Sr. Director, Major Gifts

Summary: This Senior Director position is for a motivated and results driven fundraiser interested in cultivating and stewarding donors, working with a broad range of stakeholders, and communicating Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston’s (BGCB) mission and impact. Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, they will provide the overall vision for an integrated major giving program responsible for raising more than $9M annually in operating support. We are launching an ambitious campaign, and require a proven track record of developing strategies for and securing multi-year commitments for $500,000-$5M+ campaign gifts.

 

The role requires significantly growing the prospect pool of individuals who have the capacity to give $100,000+ annually, working with volunteer leadership, and collaborating on successful fundraising and cultivation events. They should have experience with managing Board level volunteers, possess a strong familiarity with giving vehicles and best practices and have a successful track record in closing major gifts. Most critically, this person will manage a portfolio of prospects capable of giving $100,000 - $1M annually and will cultivate, directly solicit, and steward these donors. The ideal candidate has excellent relationship management, persuasive writing and communication skills, a successful track record in securing gifts at all levels, and thrives in a face-paced environment and is a team player.

 

 Strategy & Innovation

• Primary architect for major giving strategic plan, providing leadership and vision to the team and organization.
• Manage a portfolio of top major donors and prospects, mostly in the five- to six-figure range.
• Cultivate, steward, and solicit prospects through face-to-face visits and personalized proposal development as needed.
• Oversee internal donor tracking and moves management for the portfolio and achieve at least 60 donor visits per year.
• Commitment to BGCB’s mission, constantly learning and maintaining a thorough understanding of Club programming to inform creative ways to develop personalized funding proposals for top donors.

 

Team Work & Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues to establish revenue and expense projections for all donors in your portfolio (*100-130), adjusting business plans according to results.
• Partner with team members on articulating sophisticated case for support and meaningful stewardship.
• Strategically work with colleagues to identify potential constituency groups building on the success of Artemis Circle and Friends Council.
• Work closely with the special events, communications, and donor relations team to support fundraising efforts.
• Actively seek and manage donor engagement activities at BGCB clubs.
• Use emotional intelligence to develop and sustain productive and collaborative relationships externally and across the organization.

 

Management and Reporting

• Establish benchmarks and regular reporting processes to measure results of all annual giving activities.
• Be responsible for some committee management, as well as collaborating with colleagues to ensure impact reporting, engagement strategies, soliciting donors, special acknowledgements, and more.
• Other duties as assigned.

 

General BGCB Expectations:

• Teaching youth/teens the importance of living an active, healthy lifestyle is a BGCB priority.  As a result, all staff is expected to model healthy behavior while working with our members.
• BGCB values creating child-friendly environments, where youth/teens of all abilities can be successful and participate.  BGCB expects employees to embrace its focus on inclusion of all members, regardless of disability or developmental challenge.
• Building the capacity of staff is central to BGCB.  The organization encourages and requires that all staff participates in annual professional development opportunities that continue to cultivate their skills in the youth development field.
• Every staff member shares the responsibility for ensuring BGCB is, and remains, an environment free of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse.

 

Position Requirements (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Work Demands)

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7+ years of front-line fundraising experience and

demonstrated success in developing and executing successful strategies to grow and sustain individual giving.

• Experience with Board Committee management, peer-to-peer solicitation.
• Comprehensive knowledge of individual giving vehicles including planned giving.
• Highly collaborative, communicative, and transparent, with a high level of emotional intelligence and the ability to build strong and effective internal and external relationships.
• Excellent writing and organizational skills; strong follow through and attention to detail; high-level analytical, problem-solving, and presentation skills.
• Goal-oriented with proven track record for directly securing gifts.
• Ability to work effectively with board leadership, senior management, and other high-end stakeholders.
• Sense of humor and ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Experience and aptitude for working with fundraising databases, Raiser’s Edge preferred.
• Willingness and ability to work select early mornings and evenings as needed.