Food Bank for the Heartland

Position Description


Position Title: Individuals Gift Officer

Department: External Affairs, Development
Reports to: Director of Development
FLSA status: Exempt, Full-Time


Position Purpose:

The Individuals Gift Officer position is responsible for managing a portfolio of 200 donors giving on an annual basis working within the range of $1,000-$9,999. This position is a key member of the development team within External Affairs and volunteer leadership to successfully cultivate and solicit prospective donors. This position is committed to raising new gifts and pledges in the mid-tier range to support the mission and programs of Food Bank for the Heartland. The officer will be responsible for increasing annual giving through identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of prospects and donors. This position yields a significant amount of revenue for the Food Bank by soliciting donations in the four-figure range. The Individuals Officer will contribute to helping build a prospect pipeline while increasing giving per donor and lift mid-level donors.

Essential Accountabilities:

• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of mid-tier prospects that leads to increasing mid-tier and annual gifts, to support the Food Bank’s philanthropic priorities. Cultivate and drive raising annual operating funds and programmatic funds, capital funds, and estate gifts, while increasing the giving per donor through phone calls, meeting with donors, and making asks. (65%)

• Lead as the partnership liaison to the Food Bank Foodies group and grow their commitment to the Food Bank. Develop an annual stewardship plan and program that will foster deeper relationships with the Foodies group. Connect the Sr. Leadership Team and Development Team as needed to support this strategic relationships by providing strategic information and introductions. Support the Foodies volunteer board and the organization efforts toward fundraising, special events, food collection events, assisting with group newsletter, and volunteering at of the Food Bank. (20%)

• Participate in prospect management initiatives to deepen individual portfolios and build an overall donor pipeline by identifying specific prospects to research and then qualify through prospect interaction. Capture new information for entry into the donor database regarding donor’s interests, relationships, life events and information about capacity for philanthropic giving and grow the capacity of the Food Bank donor pool. (5%)

• Contributes to the design and focus of the annual development plan and budget in support of the organizational strategic plan and philanthropic priorities for Food Bank for the Heartland. This position will support the planning and implementation of the donor stewardship program to include efforts for donor recognition, reporting, and engagement activities. (5%)

• Collaborate on, support, and attend Food Bank special events in order to connect with donors and discover new prospects. Conduct tours of the Food Bank for prospective donors, volunteers, and guests. Ensures follow up with appropriate tour participants to cultivate a relationship. Represent the Food Bank at various speaking engagements and check presentations as assigned. (5%)

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Experience in soliciting and closing donations with individuals preferred.

• Demonstrated experience with moving donors along the donor pipeline.

• Must be comfortable identifying donors to be qualified and cultivated.

• Demonstrated experience with donor relations, stewardship activities, and Moves management.

• Strategic thinker with strong organizational, verbal, and writing skills.

• Initiative, tenacity, strong results orientation, entrepreneurial mindset, and proven track record in setting and achieving ambitious goals.

• Must be highly motivated, creative, and able to work independently as well as in a team-based environment.

• Proficient using a donor database or CRM such as Charity Engine, Neon, Raiser’s Edge, or Salesforce.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite.

• Appreciation and understanding of the mission of Food Bank for the Heartland.

• Availability for occasional night and weekend work.

• Availability for travel and ability to drive organizational vehicles.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in demonstrated, successful fundraising required.

• Three years’ experience in working with a Donor Database or CRM preferred.

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office is required with exceptional skills using Excel.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; use repetitive hand motions and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

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 essential functions.

Work Environment

The employee typically works in an office environment and uses computers, telephones, and other office equipment as needed to perform duties. The noise level in the work environment is typical of that of an office setting. The employee may encounter frequent interruptions throughout the workday.

The work environment characteristics described above are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.