Description

The Individual Major Gifts & Planned Giving Development Officer is responsible for developing, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors with a focus on major gifts and planned giving. This position manages a portfolio of current and prospective donors, builds meaningful relationships that inspire philanthropic investment, and works collaboratively with organizational leadership to achieve annual fundraising goals.

The Development Officer serves as a key ambassador for the organization, helping donors connect their philanthropic interests with the mission while growing support through outright gifts, multi-year commitments, and planned giving opportunities.

Responsibilities

Major Gifts Fundraising

• Manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 100-150 major gift prospects and donors.
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Conduct regular donor meetings, including qualification visits, cultivation meetings, solicitation visits, and stewardship interactions.
• Secure major gifts at established annual fundraising goals.
• Prepare compelling donor proposals, gift agreements, reports, and personalized correspondence.
• Identify, research, and qualify new major gift prospects.
• Maintain accurate donor records, activity reports, and pipeline documentation in the organization's donor database.
• Research, write, and submit compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and grant reports to foundations, corporations, and government funding sources in support of organizational priorities.

Planned Giving Program

• Develop, implement, and grow the organization's planned giving program.
• Educate donors and prospects about charitable gift planning opportunities, including bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable trust arrangements, Donor Advised Funds and other deferred gifts.
• Build and manage a planned giving prospect pipeline.
• Coordinate with professional advisors, attorneys, financial planners, and estate representatives as appropriate.
• Ensure proper recognition and stewardship of planned giving donors and legacy society members.
• Maintain records of planned gift expectancies and documented commitments.

Donor Stewardship and Relationship Management

• Create exceptional donor experiences through personalized stewardship activities.
• Work closely with volunteers, board members, and leadership to support donor engagement efforts.
• Coordinate donor recognition opportunities, impact reporting, and special events.
• Develop strategies to increase donor retention, upgrades, and long-term engagement.
• Ensure timely follow-up and communication with donors and prospects.

Collaboration and Leadership

• Partner with program staff to gather impact stories and outcome data for donor communications.
• Collaborate with marketing and communications staff on donor-centered messaging and planned giving marketing initiatives.
• Support organizational fundraising campaigns, special events, and strategic development initiatives.
• Collaborate with development team members to strengthen major gift and planned giving fundraising efforts through prospect identification, donor strategy development, participation in donor meetings, and ongoing portfolio management support
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or Senior Director of Development

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required. 
• Minimum of 3-5 years of successful nonprofit fundraising experience, preferably in major gifts, individual giving, or planned giving. 
• Demonstrated track record of cultivating, soliciting, and closing five-figure and above gifts. 
• Experience managing donor portfolios and moves management strategies. 
• Knowledge of planned giving principles and charitable gift planning vehicles preferred.
• A bachelor’s degree in Communications, Business, non-profit management, or related field is preferred
• Comfort with public speaking and communication with external parties in a variety of formats
• Ability to work well with a diverse group of donors, volunteers, and staff
• Proficient in basic computer applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, Outlook, and Salesforce (training is available for Salesforce)
• Possess strong organization, planning, budget managing and data tracking skills
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple priorities, responsibilities, and tasks effectively
• Must be a positive role model and collaborative team player with high integrity
• Excellent customer service, and excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Has the ability and willingness to travel regionally as required
• Ability to work flexible hours including occasional evenings and some weekends
• Must be self-motivated, self-directed, and demonstrate creativity and agility in daily work
• Demonstrates commitment to the mission of and a passion for the work of Make-A-Wish