and family foundation donors through in-person / telephone / virtual meetings, written solicitations / proposals, email, and other means tailored as specifically as possible to donor preferences and strategic goals.

Brief and staff executive leadership and other leaders and volunteers involved in strategic donor relationships.

Manage a portfolio of approximately 80-100 individuals and family foundations, and meet or exceed agreed upon monthly, quarterly, and annual goals and related performance metrics with respect to portfolio management, moves management, solicitations, closures, and dollars raised.

Collaborate with the Head of Development, the Head of Donor Engagement, and the Chief Advancement Officer to create opportunities for meaningful engagement, solicitation, and stewardship of key prospects and donors.

Collaborate across the Advancement team to develop strategies to identify and approach new leads.

Record all significant asks / opportunities and donor interactions in Raiser’s Edge NXT database and track proposals, gifts, and pledge fulfillment within the assigned portfolio.

Monitors pledge reminders, receipting, and acknowledgement processes for portfolio donors for timeliness and accuracy.

2. Leadership & Staff Management (20%)

As Lead Senior Development Officer, this position will manage or co-manage one or two other Development Officers in their day-to-day activities, similar to those outlined above for this position in support of individual and team goals.

Ensure alignment between Development Officer Activity and Advancement and IG team goals and performance / productivity metrics.

Coach and mentor Development Officers on strategic philanthropic relationship management and support their professional growth and development.

In coordination with Advancement leadership, establish goals for individual Development Officer activity aligned with departmental goals, and consistently track and report on progress towards them.

3. Donor Prospecting & Qualification (10%)

Utilize the donor / prospect database and other available prospect research and analytical tools to identify, segment, and qualify a broader and deeper pool of prospective donors with the capacity and affinity to make significant gifts.

Work closely with the Donor Engagement team to identify event attendees and other prospective donors for deeper engagement opportunities to augment portfolio at the major and principal gift level.

Collaborate with Advancement Operations & Data Analytics team to source and qualify prospects through informed database queries and analysis.

4. Donor Stewardship & Communications (10%)

In coordination with the Donor Engagement team, design and implement creative and impact donor stewardship strategies to deepen engagement and elevate individual and family foundation giving.

Provide advice and guidance to the Donor Engagement team about strategic relationships within the Officer’s portfolio in support of CEO and other leadership communications.

Along with other Individual Giving team members, assist with annual donor recognition and stewardship efforts, events, and communications, particularly with regard to the SA Leadership Council.

5. Special Projects & Administration (10%)

Assist the Head of Development and Chief Advancement Officer with special projects, especially those related to individual giving, including but not limited to fundraising events, gift planning, and / or administrative tasks.

Participate in overall Individual Giving team and Advancement department strategic planning and budgeting, as requested, and manage direct expenses within budget.

Remain abreast of SA programs, activities, accolades, and new initiatives to most effectively engage and / or steward donors to greater levels of support.

Participate in and help staff SA / Advancement events, as needed.

Other duties may be assigned from time to time. Occasional evening and weekend work required to meet critical deadlines.

Qualifications

1. Education (Minimum Needed and Type of Degree Needed) :

Minimum Required : Bachelor’s Degree

Preferred : Advanced degree. CFRE or other specialized certification / designation is beneficial.

2. Work Experience (Minimum Needed) :

7+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, investor relations, or consultative sales; experience in K-12 education and / or charter schools beneficial.

3. Specialized Knowledge Needed for Performance of Job :

Demonstrated comfort and successful track record of identifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding significant gifts, as well as building / managing donor / customer relationships.

Experience assessing and closing major gift / business opportunities; engaging, cultivating, and stewarding new stakeholders and converting them into strategic partnerships.

Capacity for strategic leadership and vision to work with senior leadership on fundraising priorities and to use moves management and metrics to ensure a high level of personal performance and accountability.

Effectiveness working independently and across teams, with assiduous attention to sharing information with others.

4. Skills (e.g. Level of Judgment Required, Ability to Direct, Work Independently, Multi-Task, etc.) :

Proficiency in communicating complex issues with diverse audiences and inspiring their engagement and support.

Exceptional writing and presentation skills.

Highly self-motivated, accountable, and able to make decisions independently.

Ability to think strategically and contextually and to anticipate the needs and expectations of manager and executives.

Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple, concurrent tasks, exhibit flexibility, and meet deadlines.

Ability to analyze and present data effectively, make decisions, and align efforts with priorities and opportunities.

Acts with tact and discretion, respecting confidentiality and proprietary information.

5. Special Skills (Technical or Advanced)

Proficiency with RE NXT or similar CRM system is highly desirable, proficiency with MSOffice (and / or Google suite), and Internet required.

Knowledge of relevant prospect research and philanthropic analytical tools beneficial.

6. Other (Communication Skills, Mechanical Aptitude, Math Skills, Learning Skills, or Other Specific Skills Required) :

Superb verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Possesses a passion for the mission of SA and engages prospects with the same passion.

Ability to travel locally and nationally as needed, occasionally work after hours and on weekends.

Compensation Range

$140,000.00 - $160,000.00

Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience.