Major Gifts Officer (FT or PT)

Join an organization at the forefront of living its values to create a space that is inclusive and welcoming to all. With courageous leadership, a fresh five-year strategic plan and a campaign underway, and a bold comprehensive site plan that is paving the way for a sustainable and resilient future, Filoli is transcending industry standards. Our Living Wage Initiative is just one example of our commitment to the team of exceptional staff who choose to make Filoli’s mission their life’s passion. Here, you will be part of an organization that holds itself accountable for its impact on staff, visitors, the broader community, and our environment.

Filoli is a vibrant landscape of the Bay Area, situated on the unceded ancestral lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone, in Woodside, California. The gardens and historic house—one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century and a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation—boasts 654 acres of beauty nestled along the slopes of California’s coastal range. Through our multifaceted work, we are connecting people with a rich history, honoring nature, valuing unique experiences, and sharing in an appreciation of the beauty of everyday life. Your contributions will help us steward this unique place and preserve Filoli for future generations. Become part of the Filoli story.

Summary

The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of individual major gift donor outreach strategies that achieve annual and comprehensive campaign fundraising goals.

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), the Major Gifts Officer is a primary frontline fundraiser charged with managing a portfolio of individual prospects and donors capable of making gifts of $50,000 or more. This individual in this role will work actively to engage with leadership, staff partners, campaign ambassadors, and the board to strategize, coordinate, and execute fundraising initiatives and further donor relationships; cultivate, solicit, and steward individual major donors; and identify and qualify potential donors to support institutional priorities and the organization’s comprehensive campaign.

This is a phenomenal opportunity for a development professional specialized in individual giving to join a growing fundraising team and play an integral role in its next stage of its growth.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Major Gifts and Comprehensive Campaign Fundraising

Manage a portfolio of approximately 125 donors and prospects capable of making gifts of $50,000 or more, and lead efforts to develop and implement written cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each;
Prepare customized solicitation plans and proposals for the Filoli’s top prospects, and directly solicit a minimum of twelve individual major gifts annually;
Provide executive-level support to senior leadership and the board in the major gift fundraising process, including serving as a strategic thought partner, tracking and reporting on fundraising progress, and developing briefing materials, correspondence, and proposals;
Identify and qualify new prospects using shared research tools and reports, volunteer and staff networks, and face-to-face visits;
Support the CDO and Development Manager in the management of the major gifts program and the creation of portfolio assignments, and provide oversight for the moves management processes through weekly prospect strategy discussions and monthly portfolio review sessions;
Ensure that major gift and campaign donors receive timely and accurate reports on the use of their gifts and the campaign’s progress;
Manage and update contact information, plans, and actions in Blackbaud Altru using identified protocol, and complete timely and accurate call and progress reports;
Engage staff partners in establishing broader donor engagement opportunities, including developing a series of cultivation touchpoints and activities that demonstrate philanthropic impact, and securing project data and information for reporting and stewardship purposes;
Maintain a thorough working knowledge of programmatic and capital fundraising priorities, including Filoli’s five-year strategic plan, the comprehensive campaign, and long-term comprehensive site plan concepts;

Board Relations

Serve as a staff liaison to the Development Committee and Campaign Ambassadors, effectively engaging board members and volunteers with the major gifts fundraising process;
Prepare relevant reports for Board and Committee meetings, upon request;

Administration and General

Contribute to the annual Development department budget and goal setting process;
Contribute to long-range planning for the growth and increased overall impact and prominence of Filoli’s fundraising program;
In partnership with the Development Manager, maintain rigorous physical and digital files for major donors and prospects and major gift data entry protocol in the Blackbaud Altru donor management database;
Fully engage in Development department activities by attending events, reviewing donor recognition opportunities, developing gift plans and special communications, and ensuring proper gift acknowledgments, thus contributing to both overall team and organization-wide goals;
Work regularly with confidential information and ensure its security;
Provide the highest quality service to all constituents, prospects, and donors in every interaction;
Uphold Filoli’s policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards;
Maintain professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations as well as readings to keep abreast of fundraising trends;
Maintain flexibility and perform other duties as assigned as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

An individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed above and any additional responsibilities as directed as well as satisfy the educational and skill requirements listed below:

Education And/or Experience

Bachelor's degree and 2-4 years of experience in the field preferably in an individual giving fundraising role.

