Senior Philanthropy Officer - Major Gifts

Austin Pets Alive; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is seeking a Senior Philanthropy Officer - Major Gifts to lead major gift fundraising, managing a robust donor portfolio and collaborating with the CEO and Advancement team.

The role uses Virtuous CRM, moves management, and strategic outreach to grow philanthropic support for APA!’s lifesaving programs. The Senior Philanthropy Officer will build lasting donor relationships, craft compelling proposals, and work with volunteers to advance APA!’s mission, often requiring

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of fundraising experience with major gifts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Passion for animals and animal welfare.
• Proficiency with donor databases/CRM platforms (Virtuous).

Responsibilities

• Drive major gift revenue to support current programs and growth.
• Design and execute donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
• Manage and steward a 75+ donor portfolio and cultivate prospects.
• Develop compelling proposals, case statements, and impact reports.
• Maintain donor records, moves management, and revenue forecasting in the CRM.
• Plan and represent APA! at donor events and community gatherings.
• Produce tailored communications to engage portfolio donors.
• Collaborate with volunteers and staff to support fundraising goals.
• Provide coaching and mentorship to volunteers and staff.
• Attend evening/weekend donor engagement activities as needed.
• Support cross‑functional fundraising initiatives with the Advancement team.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Donor relations

Campaign planning

CRM systems (Virtuous)

Volunteer engagement

Tools

Virtuous CRM

Job description

Location: Austin, TX

Job Id:1436

# of Openings:1

ABOUT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE! (APA!): Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and beloved nonprofits. The organization leads the No Kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing the safety net for Austin’s most at‑risk shelter pets, which helps Austin to be a No Kill city, while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals. The organization is distinguished by its large volunteer workforce and the scrappiness of its grassroots and its non‑traditional, community‑based animal rescue work.

The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and spreads its impact by offering resources and mentorship related to its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive!, APA!’s national division. In 2020, American Pets Alive! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) - an innovative initiative aimed at rethinking the traditional model of animal sheltering. It focuses on supporting both people and pets in the community to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and improve outcomes for both. The project encourages collaboration between animal welfare organizations and community‑based services, with a goal of providing personalized, proactive support that positions animal welfare as a social service.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Senior Philanthropy Officer - Major Gifts plays a pivotal role in driving APA!’s mission forward by securing major financial support for our lifesaving programs. Working in close collaboration with the CEO, the Sr. Director of Advancement, and the broader Advancement team, this leader manages a robust portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, building meaningful, lasting relationships that elevate our philanthropic impact.

As an integral ambassador for APA!, the Senior Philanthropy Officer identifies, qualifies, solicits, and stewards major gift supporters. This role blends strategic vision with proactive execution—using donor insights, CRM tools (such as Virtuous), moves management strategies, and creative outreach to inspire investment in APA!’s vision.

At APA!, volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. The Senior Philanthropy Officer actively champions a collaborative, inclusive culture, partnering with volunteers and staff alike to achieve shared fundraising and community engagement goals.

This position requires a high level of responsiveness and availability. The work is often fast‑paced and dynamic, with weekend or shift flexibility expected. While APA! strongly encourages work‑life balance, during on‑duty shifts, the Senior Philanthropy Officer is expected to be highly present, solutions‑oriented, and ready to support the team with real‑time problem‑solving.

Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers; making sure volunteers are recruited, trained and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A core part of this role is creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and volunteer engagement as part of the day‑to‑day workflow.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Drive major gift revenue growth to support current programs and expand future capacity.
• Partner with the CEO, Sr. Director of Advancement, and the Advancement team to design and execute comprehensive donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
• Manage and steward a portfolio of 75+ major donors while proactively cultivating prospective supporters.
• Develop compelling proposal materials, case statements, and personalized impact reports for major donors.
• Maintain up‑to‑date donor records, moves management tracking, and revenue forecasting within the CRM.
• Identify and engage prospective major donors to continuously expand the pipeline.
• Help plan and represent APA! at donor stewardship events, gatherings, and community networking opportunities.
• Produce tailored communications and digital content to deeply engage portfolio donors.
• Provide analysis and maintain an accurate donor portfolio in the database.
• Attend community networking events to identify prospective donors.
• Participate in the strategic fundraising, collaborative stewardship, and cultivation work of the Advancement team.
• Foster positive volunteer relationships by engaging volunteers in departmental goals and offering guidance and mentorship.
• Recognize volunteer contributions through consistent appreciation and shoutouts.
• Foster and model a volunteer‑powered culture across the team by ensuring that every staff member is partnered with volunteers on every shift, with the goal of empowering volunteers to lead and grow within the program.
• Serve as a facilitator and coach to staff and volunteers, ensuring the work is shared, not siloed, and that volunteers are supported in completing daily tasks.
• Ensure active recruitment, onboarding, and engagement of volunteers using volunteer engagement tools and resources
• Support retention by matching volunteers to appropriate tasks, offering guidance, and providing regular check‑ins and staff mentorship.
• Identify strong volunteers for deeper roles and seek out customer‑to‑volunteer conversion opportunities.
• Recognize volunteer contributions through consistent appreciation and shoutouts.
• Provide clear expectations, hands‑on training, and in‑the‑moment coaching to set volunteers up for success.
• Job duties may include some or all of the above, and other duties as assigned by manager

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Demonstrate strong accountability, thoughtful decision‑making, and excellent time management.
• Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings
• Maintain collaborative communication with the Sr. Director of Advancement, executive leadership, and team members.
• Partner with Volunteer Managers to support and empower volunteers interested in philanthropy efforts.
• Adapt flexibly to shifting priorities and new initiatives within a dynamic nonprofit setting.
• Participate in evening or weekend donor engagement activities as needed.
• Must demonstrate dependability, accountability, time management, use of reasoning, and good judgment skills
• Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings
• Maintain open and consistent communication with Program Manager or designee, supervisor, and other colleagues
• Partner with Volunteer Managers to learn about the volunteer programs and manage volunteers interested in your department on an ongoing basis
• Able to react to change productively and perform other related duties as assigned
• Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
• Able to work in a high‑volume, fast‑paced, high‑stress environment

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERTISE:

• Minimum of 8 years of fundraising experience, including responsibility for substantial individual gifts and meeting revenue goals.
• Authentic passion for animals and animal welfare.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and donor database/CRM platforms, with specific familiarity with systems such as Virtuous.
• Warm, approachable, and energized by interpersonal interactions, with a high emotional intelligence that puts donors at ease.
• Outgoing and community‑minded, possessing a natural ability to foster genuine connections and inspire enthusiasm for our cause.
• Organized and adept at managing projects and processes.
• Proactive and independent in managing projects.
• Collaborative and able to work well with diverse groups.
• Flexibility to attend evening and weekend donor events and community gatherings.
• Committed to embodying APA!’s Core Values: Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion and cultural values: Humble, Hungry, Smart
• Commitment to APA!'s customer experience expectations
• Passion for working well with staff, volunteers, and customers—helping all individuals feel successful, appreciated, and connected to APA!’s mission
• Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and support; dedicated to working well with volunteers across all roles
• Comfortable working cross‑functionally and serving as a liaison between volunteers, customers, and team members
• Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to interpret rules, procedures, and instructional materials
• Self‑starter with strong time management; able to work independently and collaboratively
• Excellent interpersonal skills; maintains a calm and professional presence in all situations
• Strong attention to detail and high standards for quality
• Adaptable to change and able to perform related duties as needed
• Dedicated to delivering an exceptional and inclusive customer experience

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Must be comfortable working around animals in a shelter and office environment.
• Prolonged periods of sitting