Sidwell Friends, a co-educational Quaker day school with campuses in Washington, D.C. and Bethesda, M.D., seeks a Planned & Major Gifts Officer to build and enhance relationships with all constituents to increase philanthropic support for Sidwell Friends School. The Planned & Major Gifts Officer is responsible for qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting major ($100,000 ) and planned gifts and Annual Fund leadership gifts ($10,000-$50,000), seeking commitments in support of a comprehensive capital campaign and for specific initiatives approved by the Board of Trustees.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Individual Giving, the Planned & Major Gifts Officer works with prospective donors to determine their philanthropic interests related to the school’s fundraising goals through the Annual Fund, Endowment, Capital, and Planned Giving Programs. This position serves as an expert on planned giving for the Individual Giving Team.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Senior Director of Individual Giving to determine strategies and action steps needed to identify, qualify, cultivate, and solicit major ($100,000 ) and planned gift donors.
• Collaborate with senior leaders and Advancement Team colleagues on targeted campaign strategies to accelerate sustainable philanthropic growth.
• Manage and engage the volunteer solicitor engagement for assigned affinity/constituent groups.
• Manage a personal portfolio of 150 prospective donors (current parents, past parents, and alums) to ensure that timely steps are taken toward qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and closure of major and planned gift proposals.
• Plan and execute a target of 160 prospective donor visits per year.
• Develop and implement individual strategies for cultivating and soliciting major gifts and planned giving prospects. Utilize specialized gift planning knowledge to evaluate donors’ financial situations and goals to recommend optimal gifting options.
• Manage the planned giving program, including developing timely and accurate assets, communication cadence, audience identification and segmentation, and follow-up strategies. Serve as the point of contact for the PG vendor.
• Create inspiring gift proposals through a working knowledge of Sidwell Friends School’s educational programs to effectively articulate the School’s priorities and fundraising objectives to donors.
• Document all activity in the database. Prepare and submit moves management goals that contain specific timelines, projected results, and outcomes.
• Collaborate with the Engagement Team to oversee prospect stewardship through correspondence, donor engagement, professional proposals, mailings, and acknowledgments.
• Achieve personal fundraising and activity goals in a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• Attend all appropriate Advancement meetings as well as other school-related events, as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with the School Advancement staff to ensure appropriate coordination and communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or JD degree, and/or a CPA is preferred.
• Five years’ experience with campaigns and fundraising or sales, including metrics-focused positions, required measurable outcomes and involved relationship-building. At least five years of successful mid-major and/or major gifts fundraising experience. A seasoned gift officer with demonstrated knowledge of planned giving vehicles.
• Demonstrate integrity and experience with highly confidential information and exercise discretion in a complex and evolving environment.
• Demonstrate an interest in development, fundraising, public relations/marketing, and/or independent education; previous campaign experience is preferred.
• Demonstrate a proven record of accomplishment in face-to-face major and planned gift solicitations, and experience with managing volunteer partners is greatly preferred.
• Knowledge of educational fundraising culture is an asset, and experience with higher education moves management systems is preferred.
• Command of planned giving knowledge.
• Excellent computer skills with working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and Asana; preferred database experience.
• Knowledge of a CRM database, preferably RE NXT.
• Ability to make good decisions and work independently and in a team in a fast-paced environment while prioritizing and managing multiple tasks effectively and efficiently.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
• Demonstrate self-motivation, collaboration, a positive team-player attitude, and willingness to support all advancement partners in a multitasking environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Local travel is required.

To Apply

To be considered, qualified candidates must upload a cover letter, resume, and three references through our online application system (ClearCo). To learn more about our school, please visit https://www.sidwell.edu.

Diversity Statement

Sidwell Friends School affirms the centrality of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of academic and campus life. Honoring a multiplicity of voices, we celebrate shared joys and address tensions productively. Together, we are guided by Quaker testimonies and seek to answer the question, “How do we nurture a sense of belonging in our community and demonstrate our commitment to a just world?”