Associate Director, Major Gifts

This is a remote position based in the United States. For those who prefer to work in an office setting, our NYC office has desk solutions for employees in the area and can accommodate those preferences. Orbis’s current policy requires that all staff visiting the NYC office must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Job Summary

The Associate Director, Major Gifts is responsible for increased financial support and engagement of a portfolio of existing high-capacity individual major donors currently giving $25,0000 or more. Emphasis on deepening relationships with current major, and mid donors, identifying new high value major donor prospects and expanding both the number and loyalty of these donors through networking, cultivation, and stewardship in support of Orbis’s mission of blindness prevention and eye health promotion worldwide.

Location

This is a remote position based in the United States. For those who prefer to work in an office setting, our NYC office has desk solutions for employees in the area and can accommodate those preferences. Orbis’s current policy requires that all staff visiting the NYC office must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Reporting & Working Relationships

The Associate Director, Major Gifts reports to the VP, Philanthropy and aligns activities with the Events, and Mid-level teams, all of which are part of a growing Philanthropy team. The Associate Director supervises the Major Gift Officer and oversees activity, provides feedback, and ensures meeting of revenue targets. The Associate Director ensures clear communication and alignment to reach the organization's overall fundraising goals. They engage and liaise with teams in New York as well as Orbis offices around the world.

Essential Job Functions/Key Areas of Responsibility

The Associate Director, Major Gifts oversees a current portfolio with a revenue goal of $1.5m unrestricted and $500k restricted giving (FY 2024) and inspires our donors to increase engagement and investments in Orbis.

• Donor Portfolio Management: Prepare and implement a plan for the cultivation and solicitation of a portfolio of approximately 100-120 major donors across the U.S., customized to provide high-level touchpoints that cater to the lived experiences of the donors reinforcing the organizations impact.
• Prospecting of New Donors: Qualify new high-capacity donors with six, seven and eight figure capacity in consultation with prospect research staff. Explore potential new prospect opportunities in partnership with research team and through making new connections with philanthropy, business, and foundation networks. Conduct virtual and in-person visits and other high-level interactions with donors and prospects, documenting actions as appropriate; prepare correspondence and proposals; ensure annual requests for financial support – with a focus on growing our base of unrestricted support - are presented to all donors and prospects at the appropriate time and that requests are closed on schedule and acknowledged in a timely fashion. Participate actively in prospect review and donor strategy meetings to share and request ideas for cultivation and solicitation strategies for restricted and unrestricted gifts; support interactive learning by all team members.
• Communications and Donor Reporting: Develop cultivation strategies that incorporate creative, blended asks. Collaborate with internal and external partners on donor materials. Lead solicitation efforts with development and programs teams to write compelling gift proposals.
• Major Giving Strategy: Assist in further developing the Major Gift strategy and annual plans, building on successes and incorporating lessons learned. With a focus on growth, support the identification of new donor segments and strategies for engaging them.
• Campaign Leadership: Collaborate to develop and implement campaigns to engage donors in new ways. Activities could include but are not limited to creation and execution of projects for specific audiences such as Volunteer Faculty, DAF or RMD of IRA donors, or donors interested in matching challenges.
• Collaboration and Networking: Collaborate with events lead, board, leadership, and volunteer groups to implement donor cultivation and stewardship events when appropriate; identify, recruit, and support hosts for these events.
  • Build relationships with internal stakeholders throughout the organization to ensure success. Work with program staff as needed to acquire knowledge needed to solicit gifts and build donor relationships effectively; determine investment opportunities for donors who wish to restrict their gift to a specific program area; participate in the creation of interim and final reports for donors making restricted gifts, as requested.
  • Collaborate with Development Operations team to enhance and implement procedures in support of Major Gift fundraising including as it relates to CRM database, gift acknowledgements.
• Team Management: provide leadership and support to team members, supporting their efforts to secure major gifts and meet fundraising targets. Foster a collaborative and enjoyable work environment, give regular and meaningful performance feedback, and support professional development.
• Reporting and Analysis: Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records, interactions, and communications in the CRM database. Calculate monthly Key Performance Indicators as well as other progress reports on major gifts fundraising efforts.
• Compliance and Ethics: Ensure adherence to all fundraising regulations, ethical standards, and best practices in the US.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required. Master's degree or equivalent education and experience preferred.
• Seven to ten years of relevant work experience in direct personal solicitation of high-net-worth individual donors foundations, clients, or corporations and/or relevant for-profit business development experience at the $25,000+ level. and familiarity with CRM systems.
• Experience closing six-figure level (or higher) gifts and understanding of complex giving mechanisms and legacy giving.
• Proven excellence in building client/donor relationships. Passion for Orbis’ mission and commitment to goal attainment, high degree of initiative, and ability to build and maintain strong relationships while motivating and engaging high - capacity volunteers and donors.
• Track record of independently identifying and qualifying new high value prospects in a non-profit or corporate environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and accountability, with a capacity to see jobs to completion, to set priorities, to engage constructively in problem solving, and to work constructively in a team environment. A go-getter personality and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Superior written and oral communication skills, interpersonal and motivational skills including specific experience writing funding proposals.
• Fluency in English required.
• Ability to develop and follow through on creative and effective solicitation strategies and to generate enthusiasm for them among team members.
• Ability to proofread and commitment to accuracy and attention to detail.
• Highly organized and proficient with Microsoft Office software, including comfort using Microsoft Excel; experience with fundraising databases, CRM systems and strong investigative skills.
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills; ability to work well under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Experience in project management and/ or implementation of cultivation events.
• Experience working with executive staff, board members and volunteer stakeholders.
• Ability to use discretion, confidentiality, and sound judgment.
• High degree of initiative and commitment to goal attainment and quality standards
• Willingness to travel domestically and possibly internationally 30%-40% of the time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Public speaking experience.
• Experience with innovative funding models.
• Knowledge of basic finance or accounting principles.
• Multilingual
• Experience engaging and soliciting diaspora and, diverse donor groups.
• Experience working in an international development or social justice organization.