The Charitable Giving Officer is a strategic leadership role responsible for designing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive fundraising program to support the mission and growth of the organization. This individual identifies prospective donors and cultivates strong relationships with both prospective and existing donors, leads development initiatives, and drives revenue through diverse funding streams including individual giving, major gifts, grants, and events.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and execute a comprehensive annual fundraising plan aligned with organizational goals.
- Establish revenue targets and monitor progress toward meeting or exceeding goals.
- Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, including major donors, corporate partnerships, foundations, and planned giving.
- Provide regular reports and analysis to leadership on fundraising performance and trends.
Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
- Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with individual donors, major gift prospects, and key stakeholders.
- Develop personalized engagement strategies to deepen donor commitment and retention.
- Oversee donor recognition and stewardship programs to ensure meaningful engagement.
- Serve as a primary ambassador for the organization in the community.
Major Gifts & Campaigns (year one priority)
- Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Lead capital campaigns, special initiatives, and targeted fundraising efforts.
- Lead ad hoc committee of executive leadership and board members to support donor engagement and solicitation.
Events & Community Engagement
- Oversee planning and execution of fundraising events, ensuring they align with strategic goals and generate revenue. Note: this position does not include management of sma
- Represent the organization at community events, networking opportunities, and public engagements.
- Strengthen the organization’s visibility and reputation within the community.
Grants & Institutional Funding
- Oversee grant strategy, including identifying funding opportunities and developing a pipeline of prospective funders.
- Write, edit, and submit compelling grant proposals to foundations, corporations, and government entities.
- Guide proposal development by gathering program data, budgets, and supporting materials.
- Ensure timely submission of grant applications and compliance with all requirements.
- Manage grant reporting, including tracking outcomes and preparing required reports.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with foundation and institutional funders.
Team Leadership & Collaboration
- Supervise and support development staff, consultants, and volunteers.
- Foster a collaborative, mission-driven team culture.
- Partner with marketing/communications staff to align messaging and donor outreach efforts.
- Work closely with finance staff to ensure accurate tracking and reporting of funds.
Board Engagement
- Support and engage the Board of Directors in fundraising efforts.
- Provide training and tools to empower board members in donor engagement.
- Collaborate with board committees related to development and advancement.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- 5–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including major gifts and donor relations.
- Demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding fundraising goals.
- Strong listening, writing, and verbal communication skills.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
- Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
- Experience with donor databases/CRM systems.
- High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Attributes
- Passion for the organization’s mission and the communities it serves.
- Experience in nonprofit leadership or human services organizations.
- Knowledge of current fundraising trends and best practices.
Work Environment & Expectations
- Full-time position; occasional evening and weekend work required for events and donor engagement.
- Some travel may be required for donor meetings and community outreach.
Work Location: In person
