Employment / Major Gifts Officer

SUMMARY

Shepherds Foundation Inc (SFI), the philanthropic institution for Shepherds College, seeks a motivated, collegial, and proficient fundraising professional to serve as the organization’s Major Gifts Officer. SFI offers a competitive salary and benefits package and the ability to work from home when not on work-related travel, including scheduled trips to SC’s campus.

Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, the Major Gifts Officer (MGO) will be eager to embrace this moment of opportunity at the Foundation. The MGO will be responsible for identifying, engaging, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding current and prospective major donors. He/she will also be responsible for providing outstanding and responsive customer service to an established portfolio of donors and prospects, ensuring the attainment of their personal philanthropic goals. The ideal candidate will be eager to unite their faith with their frontline fundraising experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Full alignment with the Shepherds College Mission Statement and Statement of Faith.

Continued spiritual growth in a personal walk with Jesus Christ and serve as a conduit of Christ’s love for others in an effort to point others to Jesus through our actions and words.
Build relationships and secure major gift support for Shepherds College through personal visits and meaningful contacts with donors and prospective donors, including individuals, corporations, and foundations.
Develop and manage a donor portfolio within an assigned multi-state territory through the implementation of strategies for donor acquisition, stewardship, acknowledgment, and retention.
Ability and passion to create opportunities for people to advance God’s Kingdom through financial stewardship and generosity toward Shepherds College.
Articulate the mission, vision, ministry, needs, and accomplishments of the College through effective verbal and written communications.

Draft and present written and verbal proposals, presentations, and other communications to effectively align donors’ passions and interests with the programs and operations of the College.
Track communications and interactions with major gift donors and prospects through the College’s donor management system, Raiser’s Edge-NXT.
The ability to take initiative and work with a sense of purpose and urgency.
Work with College and Foundation staff in creating and promoting special events and funding priorities by focusing on the cultivation of individual and corporate partnerships.
Develop and leverage referral networks for new major donor acquisition.

Keep abreast of the ministry, programs and financial needs of Shepherds College by collaborating with the Foundation team, College staff, students, and volunteers.
Willingness to learn and apply new techniques, processes, and strategies.
High moral integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality.
Strong organizational, social, and people skills, including rapport-building, strategic planning, listening, prospecting, networking, and persuasion.
Flexibility to work from home while also engaging in 50% overnight travel.

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

A Bachelor’s degree is required.
Minimum of five years of development experience, possessing roles with increasing levels of responsibility.
Demonstrated success in personally securing five-and/or six-figure major gifts.

Well-versed in planned giving vehicles, including bequests, trusts, annuities, and giving through retirement plans.
Excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
Familiarity with CRMs and prospect research tools such as Raiser’s Edge -NXT, PGCalc, and/or iWave.
Proficiency in standard office software tools and applications.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Valid driver's license

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. All new employees are required to pass a physical examination, be tested for and be free of TB and be tested for and free of Hepatitis B (or start the Hepatitis B vaccination series), all within the 90 days immediately prior to starting employment. Shepherds assumes payment for the cost of the physical and TB test as described above and will pay the cost of the chest x-ray and reading if one is required as well as any Hepatitis B testing or immunization. All additional costs are assumed by the employee.

ALIGNMENT WITH OUR MISSION

Employee shall commit to the mission of Shepherds College, which is to educate and train students with intellectual and developmental disabilities by equipping them to reach Appropriate Independence™ (Ai) through the development of vocational, social, and life skills while inspiring a lasting awareness of God’s plan for their lives. Employee shall have a deep understanding of Ai and its guiding principles, as Ai is the foundation of our education and training programs here at Shepherds College.

ALIGNMENT WITH OUR CULTURE

Employee must be in alignment and in agreement with the eight key behaviors that shape our culture here at Shepherds College: 1) Model Christ-likeness - Point others to Jesus through our actions and words; 2) Be Creative - Practice strategic innovation; 3) Pursue Excellence - Whatever it is, make it better; 4) Maximize Strengths - Cultivate the value and potential of every individual; 5) Promote Professionalism - Present the best you, always; 6) Work Together - Collaborate to fulfill our mission; 7) Embrace Accountability - Own the process and the outcome; 8) Experience Gratitude - Recognize and affirm the good.

ALIGNMENT WITH OUR FAITH

Employee must be in full alignment and agreement with the Shepherds College Statement of Faith and Biblical Responsibilities of Shepherds Staff. Employee must be part of a faith community that is aligned with traditional protestant Christian faith.

REASONING ABILITY

Must have the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Must be able to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and sit. The employee is occasionally required to walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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