Senior Development Officer, Major Gifts

What You'll Do

Working as a member of a high-performing major gifts team, the Senior Development Officer (SDO), Major Gifts will identify, cultivate, steward, and solicit a national portfolio of current and prospective donors including mid-level and discovery donors to achieve and surpass fundraising targets and goals. The SDO, Major Gifts reports to the Director, Major Gifts and their portfolio of donors will be national rather than region-specific.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship

• Manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects including mid-level and discovery donors
• In collaboration with the Director, Major Gifts, develop and execute clear short-term and long-range plans for the portfolio that are both practical and ambitious
• Draft and edit written materials to donors and prospects including stewardship, cultivation and solicitation emails, proposals and reports
• Produce effective verbal and written communication about American Jewish World Service, its mission, policies, culture, values, history, key stakeholders, programs and finances
  

Donor Strategy

• Create a comprehensive annual strategy for each donor using the moves management system to manage donors and prospects through the pipeline
• Identify prospects, funding opportunities, and strategies that will help achieve annual and longer-term development goals
• Monitor fundraising results against projections
  
• Stay abreast of philanthropic, economic, social, and community trends related to American Jewish World Service

Internal Stakeholder Management

• Coordinate in-person opportunities for senior leadership and program staff to meet with donors
• Establish and maintain strong relationships and develop partnerships with all AJWS staff and stakeholders
• Collaborate with divisional colleagues on events, stewardship activities and database reports

Who You'll Work With

• You will report to the Director, Major Gifts.
• You will frequently collaborate with two Associate Directors, Major Gifts.
• There are no supervisory responsibilities for this role.

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum 2-3 years of experience in major gifts fundraising, including direct solicitation, within complex and dynamic mission driven nonprofit organizations
• Demonstrated achievement identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding donors making gifts between $10,000-$50,000; with a combination of donor levels from $1,000- $50,000
• Significant experience maintaining strong relationships internally and externally
• Proven ability to conceptualize and describe funding needs in a compelling way
• Knowledge of Salesforce or a similar database
• Familiarity with donor research and screening tools
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Track record of creative problem-solving, setting and meeting goals, strategic thinking, resourcefulness, and ability to meet strict deadlines
• Ability to travel
• Passion for and commitment to AJWS's mission and values

As an organization committed to promoting social justice around the world, it is essential that we incorporate a diverse, equitable and inclusive lens into all aspects of our work at AJWS. We encourage applicants with a global perspective and a commitment to values around diversity, equity, and inclusion to apply.

Remote Work Environment

AJWS is a fully remote workplace with work taking place in the NYC Metro area preferred.

Approximate 10% travel as needed for donor meetings and conferences.