Manager, Major Gifts

Partnership for Public Service; Washington; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision coverage

Life insurance

401(k) with 4% employer match

Paid time off

Transit benefits

Job summary

The Partnership for Public Service is seeking a Manager, Major Gifts to sustain and grow its donor revenue, focusing on $5,000 to $25,000 gifts. You will cultivate relationships, draft proposals, and coordinate with senior leadership to meet annual fundraising goals.

In this hybrid Washington, DC-area role, you will manage a portfolio of 40+ donors, perform prospect research, and assist with events and donor communications while aligning with the organization's mission to support public service.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years fundraising, business development or sales experience.
• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent professional work or military experience.
• Experience managing relationships with individual donors and prospects.
• Two years’ experience developing and securing individual donations of $5,000 or more in a nonprofit environment preferred.
• Familiarity with donor management systems; Salesforce is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a growth-oriented major gifts program as a key revenue component.
• Manage a portfolio of 40+ active donors and prospects; conduct regular portfolio reviews.
• Secure commitments from $5,000 to $25,000; draft proposals and finalise agreements as needed.
• Help establish annual revenue goals aligned with the strategic plan and needs.
• Collaborate with board members to identify and cultivate new prospects in the $5,000–$25,000 range.

Skills

Donor relations

Prospect research

Portfolio management

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Equivalent experience

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

ORGANIZATION

The Partnership for Public Service is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. Central to this mission is our work to support and safeguard the apolitical civil service, the backbone of our democratic system that ensures our government meets its mandate to serve the public good. We prepare public servants to navigate threats to the nonpartisan workforce, and we educate and engage the public about why government matters and what is at stake for everyone if it is undermined. We also aim to help federal, state and local government deliver for those they serve, applying over 20 years of experience working in the public sector to reinspire faith in government at all levels.

Our staff is diverse in experience and perspective, but at our core, we share a lot of the same traits: we are mission-driven, creative, collaborative, optimistic and inclusive.

Our work is strategic, fast-paced and guided by our values:

• Passion for public service and our work toward a more effective government
• People who promote a culture of learning, leadership, collaboration, inclusion and respect
• Persistence to drive change, take strategic risks and deliver results
• Promise to be trustworthy, nonpartisan and fiscally responsible

We hire smart and friendly people who are great at what they do and good to one another in the process.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Manager, Major Gifts is a frontline fundraising position that will sustain and build on the Partnership’s established base of $4.2 million in annual individual donor revenue. The manager will develop and execute strategies to cultivate and secure individual donor support for the Partnership, with an emphasis on gifts of $5,000 to $25,000, while researching and engaging potential new prospects and tracking progress against fundraising goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute to the development and execution of a growth-oriented major gifts and individual giving strategy and program as a key component of the organization’s revenue portfolio.
• Develop and manage individualized solicitation strategies for a portfolio of 40+ active donors and prospects; conduct regular portfolio review meetings with the SVP of Development and Director, Major Gifts and Individual Giving, and adapt as needed.
• Manage commitments from $5,000 to $25,000, including managing donor engagement and stewardship, drafting concepts or proposals, and finalizing written agreements, when needed.
• Help establish annual revenue goals aligned with the organization’s strategic plan, priorities and needs.
• Work collaboratively to engage board members in the identification and cultivation of new individual prospects in the $5,000 - $25,000 target range.
• Conceptualize, plan and execute small virtual and in-person cultivation events, including drafting invitations, preparing meeting agendas and background materials, tracking RSVPs, inviting speakers and managing follow up.
• Prepare briefings for the President and CEO, Management Team members, and volunteers ahead of donor and prospect meetings; participate in meetings, contribute to conversations, and conduct appropriate follow-up.
• Develop a deep understanding of the Partnership’s mission, programs and impact, and convey this information in ways that build interest and deepen donor engagement.
• Conduct prospect research to support fundraising efforts, and in collaboration with the Director, Major Gifts and Individual Giving, use a qualified prospect list to identify and develop a portfolio of new individual donors.
• Prepare updates and other correspondence on relevant events, publications, media coverage and program developments for individual donors of $5,000 to $25,000.

As a member of the Development team, the Manager will:

• Work collaboratively with other members of the team and across the organization.
• Operate in full compliance with the Partnership’s gift acceptance policy and business practices.
• Operate in full compliance with the Development team’s policies and procedures for gift processing and acknowledgment and the use of Salesforce.
• Contribute to cross-organizational efforts, as needed.
• Seek out training opportunities that support professional growth and align with an annual performance management plan.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Ability to think strategically, understand complex topics and negotiate with assertiveness to influence outcomes.
• Ability to build and manage relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven track record of exercising critical thinking skills and sound judgment.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple and varied assignments.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, and a keen attention to detail.
• A customer service focus.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well on and across teams.
• Effectively leverages donor relationship management systems and other tools to track engagement, inform strategy, and drive fundraising outcomes.
• Commitment to the values of public service and the mission of the Partnership for Public Service.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of five years progressively responsible fundraising, business development or sales experience.
• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent professional work or military experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing relationships with individual donors and prospects.
• Demonstrated experience with prospect research. Two years’ experience developing and securing individual donations of $5,000 or more, in a nonprofit environment preferred.
• Knowledge of individual cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies and techniques in a nonprofit environment preferred.
• Familiarity with and commitment to using donor relationship management systems; knowledge of Salesforce is preferred.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY/REPORTING STRUCTURE

This position reports to the Director, Major Gifts and Individual Giving.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This job operates in a hybrid (remote + office) environment in Washington, DC. The successful candidate must be a permanent resident in the Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia area. The person in this role is expected to work in the office, on average, three days per week – with Wednesday as the required day in-office. This position requires consistent use of office equipment such as computer, telephone, printer/scanner and MS Office.

In assessing employee performance at the Partnership, we consider collaboration, results, and demonstration of our values.

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

This is a full-time exempt position with regular work hours Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Occasional evening or weekend activities may be required. The Partnership allows flexibility in work schedules.

TRAVEL

If travel occurs, it is usually during the business day. Some out of the area and/or overnight travel may occasionally be required.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The starting salary for this position is $70,000 - $95,000. The Partnership offers a compensation package that includes a competitive salary; medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; long- and short-term disability insurance; a 401(k) program with a 4 percent employer match; opportunities for training and development; transit benefits; 15 days of annual leave per year, 10 days of sick leave per year, plus all federal holidays and the day after Thanksgiving off; and use of an on-site exercise facility.

EEO STATEMENT

The Partnership adheres to all federal, state and local employment laws. Partnership for Public Service is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, caste, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, veteran status, disability; or on any other basis prohibited by law.