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Senior Major Gifts Officer

Lambda Legal
San Francisco
Full Time
Posted
1 year ago

Senior Major Gifts Officer (SMGO)

This position is responsible for acquiring, cultivating, and soliciting leadership and major donors ($5,000+), with an emphasis on donors at the five and six figure level, for organizational support in assigned markets.

The Senior Major Gifts Officer (SMGO) will work to expand Lambda Legal’s Leadership ($25,000+) and Major ($5,000+) Donor Program and volunteer activities and visibility in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and other markets as assigned/needed. The SMGO is also responsible for managing relationships, communications, and individual giving plans with leadership donors and managing volunteer leadership committees, as needed in their assigned markets. The SMGO also will work to increase planned giving in the areas covered and is responsible for increasing leadership donor revenue in each assigned market and for their overall portfolio. This role will be located and based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This position will have travel requirements as well as local evening commitments.

Responsibilities

The SMGO reports to the Deputy Director of Development for Major Gifts. The SMGO role requires a “roll up your sleeves” entrepreneurial approach and keen attention to detail and donor moves management processes, reporting, metrics driven workflow. The following is a list of the core responsibilities of the SMGO:

  • Manage Leadership Donor fundraising programs in assigned markets, including acquiring, cultivating, and soliciting donors and prospects with potential to give $5,000 or more annually, with a heightened focus on individual giving and upgrading donors to Leadership Donor levels ($25,000+). This includes face-to-face meetings and interaction with donors including direct solicitations and managing cultivation events/touch points including house parties.
  • Work to increase planned giving in the areas covered and is responsible for increasing Leadership Donor revenue in each assigned market and for overall portfolio. The SMGO works as a team with other staff under the leadership of the Deputy Director of Development for Major Gifts to plan and execute a wide variety of development relationships and activities.
  • Serve as the primary contact for individual donors and prospects, local corporate and law firm event sponsors, and volunteer fundraising committees in their assigned markets areas; and other markets and Leadership Donors nationally, as assigned.
  • Work with Lambda Legal staff, Board, National Leadership Council (NLC) members and other volunteers to execute fundraising and cultivation events in assigned markets and additional ones, as determined. The SMGO will also manage volunteer leadership committees and Leadership Donor fundraising plans, including identifying and securing event sponsorships (individual and firm/corporate) and other markets as determined.
  • Leverage their existing networks in advancement of Lambda Legal’s Mission.
  • Support and manage annual solicitation of donors in assigned portfolio by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Development Officer, Board, NLC members, other key volunteers, and other Lambda Legal staff. This includes identifying and securing major donor prospect meetings for senior staff and organizational leadership. The SMGO will acknowledge contributions and coordinate annual report recognition for gifts received from donors in assigned portfolio and work with national staff to coordinate input into grant proposals for local foundations and prospective foundation grantors.
  • Additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Successful candidates will welcome the opportunity to work in a racially- and gender-diverse environment and to contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Working at Lambda Legal requires a demonstrated awareness of and commitment to the concerns of the breadth of the communities that Lambda Legal serves. Skills and competencies include:

  • Bachelor's degree preferred.
  • 5+ years of demonstrated success in a major gift or planned gift fundraising function, and experience coordinating fundraising events desired
  • Experience soliciting five and six figure gifts.
  • Proven experience having expanded and cultivated existing donor relationships over time; campaign and annual giving experience
  • Demonstrated experience working with racially and gender diverse volunteers and groups.
  • Experience working closely with Board and key volunteers and knowledge of LGBTQ+ and/or philanthropic communities in assigned areas is required.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and interpersonal; ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term authentic relationships.
  • Flexible, adaptive, and innovative work style; a collaborator who can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives.
  • Able to leverage existing networks in advancement of Lambda Legal’s mission.
  • Ability to work both independently without close oversight: also a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside the organization.
  • High energy and passion for Lambda Legal’s mission is essential.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
  • Highly proficient with Microsoft Office applications and Raiser’s Edge database.
  • Ability to interact with all levels of the organization and to excel in an environment that emphasizes teamwork and collaboration.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no direct staff reports.

Benefits

Benefits include Short- and Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Medical Insurance (Telemedicine included), Dental Insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program – all at no cost for the employee-only premium. Employees may obtain additional coverage for themselves and/or their families including Vision Insurance at a low cost. They also may enroll in a pre-tax Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care Account, and Commuter Transit Account. Lambda Legal offers a 403(b)-Retirement Plan with a percentage match from Lambda Legal as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement between Lambda Legal management and the Lambda Unites bargaining unit. Paid time off includes the opportunity to accrue up to 15 days of vacation, 3 personal and 12 sick. Lambda Legal observes 10 holidays per year and is supportive of observance of religious holidays.