Major Gifts Officer

Are you an ambitious fundraiser looking to make a real impact? Do you thrive on building meaningful relationships and securing major gifts to support a mission-driven organization? If so, we have a perfect opportunity for you here at Center for Urban Families (CFUF)!

Here at CFUF, we are looking for someone to come into this role ready to make a difference. Someone with great communication, writing, and editorial skills. Someone with strong attention to detail and who is able to draw a connection between the giving of our donors and our work to build a better Baltimore and beyond. Experience with donor database software like Donor Perfect and the Microsoft Office products are needed to be proficient in this job.

As a Major Gifts Officer, you will be responsible for cultivating and soliciting major gifts from individuals. You will work closely with donors to understand their philanthropic goals and interests. You will also have the ability to build and manage your own portfolio of donors.

The Organization

Purpose and Mission

Founded in 1999, the Center for Urban Families (CFUF) strengthens urban communities by helping fathers and families achieve stability and economic success. As a pioneer in responsible fatherhood, family strengthening, and workforce development, CFUF’s programs seek to help individuals fully exit poverty and sustain themselves and their families. CFUF serves individuals living in Baltimore’s most underserved communities. Our members (the term we use for persons that we serve) are 95% African American or Black, 71% male, and 29% female. On average, at the time of enrollment, 30% of our members do not possess a high school diploma or GED-equivalent, 53% possess a misdemeanor and/or felony conviction, 58% experience housing instability (e.g., living in a shelter/car or couch-surfing), and the vast majority access income assistance.”

ALL In is CFUF’s comprehensive strategy to accelerate social and economic opportunity and advocate for policies that promote equity and racial justice. Leveraging 20 years of positive impact and applied learnings, the All In strategy targets two critical areas: chronic unemployment and family instability. The approach links individual accountability, person centered case management, and supportive networks with workforce development training, education, and civic engagement. ALL In dismantles poverty and builds long-term social and economic prosperity that results in brighter futures for our members, their families, and the communities in which they live.

National impact: CFUF’s Practitioners Leadership Institute (PLI) provides technical assistance, and promotes and extends best practices in family strengthening, responsible fatherhood and workforce development to practitioners and key stakeholders across the country. CFUF is also nationally renowned for its public policy work in the responsible fatherhood arena.

Culture and Practice

CFUF is an organization committed to high excellence and quality service to all its stakeholders. Our culture thrives because of a transparent, reflective, and creative environment. We are a highly autonomous workforce, and our staff embraces humor, food, fun, and a passion to serve our members. We believe in recognizing and rewarding high performers. All of these qualities and attributes make a premier employer of choice.

Staffing and Governance

CFUF is governed by a 19-member board of directors. The organization’s current budget is $8.8 million. CFUF maintains a staff of 45, and our leadership team is comprised of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Development, Director of People & Culture, Director of Finance & Administration, Director of Research & Evaluation, Director of Advocacy & Strategic Initiatives, Director of Programs, Director of Family Strengthening & Community Engagement, and Director of Practitioners Leadership Institute.

Responsibilities include:

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a major gift prospect pool of current and new donors from throughout the United States for major gifts.
• Build and manage a portfolio of 100-150 prospects with the capacity to make major gifts.
• Plan and execute solicitation strategies leading to major gifts; contact donors to pursue these strategies and build enduring relationships, completing 125-150 virtual and in-person visits per year.
• Prepare proposals, solicitation letters, gift agreements and other development materials for prospects and donors that articulate CFUF’s needs, values, and goals.
• Communicate with major prospects and donors about specific ways to give, both current and deferred, to maximize gift and tax benefits.
• Build a strong network of collegial partnerships with development and departmental representatives in the organization.
• Seek and participate in opportunities to raise the profile of CFUF.
• Track and assess major gift fundraising metrics.
• Work collaboratively with members of the Major Gifts Committee to develop cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Work evenings and weekends when necessary.

Position Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• At least five years’ related experience required.
• One to two years of management or program implementation experience.
• Ability to work in an environment that places a strong emphasis on fundraising metrics.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Ability to adhere to high ethical standards such as the Association of Fundraising Code of Ethical

Company Benefits:

The benefit package includes paid holidays, personal, vacation, and sick days, health insurance, long term disability, employee assistance program and retirement plan options.

Location:

This position is Hybrid; Candidates must be able to reliably commute to the Baltimore office at least one day a week, after onboarding period.

Application Requirements: To apply, applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and three writing samples.

CFUF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.