DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Holt International finds and supports permanent, loving families for children who are orphaned, abandoned or at serious risk of separation from their family. Holt's model of child-centered care provides services for vulnerable children to ensure they will grow and develop to their fullest potential.

The Marketing and Development Department (M&D) develops the brand of Holt International, secures the financial and other resources to accomplish our long-term program objectives and crafts the messaging for our external audiences. Within the department, the Relationship Development Team (RDT) cultivates, solicits and stewards individual and organizational donors who make major gifts to Holt. As such the RDT helps M&D strengthen relationships that produce benevolent giving and generate new donation revenue for exceptional programs that draw greater interest and support for Holt International welfare work overseas.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is part of the M&D RDT that will raise funds to enable the mission of Holt International by strategically developing and nurturing current and prospective donors including individuals, churches, foundations, corporations, and community groups in the United States.

The MGO will provide existing and prospective donors with a deeper understanding of Holt's mission, creating opportunities to match their giving interests with various Holt programs. The expectation is that the MGO will be out of the office, meeting with donors, at least 50% of the time. Up to twice a year, this position would also help lead donor trips internationally to tour Holt's international programs and see the impact of their work hands-on. This position reports directly to the Director of Development.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITES:

The MGO is a leader in Holt's major donor fundraising efforts and is instrumental in developing, implementing, managing, and maintaining successful, long-term, relationships with a portfolio of donors and donor organizations capable of providing significant financial resources to further Holt's programs for children and families.

The MGO will manage relationships with existing donors, encouraging them to increase current giving levels; identify donor prospects; conceptualize and conduct donor cultivation by effectively communicating with donors; directly solicit contributions from donors and prospects; identify appropriate funding opportunities; prepare proposals and/or presentations; and update Holt's donor database by recording all appropriate donor cultivation activity.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Build relationships with donors by

contacting them by phone, email, mail, and personal visits. Develop relationships with individuals, churches, foundations, corporations, and community groups, within assigned portfolio of major donors, in support of Holt's programs for children worldwide. Manage a portfolio consisting of 100- 150 donors and donor organizations.

2. Communicate Holt's mission and funding opportunities by

displaying awareness and flexibility in communication style and approach as necessary to effectively meet each donor's needs. Develop a thorough and accurate understanding of Holt's programs and funding priorities in order to effectively connect donors and prospects. Be able to effectively communicate those priorities in writing and in speech, to a wide array of donors in order to successfully match donor's philanthropic interests to Holt's funding needs.

3. Secure donation revenue by

personally soliciting donors for gifts, managing a donor portfolio to qualify, solicit and successfully close annual and multi-year gifts of $10k+, with an objective to raise a $1 million annually. Priority focused on donor facing meetings with top prospects.

4. Manage assigned donors by

planning and implementing a Moves Management strategic development plan to determine the optimal frequency, timing, and type of contact with each donor; the amount of gift and timing of the request; and any special information appropriate to strengthen the donor's connection to Holt's mission and steward their relationship with the organization.

5. Present donation opportunities by

preparing effective proposals and/or high-quality presentations to assigned donors. Arrange donor facing meetings with the top prospects and report to donors on how their money was used. Donor presentations will necessitate visits to donors in assigned locations across the United States, Travel as needed to conduct at least 70 personal donor visits annually.

6. Increase Holt's donor base by

following up on leads generated by internal donor prospect research and by networking through current donors to locate new giving prospects and by potentially participating in public speaking engagements and events that spread the word about Holt's mission.

7. Create donor interest in Holt's programs by

recruiting and coordinating Focus Teams. Major donors and donor prospects will be carefully selected and invited to visit certain overseas program locations with a view toward securing funding for that project. These trips will be planned to achieve specific donor development objectives.

8. Maintains credibility with donors by

performing agreed-upon follow up activities in a timely manner and assisting donors with stock gifts, donor-advised fund gifts, planned giving and estate planning programs.

9. Process information and maximize productivity by

maintaining Holt's donor database, recording all cultivation/ stewardship/solicitation/gift activities of donors and campaigns within direct responsibility areas. Apply computer/technology skills to enhance the fundraising process, working with database to track major donor giving and activities, and completing monthly activity and planning reports.

10. Contribute to department effort by

coordinating with other Holt International staff to maximize results. Facilitating team skill development by providing clear, behaviorally specific feedback, and by making or eliciting specific suggestions for improvement in a manner that builds confidence and enhances results. Accomplishing related results, which are effectively tied to budget forecasts. Uses the influence of Board members, President/CEO, Vice President of Development, International Program Directors and other Holt staff as appropriate by including them when making key calls on prospective and current donors.

11. Contribute to team effort by

exhibiting cooperative and effective work relationships, such as, responding positively to challenges, assignments, and inter and intra departmental requests; seeing beyond own tasks to help fulfill the organizational goals.

12. Contribute to a positive, productive work environment by

meeting attendance and punctuality guidelines and pre-arranging time off with appropriate notice; treating all people with dignity and respect; and exhibiting good listening and comprehension skills including giving and welcoming feedback.

QUALIFICATIONS AND JOB-EVALUATION DOCUMENTATION SUCCESS FACTORS

The successful MGO uses the experience of a proven track record in fund development to secure major gifts. Must understand the principles of philanthropy and demonstrate the ability to develop fundraising plans for each portfolio donor. Shows the ability to make presentations that lead to gifts at the $10,000 to $100,000+ level. Has a positive attitude and strong work ethic. Possesses the ability to work independently while also being a contributing member of the team. Can adhere to a flexible schedule with the ability and willingness to be donor facing 50% of the time and travel at least 30% of the time. A working knowledge of the estate planning process is beneficial.

KNOWLEDGE:

Bachelor's degree, preferably in marketing, communications, or public relations. Position requires proficient writing skills, including knowledge of English, spelling, punctuation, and composition. Need to be familiar with word processing, data processing, and Microsoft Office programs. Possesses understanding of digital communications, including email, web and social media.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Serves as the face of the organization for portfolio donors, modeling professionalism in all interactions. Must work independently, often having little daily contact with direct supervision. Will display continual organized drive in achieving fundraising goals. Possess the ability to analyze goals and implement appropriate solutions. Enjoy travel and networking in new environments.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION:

Takes the initiative in making contacts with donors, especially with regards to meeting in person with donors to discuss their relationship with Holt. Have strong people skills and be able to instill confidence in others quickly. Possess ability to work well with other employees. Will exercise good judgment, courtesy, and tact in contacts with employees and the public. Will need to write persuasively and creatively, tailoring the message to different audiences, using appropriate tone and style that are aligned with Holt's core message and brand.

IMPACT OF RESULTS:

Meeting contact goals and securing gift commitments is the principal method through which Holt funds programs that strengthen families and help meet the health, physical, nutritional, social, and emotional needs of the children and families served. Meeting and exceeding goals increases the revenue available for programs, allowing Holt to expand service opportunities and enhance the reputation and integrity of the organization.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

DESCRIBE CONTROLS: Reports to the Director of Development who provides direction and evaluates work for effectiveness, accuracy and results obtained.

NOTE: A valid driver's license is required as this position will require driving for donor meetings and other events.