Major Gifts Donor Advisor (Annual Gifts)

Job Summary

We are a company driven by our values excellence, possibility, leadership, service, celebration, and integrity. The Major Gifts Donor Advisor supports Heartspring’s mission by strengthening visibility, partnerships, and philanthropic support through meaningful community and donor connections. This role is responsible for cultivating and managing relationships with individual donors and prospects capable of making significant contributions. By overseeing a portfolio of donors, stewarding relationships, and securing major gifts through personalized engagement and meaningful donor experiences, this position drives contributions to the Annual Fund, providing essential support for Heartspring’s ongoing programs and initiatives.

As a Major Gifts Donor Advisor (Annual Gifts), you will:

Champion our integrity by providing customer service while exhibiting excellence through:

• Identify Prospects: Research and identify potential donors who align with the organization’s mission and have the capacity to contribute to the Annual Fund. Analyze giving history, wealth indicators, and personal interests to build a strong pipeline of qualified prospects. (Possibility)
• Cultivate Relationships: Build meaningful relationships with prospective and current donors through personalized communication, face-to-face meetings, and donor engagement events. Foster long-term connections built on trust and shared values by listening carefully and aligning donor interests with the Annual Fund priorities. (Service)
• Solicit Gifts: Actively solicit contributions to the Annual Fund by approaching qualified donors with tailored requests. Communicate Heartspring’s mission, impact, and funding priorities, presenting compelling opportunities for philanthropic investment. (Possibility)
• Steward Donors: Maintain engagement after gifts are made by providing timely acknowledgments, sharing impact updates, and sustaining ongoing communication that demonstrates the value of donor support and reinforces their partnership with Heartspring. (Integrity)
• Manage Portfolio: Oversee a portfolio of 50 major donors and prospects, carefully tracking their giving history, interests, and communication preferences. Maximize donor retention and long-term philanthropic growth by ensuring consistent, personalized engagement. (Excellence)
• Secure Sponsorships: Proactively secure corporate sponsorships by aligning opportunities with companies’ community investment priorities. Ensure that fundraising events and initiatives have the necessary financial and in-kind resources to succeed, while strengthening Heartspring’s reputation as a trusted community partner. (Excellence)
• Professional Responsibility: Adhere to code of conduct and company policies, review published communications, escalate concerns through chain of command, and ensure confidentiality. Other duties as assigned. (Integrity)

You are a great fit for this role if you have knowledge and abilities in:

• Strong relationship-building, interpersonal, and communication skills with proven success in engaging individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling donor proposals and presentations.
• A demonstrated track record of securing gifts of $10,000 from individuals.
• A Proven track record of securing sponsorships or business partnerships preferred.
• Working independently while collaborating effectively with a team.
• Bringing creativity and developing innovative solutions to fundraising challenges.
• Managing multiple priorities, events, and stakeholder groups simultaneously with professionalism and efficiency.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and donor/volunteer management databases.
• Willingness to travel locally/regionally and work occasional evenings or weekends.
• Demonstrating commitment to Heartspring’s values: excellence, celebration, leadership, service, possibility, and integrity.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, communications, or related field. An additional four years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
• 3 years with combined experience in fundraising and community engagement, with a proven track record of successfully soliciting major gifts and/or sponsorships preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Sitting/Standing/Walking: sit constantly, stand and walk occasionally
• Climbing/Bending/Twisting/Kneeling/Reaching: climb seldom; bend, twist, kneel and reach occasionally
• Dexterity: constant hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity
• Vision/Hearing: constant ability to see clearly and hear instructions
• Mind-Body Connection: occasional awareness of body positioning and task execution

Work Environment:

• Environment: Primarily indoor office environment, with rare exposure to outdoor settings
• Safety Compliance: Adherence to safety protocols. Use of protective gear when required occasionally
• Physical Interactions & Exposure Risks: Rare exposure to physical interactions from clients, including slapping, hitting, punching, kicking, head-butting, and biting. Potential exposure to infectious diseases, parasites, bodily fluids, and blood-borne pathogens in a school and residential care setting.