Major Gifts Officer
ABOUT LARS
For 39 years, Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services, Inc. (LARS) has been a source of hope and relief for members of the Laurel community who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and for individuals and families who struggle to meet their basic needs. LARS’ mission is to enable homeless and low-income people in Laurel who are in crisis to achieve stability and long-term self-sufficiency.
Through a variety of supportive services including financial help with rent and utilities, food assistance, and subsidized housing, LARS provides individuals and families with the stability they need to build better futures for themselves and for their families. In addition, case managers teach skills that foster growth in the areas of personal finances, education, employment, and mental and physical well-being. Our goal is not only to alleviate the immediate crisis, but also to teach skills and habits that empower people to maintain financial stability and prevent future crises.
LARS’ service area covers high needs areas in Prince George's, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties.
JOB OVERVIEW
The Major Gifts Officer plays a key role in advancing LARS’ development goals by managing a portfolio of major donors and prospects with the capacity to give four-, five- and six-figure gifts. This role is responsible for designing and implementing strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a high-functioning portfolio of major donors. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role will work closely with the ED in raising revenue that generates long-term financial stability and directly advances the organization’s mission.
The successful candidate will be a proactive, strategic thinker with a proven record of success in securing significant individual philanthropic support for nonprofit organizations.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Support the Executive Director in growing LARS’s major donor program (gifts of $5,000+)
- Maintain an active portfolio of major donor contributors to LARS
- Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each portfolio donor
- Identify, qualify, and upgrade prospective donors using wealth screening, and prospect research tools
- Analyze prospect research and use moves management to steward donors towards major gifts
- Conduct regular donor outreach through in-person and virtual meetings, calls, proposals, events, and tailored stewardship communications
- Ensure accurate and timely logging of donor contacts, next steps, and relationship notes in Bloomerang
- Track revenue, donor activity, and progress toward fundraising goals
- Generate reports on portfolio performance and major gifts pipeline health
- Meet or exceed annual major gifts revenue goals
- Support the Executive Director on engaging and cultivating planned giving prospects and organizational affinity groups
- Support fundraising events, special projects, and other development initiatives
- Participate in evening and weekend events as required to support cultivation and fundraising efforts
- Partner with internal stakeholders to stay informed on programs, priorities, and impact to effectively engage donors
Qualifications:
- 5-7 years of progressive experience in major gifts fundraising and donor relations
- Quantifiable success managing a portfolio of major donors with a proven track record of securing five- and six-figure gifts
- Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to connect authentically with high-net-worth individuals
- Strategic thinking ability, with comfort making independent decisions about donor engagement
- Strong written and verbal communication with ability to craft compelling donor communications
- Deep familiarity with the donor lifecycle and successful execution of moves management strategies
- Experience working with donor databases (Raiser’s Edge preferred) and research tools (iWave)
- Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage a complex donor pipeline
- Comfort with a metrics-driven approach to fundraising and portfolio management
- Knowledge of fundraising best practices and philanthropic trends
- Strong planning skills and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
- Self-motivated with the ability to work independently while collaborating across teams
- A willingness to learn and an openness to pitch in at all levels when needed
- Commitment to the organization’s mission
- A bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to travel throughout the service area as needed to solicit donations.
Pay: $70,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Laurel, MD 20707
