What are the responsibilities and job description for the Leadership Gift Officer position at External Opportunities?
OVERVIEW:
The Leadership Gifts Officer is responsible for supporting the museum’s individual gift fund-raising effort by securing financial support from donors in support of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis’ annual operating, capital and endowment campaigns. The officer manages a portfolio of approximately 150 prospects and donors, with primary responsibility for identifying, researching, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding relationships. They work to extend the reach of the museum by meeting and exceeding short and long term fundraising goals through successfully securing, renewing and increasing donor relationships with the museum.
The Children’s Museum is building and sustaining an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates differences. We believe that collaboration and open dialogue among people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives best support our vision and mission.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. In concert with the Director, Individual Giving and other members of the development team, consistently creates and implements short- and long-term aggressive action plans for cultivating, soliciting and stewarding individual donors and prospects in support of both outright and deferred commitments.
2. Identifies, qualifies, cultivates and sustains strong relationships with a diverse group of individual donors. Ensures that critical information is available and communicated to appropriate individuals in a timely and professional manner. Ensures that all donor information is maintained confidentially.
3. With department colleagues, identifies annual fund donors who are prospects for a major or planned gift and incorporates annual fund solicitations into major and planned gift solicitations. Qualifies and secures leadership annual fund gifts from assigned major gift prospects.
4. Works collaboratively with other members of the museum advancement team, including staff, volunteer leadership and Board of Trustees to support the achievement of museum’s strategic plan.
5. Develops individualized strategies for aligning museum projects and exhibits with donors, customizing collateral support materials about museum projects and exhibits as needed for use in securing financial support.
6. On occasion, collaborates with advancement staff in the planning and coordination of special events and donor travel program, including tasks such as developing invitation lists, promoting attendance and completing subsequent solicitations. Accompany donors on travel opportunities as necessary.
7. Ensures prospect and donor data is recorded appropriately in database in accordance with prospect management process.
8. Assists annually with the preparation of the budgetary requirements and income projections for the following fiscal year.
9. Provides excellent customer service and maintain a positive relationship with all donors and internal museum staff.
10. Continues personal professional growth through participation in community organizations, philanthropic associations, and professional conferences.
REQUIREMENTS:
1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in an autonomous role.
2. Five (5) years of successful institutional advancement and/or not-for-profit fundraising campaign and annual fund experience.
3. A demonstrated understanding of planned gift techniques – e.g., bequests, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts.
4. Evidence of ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
5. Intelligent and articulate individual, who can relate in a collegial manner with diverse individuals from across the world, community and museum.
6. Mature individual with appreciation and respect for the confidentiality of highly personal information.
7. Excellent problem-solving and negotiation skills.
8. Proficiency and ability to learn and utilize various types of computer based software (Raiser’s Edge, Excel, Word)
9. Driven, outgoing self-starter who can work with minimal oversight and achieve team goals on a consistent basis.
ADA REQUIREMENTS:
1. Must be able to perceive space, to read documents and diagrams and to view computer monitor.
2. Must be able to communicate in one-on-one conversation with donors; planning and execution of projects; strong presentations of ideas. Team and group dialog required for communication of plans and concepts.
3. Must be able to effectively communicate during group work, for telephone work, for group conversations for planning work.
4. Must be able to lift objects up to 30 pounds of weight.
5. Required ability to visit and work at multiple locations. Must possess ability to negotiate local travel via conventional transportation, as well as regional and international travel.