Strategic Gifts Advisor

Better Together; Naples (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance (employer-paid)

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Paid Holidays

Paid Time Off

401(k) with employer match

Job summary

Better Together in Naples, FL is seeking a Strategic Gifts Advisor to identify, engage, and cultivate philanthropic partners who can advance our mission. This frontline donor acquisition role focuses on expanding our network of supporters by researching, prospecting, and engaging with major donors and foundations.

You will research prospects, secure introductory meetings, and move qualified donors through the giving pipeline, building a strong portfolio of six- and seven-figure investments that

Qualifications

• 3–7+ years in fundraising or donor relations with a proven track record of generating opportunities.
• Proven success prospecting and securing meetings with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, or corporate partners.
• Strong networking, relationship-building, and initiative to drive new opportunities.
• Comfort with proactive outreach, prospecting, and building a donor pipeline.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple donor relationships in CRM and track activities.
• Willingness to travel quarterly for development meetings and related events.

Responsibilities

• Identify, research, and qualify high-capacity donor prospects capable of significant philanthropic investments.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of individual, family foundation, and corporate prospects.
• Conduct strategic prospect research and develop targeted cultivation strategies.
• Move prospects through the donor acquisition pipeline and coordinate meetings and events.
• Provide regular pipeline updates and strategic recommendations to leadership.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to convert introductions into investments.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Prospecting

Relationship-building

Sales

Communication

CRM (Salesforce)

Travel readiness

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

OVERVIEW

Better Together works to end the root causes of poverty, dependency, divorce and child abuse by leveraging the power of the local church to provide struggling families with supportive relationships and meaningful work. Once properly supported, families can achieve independence, stay together and thrive.

The Strategic Gifts Advisor is responsible for identifying, engaging, and cultivating new philanthropic partners who can help advance Better Together's mission. This is a frontline donor acquisition role focused on expanding the organization's network of supporters by proactively researching, prospecting and engaging with prospective major donors, foundations, corporate partners, and high-net-worth individuals.

Working closely with the Senior Director of Donor Growth and Revenue and development team, the Strategic Gifts Advisor will research prospects, secure introductory meetings, develop cultivation strategies, and move qualified donors through the giving pipeline. Success in this role is measured by the ability to consistently create new donor relationships, generate meaningful engagement opportunities, and develop a strong pipeline of future philanthropic investments.

The ideal candidate is a relentless relationship builder and prospector who thrives on opening doors, creating opportunities, and developing new donor relationships. They possess the tenacity, confidence, and resilience to engage cold prospects, navigate rejection, and consistently build a pipeline of qualified philanthropic partners. This person is energized by outreach, comfortable initiating conversations with high-capacity individuals, and motivated by connecting mission-aligned donors to meaningful opportunities for impact. They are highly driven, results-oriented, and excel at turning introductions, conversations, and relationships into long-term philanthropic investments.

CULTURE AND FIT

At Better Together, we are a mission-first team that shows up with purpose, humility, and grit. Our culture is shaped by five core values that guide how we lead, how we serve, and how we grow. If these values reflect who you are and how you work, you may be a great fit for our team.

1. We Love Others: We lead with empathy, humility, and integrity. We treat every person with dignity, make people feel seen and valued, and do what’s right even when it’s hard.
   1. Do you treat people with respect, no matter their background or behavior?
   2. Do you make decisions based on what’s best for others, not just yourself?
2. We Choose Gratitude: Gratitude fuels our joy and shapes how we show up. We focus on what’s possible, not what’s missing. We uplift others, celebrate progress, and keep perspective—even in the tough seasons.
   1. Do you stay positive and solutions-focused when challenges arise?
   2. Do you regularly speak encouragement and appreciation to your teammates?
3. We Are Ideal Team Players: We are hungry, humble, and people-smart. We take initiative, lift others up, and work wisely with all kinds of people. The best teams aren’t made of perfect people—they’re made of teachable ones.
   1. Do you take ownership and go the extra mile without being asked?
   2. Are you open to feedback and constantly looking for ways to grow?
4. We Do Hard Things: We don’t quit when things get hard. We press in with courage, keep a growth mindset, and do whatever it takes to get the job done. We don’t waste time on drama—we stay focused on the mission.
   1. Do you rise to challenges with resilience and a clear head?
   2. Do you consistently push through discomfort to deliver results?
5. We’re All In: We carry the mission in our hearts and act like owners. We take full responsibility, build capacity in ourselves and others, and do the work that matters most.
   1. Are you passionate about transforming lives and communities through your work?
   2. Do you take initiative and show up fully—because you believe this mission is worth it?

