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Mission Advocate

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod -
St. Louis, MO

Job Details

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree

Full Job Description

Mission Advocate
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

Organization Profile

In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and the world.

The Mission Advancement unit of the LCMS works closely with Synod’s Communications unit to inform and connect people to the mission and ministry efforts of LCMS National Mission, LCMS International Mission, and the Pastoral Education unit, all of which fall under the Chief Mission Officer. By LCMS Bylaw, the Chief Mission Officer, on behalf of the President, shall supervise fundraising activity of the national office according to the policies established by the Board of Directors of the Synod. The coordination of LCMS Mission Advancement is assigned to the unit’s executive director.

Reporting Relationships

Reports to the Director of Transformative Giving (or to the executive director of Mission Advancement if this Director position is vacant).

Essential Job Functions

As an integral part of the Mission Advancement team the Mission Advocate:

Prioritizes time and effort to personally meet regularly with, serve and support 75 to 150 intentionally selected and assigned contributors (individuals, couples, families and organizations) living in a specific area of the country. The Mission Advocate devotes time and energy completing 200 to 260 face-to-face personal visits annually with select donors who contribute to the mission of the LCMS.

Works collaboratively with other Advancement staff members to intentionally position contributors for incorporation into his or her assigned case load, toward a goal of effectively maintaining persoanl connections to no more than 75 pre-qualified connections (based on recency, frequency, and total dollar value of contributions). This number will be fewer if the total financial capacity of the case load is higher; and higher if the total financial capacity is low(er).

Visit consistently in person, by teleconference (Teams, Zoom, Facetime, etc.) or by telephone with assigned contributors and potential transformative-level contributors for the purpose of understanding their personal charitable/philanthropic goals; determining “best gift” potential and giving timeline; encourage, invite and facilitate significant and meaningful charitable gifts, and capture relevant contributor information that may impact their future charitable giving decisions.

Uses a donor-sensitive appreciative-inquiry approach to fostering a deep understanding of each assigned contributor, and faithfully represent the philanthropic interests, dreams, and intent of that contributor to the LCMS.

In coordination with other team members, designs and carries out intentional strategies to connect with, strengthen awareness among, and gain clarity about the philanthropic goals of assigned household and organizational contributors currently providing or in a position to consider annual gifts to the LCMS in the upper one-third of all contributors, typically $5,000 annually or more, and/or non-repeatable special gifts of $50,000 or more.

Presents to and discusses with donors specific meaningful opportunities to financially support the mission, goals and desired outcomes of the LCMS expected of the offices of International Mission, National Mission, Pastoral Education and other special initiatives. These opportunities must align with each donor’s personal goals, interests and vision for the church, and lead to “(donor) permission-based” invitations to give or give again.

Constantly strives to master a deep understanding of the various programmatic efforts of the LCMS as each is connected to meaningful opportunities for financial support.

Accurately record all engagement plans, constituent contacts (interactions), steps/actions, and the results of conversations and proposals in the database system for future analysis and planning.

Work with the unit research team and data integrity team to capture, validate, possibly correct or update, and integrate accurate information on current and potential contributors into the record-keeping system.

Work with and utilizes LCMS programmatic staff and leaders to help donors and other constituents achieve high levels of clarity about Synod’s mission, impact, prioritized and budgeted funding goals, special initiatives and special campaigns; and, upon reaching clarity, determine the donor’s personal interest and stake in Synod’s mission.

Give presentations about the work and impact of the LCMS in response to groups or organizations who are considering funding national and international work, pastoral formation and care options, and special initiatives.

Participate in the creation, evaluation, and necessary revisions of case-for-support statements and gift proposal formats based on donor feedback and performance data.

Adhere to Synod policies and procedures, the Donor Bill of Rights and the Code of Ethical Principles and Practices for the performance of these duties and the wise stewarding of budgeted unit and position resources in carrying out these duties.

Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned based on the individual’s experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and interests.

Education and Experience

Must be active and in good standing as a confirmed member of an LCMS congregation. Individuals in good standing who are on the roster of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (teachers, DCEs, deaconesses, etc.) may receive preference.

Bachelor’s degree; Master's degree or higher is preferred

One to three years’ experience in successful major donor fundraising/relations management or loyal customer care; five or more years is preferred. Candidates with no fundraising/relations management experience in the church or nonprofit may still be considered and would receive intensive training over the first one to three years of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

A strong commitment to the stated mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and its defined mission priorities.

Familiarity with the Lutheran Confessions and Lutheran doctrine as laid out in the Small Catechism.

Skilled in proactively establishing and maintaining connections with people, specifically those open to supporting the LCMS through voluntary gifts and especially those able and willing to consider five-figure and higher direct gifts.

Excellent interpersonal relationship, teamwork and time management skills.

Able to work independently without direct supervision.

Possesses deep curiosity about people, willing to ask insightful questions and listen deeply to understand the views and goals of another person.

Able and unafraid to boldly invite and encourage individuals, households and groups to prayerfully consider gifts to support the mission and work of the LCMS.

Capable and proficient at working as a part of a multi-staff, multi-role team in a complex, ever-changing/adapting environment.

Committed to achieving and maintaining the highest level of professional ethics, accountability and transparency.

Above average knowledge and understanding of the LCMS and the broader Synod and familiarity with its various stakeholder groups.

Proficient in using Microsoft Office suite products; open to training in the use of specialized software.

Comfortable using CRM/donor relations software to track work effort (Blackbaud experience preferred).

Pleasant and confident phone skills, excellent computer, written and verbal skills and detail oriented.

Able to carry on simultaneous, sustained work in a situation defined by deadlines and multiple assignments.

If serving deployed, able to work independently or in isolation from colleagues; communicating through technology.

Ability to work with minimal immediate supervision, make business-critical decisions, and protect confidential and highly sensitive information.

Committed to ongoing professional growth, education and development. Open to pursuing professional certification in the profession of contributor relations.

Comfortable working with a contributor’s legal and financial advisors.

Ability and willingness to travel extensively, 50% to 75% of available work time.

Able to accept and integrate coaching recommendations from senior staff into daily work patterns.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

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