Major Gift Director - Higher Ed. jobs in Mesa, AZ

PRIMARY JOB FUNCTION: The Director of Major Gifts is an important player in the overall fundraising plan working directly with major donors and prospective donors. This individual will be responsible for generating major gifts for programs throughout the agency and will work with senior leaders and volunteers in cultivating and soliciting donations.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• • Manages relationships for around 150-200 prospective major donors contributing at all dollar amounts and participating in all aspects of the gift cycle.
  • Responsible for making a minimum of 100 face-to-face donor contacts per year.
  • Ensures prospective donors move in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure.
  • Monitors all prospective donors/contacts to ensure positive and purposeful relationships are created and maintained.
  • Responsible for developing appropriate cultivation strategies for prospects, including working with volunteers.
  • Initiates contacts with potential major gift donors; identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding these individuals/groups.
  • Responsible for conducting research and providing information on prospects and donors. This includes, but is not limited to, preparing written materials such as visit strategies/briefings, correspondence, solicitation/proposals and pledge documents.
  • Ensures accurate records of activities and prospect management, as directed by department protocol using the donor database. Monitors, evaluates and reports on progress and outcomes obtained against agreed upon goals.
  • Must be able to work proactively and network successfully in order to expand the organization’s portfolio.
  • Serve as a resource for other development staff who manage other prospects by offering prospect strategy counsel as appropriate and supporting other staff or volunteers in their solicitations as needed.
  • Able to prioritize tasks, handle multiple assignments, and meet deadlines in fast-paced environment, while maintaining strict attention to detail.
  • Demonstrates success in making cold calls as well as developing cultivation and solicitation strategies.
  • Attends and participates in agency-related meetings, trainings and continuing education as appropriate.
  • Adheres to the highest ethical standards, demonstrating perseverance, reflecting an optimistic and positive attitude, and conveying sensitivity and a sense of urgency to the needs of the donors.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
  • Meets regularly for individual supervision.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• CFRE preferred, will be required to obtain within one year of hire.
• Minimum of 5-8 years of proven success in major gift fundraising.
• Must have the ability to understand the needs and interests of major gift donors in order to develop and strengthen relationships between them and Child Crisis Arizona.
• Capital campaign experience helpful.
• Must have MS Office/Donor Database proficiency.
• Must be able to display verbal and written communication skills that meet the requirements of the position and needs of clients, vendors and community liaisons.
• Must possess strong interpersonal skills and relationship-building abilities.
• Must have reliable mode of transportation.
• Must have flexible scheduling (early morning, late evening and weekend hours may be required).

Goal-oriented with a high level of energy, enthusiasm and dedication to the mission and goals of Child Crisis Arizona.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands or fingers, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk, hear, taste or smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is regularly performed in an office type of environment where noise is minimal.

KEY SKILLS FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE AS APPLIED TO SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Communication Skills - Shows ability to give, understand and carry out oral and written instruction, and conversely, to prepare written information and present verbal communication in a clear and effective manner.
• Interpersonal Relations - Shows an ability to maintain open communication with organization staff and others using courtesy, tact and influence as needed. As necessary, motivates and directs the activities of assigned staff.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making - Shows an ability to analyze problems, forms sound judgments and makes definite and timely decisions and/or recommendations even when guidelines and precedents are limited.
• Teamwork - Shows an ability and willingness to interact with other programs and individuals to build productive relationships to support achievement of agency and program goals using a cooperative and proactive approach.
• Dependability - Shows an ability to meet work schedules and other deadlines; includes timeliness, punctuality, attendance and carrying out instructions and assignments.
• Professional Development - Effectively utilizes and seeks out supervision; accepts responsibility for quality performances; takes initiative to secure professional development opportunities and job knowledge; responds to constructive direction from supervisor to improve job performance.
• Confidentiality - Shows an ability to understand and maintain private and sensitive information within the confines of need-to-know parameters.
• Fiscal responsibility – Shows an ability to control costs and operate within a budget.