We don’t hire just for talent. We hire for alignment, character, and commitment to the mission. Expect honest conversations about these values throughout the hiring process.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Strategic Gifts Advisor will have four primary roles, broken down into key responsibilities. They are:

Prospect Identification & Pipeline Development

• Identify, research, and qualify high-capacity donor prospects capable of making significant philanthropic investments.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of individual, family foundation, and corporate prospects.
• Conduct strategic prospect research using internal and external resources.
• Develop targeted prospecting strategies that expand the organization's donor universe.
• Continuously grow the pipeline of qualified six and seven-figure donor opportunities.
• Maintain prospect portfolios and priority target lists.

Qualification & Donor Journey Advancement

• Serve as the primary driver of donor acquisition efforts.
• Find and Engage prospective donors through research, cold prospecting, outreach and strategic engagement activities.
• Qualify prospects based on capacity, affinity, timing, and alignment with the mission.
• Move prospects through the acquisition pipeline using clearly defined qualification and advancement stages.
• Coordinate introductory meetings, tours, events, and strategic interactions with key organizational leaders.
• Ensure prospects are positioned for successful cultivation by the appropriate closer.

Strategic Research & Market Intelligence

• Identify emerging donor opportunities, philanthropic trends, and high-value prospect segments.
• Build strategic prospecting plans focused on major gifts and transformational giving opportunities.
• Develop referral networks and identify pathways to warm introductions.
• Analyze donor and prospect data to uncover new acquisition opportunities.
• Work proactively to uncover relationships and connections that can accelerate donor engagement.
• Maintain a disciplined and persistent approach to prospect development and pipeline growth.

Pipeline Management & Cross Functional Coordination

• Maintain accurate prospect records, activities, and pipeline stages within Salesforce.
• Track movement, conversion rates, and key acquisition metrics.
• Ensure seamless handoffs between acquisition, cultivation, and solicitation functions.
• Provide regular pipeline updates, prospect insights, and strategic recommendations.
• Help create visibility and accountability around donor acquisition performance.
• Maintain a strong focus on outcomes, growth, and continuous improvement.

REQUIREMENTS

• 3–7+ years of experience in fundraising, sales, business development, donor relations, or a relationship-driven role with a proven track record of generating new opportunities.
• Demonstrated success prospecting, cultivating, and securing meetings with high-net-worth individuals, business leaders, foundations, or key decision-makers.
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills with the confidence to initiate conversations and open new doors.
• Highly motivated, goal-oriented, and comfortable with proactive outreach, prospecting, and pipeline development.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple donor relationships and opportunities simultaneously.
• Experience using Salesforce or other CRM systems to manage prospects, activities, and pipeline performance.
• Ability to travel quarterly for Development meetings and annually for all-staff. Other travel may be required in alignment with the role.
• Passion for Better Together's mission and strong alignment with the organization's core values of love, gratitude, resilience, teamwork, and ownership.
• Self-starter who thrives in a performance-driven environment and is energized by building new relationships and creating philanthropic opportunities.

TIMING, LOCATION AND COMPENSATION

Better Together seeks to fill this position as soon as possible. The organization’s headquarters are in Naples, Florida, but all the Better Together staff reside in Florida. Better Together has built a highly successful work culture over the past decade with systems and structures designed for clarity, flexibility, and great communication. Key elements of the environment include:

• Weekly team meetings with clear accountability and the opportunity to solve issues as a team.
• Quarterly in-person team meetings at which you’ll build deeper relationships, set clear goals aligned with the Better Together vision, and brainstorm how to seize new opportunities
• An intensive 90-day orientation to familiarize you with the Better Together team, our policies, and how we operate
• Home office setup, including equipment and communication tools you need to hit the ground running

Compensation and Benefits:

Better Together also offers a generous compensation and benefits package. Benefits are outlined below:

• Medical (99% employer paid, employee only)
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time off
• Retirement Savings Plan with 50/50 employer match up to 6%