Major Gifts Officer

Goodwill Northern Michigan’s Major Gifts Officer works closely with the Chief Philanthropy Officer and Executive Director, playing a crucial role in the execution of a major gifts fund development program, resulting in:

• Increased financial resources and community support for the organization.
• Well informed, positively influenced, and motivated donors.
• Positive donor understanding that donations to the organization are put to the best use.

Essential Duties:

• Support the mission and vision of Goodwill Northern Michigan.
• Perform work in a safe manner, observing all safety policies and procedures.
• Perform duties and interact with all team members, clients, donors, and customers in a professional and friendly manner. 
• Respect the diversity of others, including but not limited to those with cultural, ethnic, and gender differences, people experiencing homelessness, and persons with visible and non-visible disabilities.
• Secure significant financial contributions from individuals, families, foundations, and corporations. 
• Work independently to directly secure major gifts of $10,000 or more, set workflows, build relationships, research, management of the work and data of donors.
• Be a trusted representative of the organization, meeting privately with key stakeholders to advance the work of Goodwill Northern Michigan.
• Develop and improve sustainable major gift operations and systems to ensure long-term organizational health.
• Build and maintain relationships with prospective major donors by arranging personal meetings, events, and communications to understand donors' interests, passions, and capacity for giving. 
• Develop, execute, and regularly evaluate strategies and programs to identify, cultivate, and solicit major donor gifts.
• Build, execute, and regularly update stewardship strategies and plans personalized to donor background, experience, personality, and needs aimed at communicating impact and securing ongoing and growing donor support for the organization, including planned gifts.
• Collate and interpret available research data on potential donors, produce personalized giving proposals, and lead discussions with other fund development staff to increase impact.
• Manage acknowledgment systems and create personalized recognition strategies to deepen relationships with new and existing donors.
• Conduct one-on-one interactions with donors and deliver solicitation proposals, presenting funding opportunities aligned with the donor's interests and sharing a compelling vision for the impact their contribution could have on the organization's mission.
• Cultivate long-term relationships with foundations and benefactors.
• Plan and execute donor-centered engagement opportunities.
• Speak about the work of Goodwill Northern Michigan at public speaking events for clubs, service organizations, and other community groups.
• Advise other fund development staff and team members in identifying and soliciting prospects.
• Routinely analyze the effectiveness of programs and recommend improvements or new creative strategies.
• Identify, cultivate, recruit, and train volunteers for designated projects.
• Work directly with the board of directors and board committees to generate and implement development activities.
• Lend expertise in development and production of communication tools, proposals, and reports, including providing support with scheduling and general correspondence.
• Work closely with the fund development team on the planning and execution of the organization’s annual giving program, including providing regular progress reports throughout the year.
• Identify and convert annual giving donors into major donors, growing long-term capacity for the organization. 
• Maintain donor confidentiality and trust, ensuring ethical fundraising practices in representing the organization and its mission.
• Use background and experience to match organizational strengths with prospective donors to secure transformational gifts.
• Travel as needed to visit and steward donors.
• Other duties as assigned by Chief Philanthropy Officer.

Education, Licenses, Certifications, and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 3-5 years of related experience with emphasis on philanthropy, or relevant experience.
• Familiarity with philanthropy for nonprofit organizations is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to maintain and grow a highly structured major gifts program.
• Creative problem solver with strong organizational, conceptual, and analytical skills.
• Attention to both detail and deadlines with ability to follow up with accuracy and precision.
• Excellent written, verbal, digital, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills for both discernment and for developing and maintaining constructive, professional, cooperative working relationships with donors, volunteers, team members, and community stakeholders.
• Quick learner with the ability to follow directions and take initiative.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks amidst the competing needs of the organization.

Physical Requirements:

• Works in a well-lit office environment.
• Routinely sits, stands, and walks throughout the workday. 
• Routinely bends, stoops, and stretches throughout the workday.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
• May occasionally require routine local travel and work on a flexible schedule including morning, evening, and weekend hours.

Hybrid/Remote Work Option: As approved by supervisor.