Major Gifts Officer/Senior Major Gifts Officer

POSITION OVERVIEW

Key to our success will be expanding our Major Gifts program. As Major Gifts Officer, you will be responsible for both managing and cultivating relationships with existing major gift donors and identifying new prospects. The primary focus of this role will be on donors of $10,000 and up. The FY25 goal for Major Gifts is $1.68M, and this number is projected to grow. This is a great opportunity to join a growing team. This position will report to the Director of Individual Giving once that role is hired. The Major Gifts Officer will initially report to the Interim Chief Development Officer.

This is a key position in the team and interacts closely with the President & CEO and the Board.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage portfolio of 100-125 donors and prospects
• Understand the motivations of each donor in order to help them accomplish their philanthropic goals while developing a deep commitment to CSIOBS’ mission
• Partner with existing donors to secure meaningful investments in CSIOBS’ programs and events; identify and cultivate opportunities for upgrading levels of giving
• Identify new prospects by working with board and committee members, using prospect research tools, developing recruitment events, etc.
• Create and implement moves management plans that include cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities
• Conduct a minimum of 15 - 25 donor/prospect visits in-person or virtually per month and provide visit and gift data as part of prospect management tracking; use data to drive moves management activity
• Arrange and lead site visits for donors and prospects
• Make direct, face-to-face solicitations
• Assist the President & CEO, board, and other staff major donor solicitations
• Track activities in CRM system; manage documentation of pledges/gifts
• Work with the development department to align efforts and set goals
• Serve as a teammate by providing strategic counsel, portfolio development support, etc.
• Assist in creating the programmatic content at gala and other fundraisers; oversee gala seating plan for board members and individual attendees
• Partner with the development/communications team to create solicitations and other communication materials
• Acknowledge major donors through public and private recognition
• Assist in creating the programmatic content at the Gala – speakers, and student greeters
• Oversee Gala seating plan for Board members and individual attendees
• Track and report progress using specific metrics
• Offer suggestions of possible committee and board members to the board nominating committee
• Key to this role is the development of data-driven reports and statistical analysis of the prospect pool and donor pipeline in coordination with the broader development team and across departments. This role will require travel and the occasional evening and weekend work.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree required (Graduate degree preferred)
• 3+ years of development/fundraising experience with a proven record of soliciting and closing gifts. To be considered for Senior Major Gifts Officer, you must have more than 5 years of development experience.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies
• Comfort interacting with a wide variety of individuals
• Strong written and verbal communications skills that compel people to action
• Creativity and Determination
• Flexibility - proven ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent organizational skills and extreme attention to detail
• Excellent computer skills including proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications and Raiser’s Edge.
• Strong preference for a candidate with legacy giving experience
• Previous experience with Raiser’s Edge Prospect Management or a similar prospect system and metrics—compiling, analyzing and reporting data
• The ability and willingness to travel up to 40% of the time to meetings and events in New England is required

LOCATION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

This salaried position will require occasional night and weekend work. CSIOBS Administrative staff work a hybrid schedule. Employees work out of our local office in Boston's Seaport Neighborhood. Occasionally you will be required to go to our island in Boston Harbor for events, meetings, and trainings. Ferry transportation will be provided. A criminal background check is required for this position.

WHO YOU ARE

All CSIOBS staff bring a commitment to our mission of unleashing students to be challenged via discovery, as well as the ability to thrive in an environment that values excellence, gratitude, well-being, diversity, authenticity, and collaboration. All candidates should demonstrate leadership, coaching, relationship management experience, and substantial success in managing funder relationships.