Considerable experience in nonprofit fundraising, with progressive responsibility and a proven track record of soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gifts in the $50,000-$100,000 range.

Experience soliciting seven-figure gifts is highly desirable, and experience with planned gifts is also preferred.

Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication and presentation skills. Demonstrated ability to simplify complex themes and activities into a short, compelling presentation or written piece.

Familiarity with talking about access to historic and open spaces to promote community building is helpful.

Core Competencies

DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE - Two to Four (2-4) years of experience in the development field or in a related area, preferably within individual giving and major gifts. Familiar with a variety of the development field's concepts, practices, and procedures: experience with managing a major gifts portfolio and moves management framework.
PEOPLE AND PROJECT SKILLS - Effective team leadership skills and cross-functional collaborative capacity. Experience with performing a wide variety of tasks with a broad range of individuals. Has completed projects where a wide degree of creativity and latitude was expected. Ability to either take direction or work independently as the situation requires. Strong administrative skills. Ability to multitask, see many sides to complex issues, and perform at high standards with a collegial team.
LEADERSHIP - Flexible, energetic, and outcomes-oriented self-starter who brings a creative approach to solving problems. Capacity to interact effectively and build partnerships with Filoli’s many constituencies including staff, Board members, community partners and supporters, donors, members, visitors, and volunteers.
CULTURAL COMPETENCIES - Model a responsibility to self-awareness and awareness of others to recognize that individuals bring unique backgrounds, beliefs, values, and worldviews. View racial and cultural differences as assets to the organization.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND INCLUSION - Committed to Filoli’s dedication to integrating accountability across all efforts to support and sustain a racially equitable organization. Demonstrate a passion for advancing organizational DEAI objectives and influencing others to approach all work with an equity lens. Promote processes and communication that encourage organizational cultural competence and inclusion.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS - Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to speak and make presentations to groups of people, both large and small.
DECISIVE NATURE - Well-honed ability to independently anticipate and analyze situations, define problems and objectives, recognize viable alternatives, and formulate rapid solutions with an understanding of the inherent risks and the implications of decisions.
COMPUTER SKILLS - Advanced computer skills, including Google applications and Microsoft products, management databases, and basic design and presentation programs. Proficiency in Altru (Blackbaud) or a similar database is preferred.
AVAILABILITY - Maintain a flexible work schedule that includes evenings and weekends to meet the demands of the role.

Skills And Abilities

Must be creative, driven, and results-focused;
Work and communicate successfully with a highly diverse population of current and potential donors, staff, volunteers, members, board members, and the public;
Ability to regularly make independent decisions of significant importance to the organization and demonstrate thoughtful judgment when taking actions independently;
Work independently while maintaining open and transparent communications about duties and project status;
Provide excellent planning and project management skills;
Demonstrate consistent and exceptional attention to detail, resourcefulness, and an ability to think through an issue and anticipate potential problems, obstacles, and conflicts;
Demonstrate a strong customer service orientation;
Be organized and follow through on tasks to successful completion;
Display impeccable discretion, confidentiality, judgment, graciousness, and flexibility always;
Take general direction, multi-task, and work in an environment of regular interruptions;
Serve as a collaborative team member with strong interpersonal skills and a sense of humor;
Attendance and punctuality are essential to work and all work-related functions.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Physical Requirements

A valid Driver’s License is required.

Job Description

The physical requirements described in this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job including:

Lift/carry up to twenty pounds;
Stand, walk across uneven terrain, climb stairs, reach, lift, carry, and bend as well as sit for lengthy periods at a computer;

The Major Gifts Officer position can be a full-time, exempt or part-time, non-exempt position. Depending on candidate experience, the annual salary range is $87,000 to $102,000 (part-time hourly rate based on hours worked). For full-time, this position is also eligible for employee benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, LTD, Flex Plan, 401(k), vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay. This position will have flexible scheduling including weekend/evening service as needed and, in accordance with People & Culture policies, may periodically work from home (on average up to 25% per week), and travel for off-site meetings and conferences.

How To Apply

Candidates with the above prerequisites are invited to submit their resumes along with a cover letter outlining their related experience and background to: https://filoli.applicantstack.com/x/openings

Possession of minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview. Please, no phone calls.

Thank you for your interest in Filoli!

Please visit our website for more information: www.filoli.org

Filoli is an equal opportunity employer who values diversity in the workplace.

Filoli jobs

Major Gifts Officer