Major Gift Director - Higher Ed. jobs in Miami, FL

Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Best Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy, and communication skills, and feel valued by society.

Job Title:   Director, Major Gifts & Planned Giving

Department:  Strategic Development & Marketing  

Reports to:  VP, Major Gifts & Planned Giving

# of direct reports:  1

Salary range: $60,000-$80,000

Position Overview: The Director of Major & Planned Gifts will report to the Senior Director of Major & Planned Gifts. This position is responsible for developing and managing all activities related to the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and planned gift donors, ensuring that these donors are inspired by the Best Buddies’ mission and engaged in supporting the organization. The Director of Major & Planned Gifts manages their own portfolio of approximately 25-50 donors, and is responsible for prospect research, creation of presentation materials, and schedules and processes to cultivate, track, and solicit donors, with the expectation that this person will increase the major and planned gift activity at Best Buddies. This person will also work closely with the Director of Data & Stewardship on prospect research and portfolio development and updates.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree with 1-3 years’ experience in development and fundraising     
• Self-starter with a minimum five years of revenue development 
• Team player who is also able to work independently and productively
• Excellent project management skills, including ability to manage projects with multiple and competing deadlines
• Proven ability to deliver high-touch customer service, and work with customer relations management (CRM) database systems
• When necessary, able to work non-traditional hours, such as nights and weekends, and attend social events that lead generation and recruitment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Blackbaud RE and RE NXT
• Organized and detail-oriented with excellent verbal and written communication skills

Job Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Qualify and cultivate prospective donors. 
• Achieve annual revenue goals associated with donor portfolio.
• Develop and propose strategies for solicitation of planned and major gifts; determining ongoing relationships with prospect/donor; recommending specific purpose and level of gift; identifying lead prospect manager for cultivation and subsequent solicitation; assuring that solicitations are executed and donor thanked. 
• Actively participate as a member of the Major Gifts team within the development department and help drive individual giving strategies in partnership with all team members. 
• Work in tandem with the Senior Director of Major Gifts & Planned Giving to conceive, schedule, research and design specialized program presentation decks to steward or solicit new and existing donors, including members of Team Rosemary and corporations assigned by the Chairman.
• Participate, as required, in Development team efforts including solicitation strategy meetings for key prospects and internal planning efforts. 
• Support special fundraising events as needed. 
• Follow Best Buddies processes for Donor Stewardship. 
• Works in tandem with Senior Director to research prospective donors and establish a Planned Giving Strategy.
• Works to maintain existing relationships as assigned by Senior Director, and seeks new alliances with current individual donors, corporate sponsors and board members for the Miami Gala.
• Responsible for working with the Senior Director to identify, cultivate and solicit funding from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support existing programs through national special events along with managing relationships.
• Utilize Benevolence system and Raisers’ Edge NXT to develop and compile reports to track and facilitate event and donor management.

Best Buddies® is an affirmative action employer, in addition to an EOE and M/F/V/PWD/PV employer. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are foundational to Best Buddies International’s core values and help the organization continue to achieve its mission. Here at Best Buddies, our goal is to lead and advocate for a more inclusive world.

Best Buddies offers a comprehensive and generous benefits programs that include financial security, health and wellness and time off.