West Coast Major Gifts Officer

La2050; California (MO); Remote; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established nonprofit organization is seeking a Major Gifts Officer to join their dynamic Development team. This role is crucial in fostering relationships with major donors and ensuring a steady revenue stream for impactful social justice initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in nonprofit fundraising, with a passion for advocacy and community engagement. You'll work collaboratively with leadership to create innovative strategies for donor stewardship and engagement, driving the mission forward. If you're a strategic thinker with exceptional interpersonal skills, this opportunity offers a chance to make a meaningful difference in the community and beyond.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of nonprofit fundraising experience, especially with major donors.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement stewardship programs for major donors.
• Conduct donor research and prepare engagement materials.
• Plan donor events and manage logistics for meetings.

Skills

Nonprofit Fundraising

Relationship Management

Communication Skills

Project Management

Data Management

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge NXT

Google Platforms

Job description

Bend the Arc is building a multiracial, multiethnic, intergenerational movement of Jews and allies across the country who are rising up to build an American future free from white supremacy, antisemitism, and racism. We’re investing in systems that keep our communities safe and divesting from systems that uphold white supremacy. We organize, advocate, tell stories, and develop the leaders that we need to finally build a true multiracial democracy in America. And we’re fighting for the joyful future we deserve: one where Black liberation is realized and where all of us — within and beyond our Jewish community — are safe and thriving.

The Bend the Arc family of organizations consists of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, our 501(c)(4) organizing and advocacy arm; Bend the Arc Jewish Action PAC, the first and only Jewish PAC to advocate exclusively for progressive policies in the U.S.; and Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, our 501(c)(3) education and leadership arm. We are proud to be a Union shop and to be working with the Non-profit Employees Union (NPEU) toward finalizing a Collective Bargaining Agreement and achieving our goals.

Headquartered in New York City, we have remote staff nationwide, along with a network of staffed chapters, volunteer-led local groups, and affiliates organizing across the country.

About this job

The Development department is a six-person team responsible for revenue generation for Bend the Arc’s family of organizations, and raises between $4-5MM annually from individuals and institutions. The Major Gifts Officer is a critical member of the team, responsible for stewarding major donors and prospects of $2,500 and above, with a regional focus primarily on donors residing in major West Coast cities. The ideal candidate will be a relational, strategic, and data-informed frontline fundraiser, an enthusiastic and persuasive advocate of Bend the Arc’s mission and programs, and a natural connector of people and their interests and passions.

The Major Gifts Officer works closely with the Development team, the CEO and the Executive Team, the Executive Coordinator, and the Assistant Director of Advocacy and Political Affairs to create, implement, and oversee a comprehensive stewardship program for those donors, including prospecting, annual revenue projections, and multiple opportunities for engagement.

1. Create and implement a regionally specific stewardship program and solicitation strategies as informed by varied culture and relationship history for a portfolio of individual donors giving $2,500+ annually as well as prospects.
2. Gain and maintain fluency on Bend the Arc’s work, the ecosystems in which we move, and the time, place, and conditions under which we operate; stay up to date on organizational activities.
3. Responsible for maintaining up-to-date and accurate data to track performance and management of their portfolio, including donor correspondence, meeting notes, and donor profile information (NOTE: our database is currently Raiser’s Edge NXT).
4. Develop strategy with and prepare solicitors prior to and following meetings and events.
5. Conduct donor research, prepare donor packets for meetings, and gather and maintain relevant and timely donor collateral materials.
6. Plan regional travel to meet with donors and run donor events as needed.
7. Work with the CEO’s Executive Coordinator to schedule meetings, travel, and draft personalized updates and other correspondence to donors and prospects.
8. Increase retention rates and maximize support from current donors by creating and implementing donor engagement plans for donors and prospects including individual meetings, events, donor briefing calls, and the like.
9. Plan and own logistics of creating engaging donor and prospect events.
10. Identify, prioritize, and cultivate potential new individual major donors.
11. Provide support to the Development team on any programs or special events.

Qualifications

1. Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with at least 2 of those years working directly with major donors.
2. Knowledge of and familiarity with some or all of the multiple ecosystems and contexts in which this position will work, e.g. the Jewish social justice ecosystem, the national progressive movement, the culture of the West Coast and surrounding states, and networks of high net-worth donors.
3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and experienced storyteller.
4. Strong interpersonal skills and relationship management experience.
5. Ability to initiate and manage multiple complex projects and work effectively in a results-oriented team environment and meet established deadlines.
6. Meticulous attention to detail.
7. Experience cultivating donors and moving them up a ladder of engagement.
8. Experience fundraising in an organization with a 501(c)3, 501(c)4, and political action committee (PAC), or knowledge of the distinctions between these entities strongly preferred.
9. Proficiency in Google platforms and ability to learn new systems.
10. Experience working with development databases, preferably Raiser’s Edge.
11. Ability to work evenings or on weekends based on need.
12. Ability to regularly conduct a high volume of time-sensitive phone outreach to donors.
13. Experience with prospecting and planned giving strategies are a plus.
14. Experience planning donor and solicitation events preferred.

Staff Wide

1. Demonstrated commitment to racial equity, inclusion, and anti-oppression practices, and ability to bring this orientation into all areas of the work, internally and externally.
2. Developed racial equity praxis (analysis and skill) that can be applied to day to day work.
3. Resilience and self-awareness to navigate power, responsibility and experience mindfully.
4. Values and is open to giving and receiving feedback.
5. Communicates effectively, honestly, and considerately.
6. Works collaboratively and considerately with colleagues, within and across teams, to achieve goals and objectives.
7. Completes administrative responsibilities in a timely manner.

To apply