Position Summary: The Major Gifts Officer supports the Director of Development/Director of Individual Giving in creating and implementing a successful major gifts strategy. Along with a second Major Gifts Officer, this role is charged with managing relationships and securing support from donors who are capable of making major gifts (4, 5, and 6 figures). The Major Gifts Officer ensures the major gifts strategy is well integrated into existing annual fund plans. This position is based in our Harlem Headquarters with a hybrid work schedule. The role also has the necessity to visit with donors throughout New York City and its surrounding areas.

Essential Duties:

• Manages portfolio of $2,500+ donors, with additional donors capable of laddering at lower giving levels, through moves management, to meet annual fundraising goals.
• Develops relationships with prospects/donors through individualized plans:
• Initiates contact with major gift donors.
• Strategizes on level of gift and best approaches for making an ask.
• Develops appropriate cultivation strategies for major gift donors.
• Creates collateral and communications to aid outreach and cultivation efforts.
• Identifies key staff members to be involved in cultivation and subsequent solicitation.
• Completes solicitations and all necessary follow-up and stewardship appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Coordinates an effective program for recognition, involvement, and stewardship of major donors.
• Solicits support through in-person and written communications.
• Partners internally to understand program budgets and outcomes, to relay strong cases for support and reports.
• Prepares all correspondence, reports, and records, leveraging existing division materials and developing required ones.
• Assists in creation of the annual development plan, including annual revenue projections and realization assessments.
• Researches new and existing donors.
• Works collaboratively with Director of Development, Chief Development Officer, and Chief Executive Officer on prospect research; identifying new giving opportunities; and developing proposals, briefing and gift reports, budgets, and related correspondence.
• Coordinates and hosts site visits across target areas of New York City and Westchester.
• Maintains fundraising database records and tracks all donor activity in Raiser's Edge.
• Works in partnership with entire Development team to accomplish department goals.
• Attends all fundraising and stewardship events, cultivating and stewarding donors.
• Develops and maintains relationships with various program staff.
• Performs other prospect and donor-related activities as the annual program evolves, as related to role.
• In-person collaboration is an essential function of the job.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum three to five years' experience in related positions preferred.
• Non-profit and development experience preferred.

Key Competencies:

• Ability to motivate and to take initiative as a self-starter.
• Must have excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Must have excellent writing, interpersonal communication, and relationship building skills.
• Experience with donor cultivation preferred.
• Display transparency about research, calls, meetings, activities, and all work with manager and team.
• Dependability and good organizational skills.
• Excellent planning and project management skills and attention to detail.
• Flexible, curious, and skilled problem-solver.
• Strong belief in the mission of Children's Aid.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and a willingness to expand personal understanding of the root cause of poverty.
• Experience with CRM or fundraising database management preferred