Charitable Giving Officer

The Father Fred Foundation; Traverse City (MI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible scheduling

Health premiums covered

Vision

Dental

STD

LTD

Paid time off

IRA match

Major holidays

Job summary

The Father Fred Foundation in Traverse City is seeking a Charitable Giving Officer to design and lead a comprehensive fundraising program, identifying major donors and cultivating strong donor relationships to drive revenue through gifts, grants, and events.

This senior role requires 5–10 years of fundraising experience, excellent communication, and strong strategic planning. You will partner with leadership, board, and volunteers to expand impact in northern Michigan.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 5–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including major gifts and donor relations.
• Demonstrated and proven success in meeting or exceeding fundraising goals.
• Strong listening, writing, and verbal communication skills.
• Established knowledge of and experience with local donors and philanthropic partners.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with donor databases/CRM systems.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with individual donors and major gift prospects.
• Lead capital campaigns, special initiatives, and donor engagement efforts.
• Represent the organization at community events and strengthen visibility.

Skills

Donor relations

Communication

Relationship building

CRM systems

Fundraising

Grant writing

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Organization Description

The Father Fred Foundation is a locally founded, locally funded charitable organization serving individuals and families in crisis across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties in Michigan. Since 1989, the foundation has provided food, clothing, household goods, and financial assistance at no cost to neighbors in need. Guided by a vision that no one should fall through the cracks, the Foundation offers a welcoming, respectful environment for those seeking support. The organization operates without state or federal aid, relying instead on a small professional staff and more than 200 dedicated volunteers. Community generosity is central to sustaining its mission and expanding its impact in the region.

The Foundation offers competitive base wages and generous benefits package including: flexible scheduling, 100% paid premium paid for employee health + contributions to dependant health, vision, dental, STD, LTD, paid time off, IRA match, major holidays.

Position Summary

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

• 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

• 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.
• Supervise and support development staff, consultants, and volunteers.
• 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 and proven success in meeting or exceeding fundraising goals.
• Strong listening, writing, and verbal communication skills.
• Established knowledge of and experience working with local and regional donors, community supporters, philanthropists, businesses, and other charitable partners.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Experience with donor databases/CRM systems.
• Knowledge of current fundraising trends and best practices.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Attributes

• Understanding and passion for the Foundation’s mission.

Work Environment & Expectations

• Full-time position; occasional evening and weekend work required for events and donor engagement.
• Some local travel may be required for donor meetings and community outreach.