Philanthropy Officer

Find Great People | FGP; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The United Way of the Midlands seeks a Philanthropy Officer to grow leadership giving and engage Tocqueville Society members across the Midlands. You will cultivate major donors and support workplace campaigns to expand revenue and deepen impact.

You will work with Resource Development staff, volunteers, and community partners to improve donor relationships, prepare compelling proposals, and ensure high-quality donor experiences across engagement activities.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of fundraising or related experience.
• Proven success in donor relations and sales.
• Strong relationship-building with stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Detail-oriented and organized with plan execution.

Responsibilities

• Grow and strengthen relationships with major gift donors and Tocqueville Society members.
• Execute year-round donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Prepare donor correspondence, proposals, presentations, reports, and stewardship materials.
• Maintain accurate donor activity records in CRM.
• Collaborate with campaigns and volunteers to increase leadership giving.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Relationship building

Communication

Project management

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Canva

Excel

Power BI

Social media tools

Job description

The mission of United Way of the Midlands (UWM) is to unite people and resources to improve the quality of life in the Midlands. We drive impact by strengthening our community’s resilience by advancing health, youth opportunities and financial security.

The Philanthropy Officer is a key member of the Resource Development team that is relationship-focused fundraising professional responsible for growing leadership giving and strengthening donor engagement across the Midlands, with annual revenue responsibility of $600k. Reporting to the AVP of Major Gifts & Endowments, this position develops and stewards relationships with major donors and Tocqueville Society members while supporting year-round leadership and Tocqueville fundraising strategies within workplace campaigns by working closely with workplace Campaign Directors. The Philanthropy Officer works collaboratively with Resource Development staff, volunteers, and community partners to increase philanthropic investment and advance United Way of the Midlands’ mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Donor Cultivation, Solicitation and Stewardship

• Grow, manage, and strengthen relationships with current and prospective major gift donors and Tocqueville Society members to increase philanthropic support and long-term engagement.
• Execute year-round strategies for individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that deepen donor involvement and encourage increased giving.
• Assist in identifying potential donor growth opportunities by deepening donor involvement and connect supporters to UWM’s mission and impact so they understand the impact of their giving.
• Prepare compelling donor correspondence, proposals, presentations, reports, and stewardship materials that support fundraising objectives, ensuring donors receive a high-quality, personalized experience through consistent communication, recognition, and follow-up.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, strategies, and giving activity within the organization’s CRM system.
• Other duties as assigned.

Workplace Campaigns and Major Gifts and Tocqueville Society Growth

• Work collaboratively with Campaign Directors and United Way Volunteers to identify strategies to increase leadership giving and expand Tocqueville Society participation in workplace campaigns.
• Assist in developing and implementing strategies that identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership-level donors within workplace campaigns.
• Coordinate leadership giving initiatives, events, and donor engagement opportunities designed to increase major gift revenue and donor retention.
• Advance year-round engagement strategies that strengthen donor relationships beyond the annual campaign cycle to keep donors engaged with United Way’s mission, so they understand the impact of their giving.
• Track and evaluate fundraising activity, donor engagement, and Tocqueville Society growth to measure progress and inform future strategies.

Collaboration, Communication and Administrative Support

• Partner closely with the AVP of Major Gifts & Endowments to execute fundraising strategies and achieve annual revenue objectives.
• Collaborate with board members, volunteers, and staff to create meaningful cultivation and stewardship opportunities that strengthen donor relationships and inspire increased giving.
• Represent United Way of the Midlands professionally and enthusiastically at meetings, events, and community engagements.
• Work cross-functionally with Resource Development, Community Impact, Marketing, and other teams to ensure consistent and donor-centered experience.
• Contribute to special projects, strategic initiatives, and departmental efforts that support United Way’s fundraising and community impact goals.
• Serve as an active member of the Resource Development team, fostering collaboration, innovation, and shared success.

SKILLS

• Goal focused, motivated, detail-oriented, and relationship-focused professional who is passionate about community impact, committed to growing United Way revenue through donor engagement, and eager to contribute to a collaborative team working to improve lives across the Midlands for current and future generations.
• Three to five years of experience in fundraising, development, sales, or a related field with demonstrated success.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to effectively engage donors, partners, and community stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor relations, sales, account management, nonprofit development, or a related field.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities/tasks under tight deadlines while maintaining professionalism, responsiveness, and deliver outcomes.
• Self-starter with strong attention to detail, demonstrated accuracy in work, the ability to create and execute detailed plans, meet deadlines, remain highly organized, and manage projects from inception to completion.

Beneficial

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to assess situations and tailor communications to various audiences and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering exceptional customer service and creating positive constituent experiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Canva, Excel, Power BI, and social media engagement tools.