Major Gifts Officer

United Way of Greater Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

An established organization dedicated to social justice is seeking a Major Gifts Officer to drive impactful fundraising efforts. In this role, you'll cultivate relationships with major donors, aiming to raise significant funds to support critical community initiatives. You will have the chance to work in a hybrid environment, balancing in-person and remote work while collaborating with passionate colleagues. This position offers the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of many, as you engage with diverse stakeholders and advocate for racial equity. If you are a persuasive communicator with a knack for building relationships, this role could be your next great adventure.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

403(b) Plan

Pension

Life Insurance

Disability Benefits

Paid Holidays

Paid Time Off

Qualifications

• 5+ years of fundraising or sales experience with proven success.
• Bachelor's degree preferred with strong understanding of racial equity.

Responsibilities

• Identify and cultivate major donors to raise at least $1M annually.
• Manage donor relationships and provide outstanding service.

Skills

Fundraising

Relationship Building

Communication Skills

Negotiation

Active Listening

Racial Equity Understanding

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

CRM Software

Job description

WHO WE ARE

United Way of Greater Los Angeles (UWGLA) is home to the change makers and justice seekers. We're individuals from various walks of life making collective steps towards a better future for our community. Our focus is on bringing about real and sustainable change by unleashing the collective power of people to open minds, unite diverse communities, and convert compassion into action for a more just, inclusive, and thriving L.A. County. Together, we make tangible impact on some of our toughest community issues including poverty, homelessness, education equity, and economic mobility. For us, being 'united' isn't just in reference to our organization but to our hope for the future of Los Angeles. Regardless of race, gender, orientation, or self-identification - we do our part as one by making room for all.

WHAT WE DO

Our Strategic Partnerships department advances United Way's mission by creating a philanthropic coalition of the willing: donors, connectors, and advocates who share our values of racial equity and our vision for a thriving Los Angeles. Our success is measured by the strength of the relationships we build that drive resources to the work that advances our mission. At our core, we are vocal activists who believe that the support we gather today, directly impacts how far we can go tomorrow in our pursuit of a better Los Angeles.

WHY WE NEED YOU

We are inviting persuasive, entrepreneurial, and relentless fundraising professionals with a passion for building philanthropic relationships with individuals that advance racial equity and social justice to apply for our Major Gifts Officer role.

You will contribute to the annual growth of revenue by successfully cultivating greater affinity for UWGLA’s vision for a thriving LA with current and prospective major donors and soliciting gifts of five- and six-figures to support that mission.

You will have the unique opportunity to charter a new pipeline of donors in collaboration with our organizational leadership during a time of great transformation at UWGLA.

HOW YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE

• Major Gifts Fundraising

o Identify, qualify, cultivate, and steward current and prospective major donors (gifts of $10,000+) to raise at least $1M annually for organizational priorities.

o Conduct at least 80 personal visits annually as part of the development moves management process to facilitate the closure of annual gifts from current and/or prospective donors.

o Build and manage portfolio with a cross-sector range of stakeholders, including senior executives, top donors, cabinet/committee members, and more.

o Leverage a range of tactics and engagements to achieve annual revenue, donor retention, growth, and acquisition goals for major gifts.

• Donor Engagement

o Manage a portfolio of current donors and prospects. Through cultivation and engagement develop deep, strategic, year-round, sustainable relationships with donors and prospects within the portfolio.

o Provide outstanding donor service and recognition for donors that reflects an attitude of thanks and gratefulness.

o Utilize a consultative approach with donors and prospects enabling United Way to be regarded by donors and prospects as their partners in philanthropy.

o Support the execution of the UWGLA affinity groups.

• Internal Collaboration

o Steward leadership level ($1,000 - $9,999) donors into major donors ($10,000) within the employee giving channel.

o Work with M&E to translate UWGLA strategic initiatives and programmatic needs into persuasive and compelling major gift opportunities.

o Collaborate on engagements and messaging for the Tocqueville Society, UWGLA’s major donor recognition group.

• Donor Data Integrity

o Maintain accurate donor data in CRM to capture the breadth and depth of relationships.

o Consistently document key conversations with prospects and donors into CRM.

o Track and analyze metrics to determine where we excel or struggle and how to improve efforts.

WHAT 1 YEAR OF SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Raise $1M within the fiscal year including $600k in annual revenue and adding $400k in new revenue.
• Renew existing portfolio of $600k and grow giving in the major gifts channel by 10% among active donors in assigned portfolio.
• Secure 20 new major donors giving at least $10,000 annually.

SKILLS YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED (The Must-Haves)

• Education & Experience:

o Bachelor’s degree preferred.

o Minimum 5 years direct fundraising or sales experience with a track record of successfully meeting solicitation and fiscal goals required.

• Personal Qualities:

o You enjoy a hybrid environment that includes both in-person and remote work styles and are able to work from our DTLA office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

o You are able to provide documentation of your status as fully vaccinated with primary series of COVID-19 vaccine upon being hired.

o You understand the value of racial equity as an organizational operating principle and are committed to continued learning on issues related to race, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU’RE A FIT (The Nice-to-Haves)

• You are a social butterfly who can build and navigate relationships confidently with individuals and groups at all levels including community leaders, elected offices, clients, corporations, and faith institutions.
• Active listening is a common practice - you look for what was said in addition to how someone said it.
• You got the gift of gab when it comes to raising cash and are comfortable seeking donors to help fund the cause.
• Your communication style is highly motivational and passionate when discussing issues you care about.
• You can be persuasive when getting someone to see the glass as half full vs. half empty and focus on the outcome vs. the obstacles they may face to get there.
• You love a good compromise and can negotiate with key stakeholders when needed to keep the ball rolling.
• You are passionate about non-profit work and committed to understanding UWGLA's landscape as it relates to business, community, and politics.
• You have a results-oriented mindset, utilizing planning and problem-solving skills to get the job done.
• You can adapt and pivot quickly without so much as feeling dizzy.
• You stay calm under pressure and can meet tight deadlines when necessary.
• You work well with others - stakeholders and colleagues alike would agree that you are the quintessential “Team Player”.
• You know your way around the Microsoft Windows operating systems and all its essential programs including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Hiring Salary Range: $80,000-$95,000 dependent on internal equity and a variety of job-related factors including, but not limited to, experience, training, education, and market demands.
• The benefits available for this position include medical, dental, vision, 403(b) plan, pension, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, paid holidays, and paid time off.