Major Gifts Professional

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Job description

At Perkins School for the Blind, we believe fervently that every child deserves to learn and thrive -- and we work tirelessly to prevent 6 million children with multiple, complex disabilities around the world from being left behind. Our Development & Marketing Team drives transformative philanthropic gifts annually totaling $10M+ to support our programs in Boston, across the US and in 95 countries. We're searching for a driven, dynamic Major Gifts Professional to accelerate this work and scale Perkins' impact around the globe.

About Perkins:

Education and accessibility are civil rights. Everybody's voice matters. And the world is a better place when everyone -- including people with disabilities -- participates. Helen Keller, Perkins' most famous deafblind student, championed these values nearly 100 years ago, and today Perkins is taking this inclusion imperative worldwide. Learn about what it means to join the global leader in building a better world today on our website.

About the Major Gifts Professional opportunity:

Six million kids and families need the support only Perkins can provide. As our next Major Gifts Professional you'll understand this urgent need and motivate new and current donors to join us. You believe in the worth and potential of every human being; you share our values of inclusion and accessibility for all; and you channel your passion for positive change into every new donor relationship you build. You'll seize this leadership opportunity to accelerate our individual giving program and strategize a trajectory of growth for the next five years. You'll be inspired by Perkins' journey from the first school for the blind in the US to an international NGO, and you'll spark our donors' imaginations to dream big.

Essential duties:

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 prospects with the potential to contribute six and/or seven figure gifts, and close gifts of six figures or more within the first 12 months of employment.
• Establish revenue and other fundraising goals for major giving in partnership with the CDMO; monitor goals and recommend adjustments to strategy as needed
• Meet established metrics for external fundraising activities including number of proposals, gifts closed, stewardship and cultivation activities, prospect identification, meetings, email communications and phone calls
• Direct program colleagues on strategies to build and develop the major donor pipeline
• Advise in developing strategy for mid-level donors
• Maintain and update donor database in a timely, reliable fashion with the most current and relevant notes, activity record and pipeline status
• Support staffing and activities of Trustee, Trust Board and Corporation volunteer leadership
• Perform other duties and task as assigned
• Draft donor correspondence, contact reports, briefings and other communications
• Develop and execute robust, multi-step prospect strategies based on individual prospects interests

Experience and competencies:

• Demonstrated ability in prospect identification, cultivation and successful solicitation of six and or seven figure gifts.
• Eloquent and persuasive in speaking and writing; patient and calm under pressure or dealing with emotional topics
• Deadline and goal driven
• Handles sensitive information in an ethical, respectful manner; maintains confidentiality of donor database
• Ability to build and nurture effective working relationships, motivate set and attain individual and team goals
• Experience using Raiser's Edge and Salesforce
• Experience with planned giving and/or international fundraising is a plus

Education

Bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with a minimum of five years of progressive fundraising development experience

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