We are currently seeking an experienced Major Gifts Officer to join our team in Dallas, TX.

Who We Are:

Make-A-Wish North Texas - Since 1980, Make-A-Wish® has been creating life-changing wish experiences for children with critical illnesses around the world. Wishes have proven physical and emotional benefits that can give children with critical illnesses a higher chance of survival. When a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope. Wishes even reunite families and enrich entire communities. Every eligible child needs a wish to count on!  To learn more about us, please visit us at https://ntx.wish.org/

About the Role:

The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for managing, upgrading, and creating new major donor relationships as a crucial part of our ambitious philanthropic efforts.  Responsibilities include but are not limited to develop and execute strategies for donor stewardship with a focus on gifts of at least $25,000; maintain a portfolio of donors at various stages of engagement; and develop a pipeline that provides prospects for principal and leadership gifts.

 What you’ll do:

Core duties and responsibilities include the following. 

• Qualify, develop, and maintain year-round relationships with a portfolio of 100-150 individual gift donors or prospects to grow immediate and long-term funding.
• Build donor relationships through face-to face cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activity.
• Grow annual revenue from individual donors through relationship-based fundraising and strategic moves management, with an emphasis on long-term stewardship and engagement.
• Create individual engagement, stewardship plans, and giving goals for each donor based on giving history, relationships, and the organization's knowledge of the donor's giving potential.
• Collaborate with regional development managers to engage top prospects in each of the chapter’s six regions, spanning 161 counties.
• Plan and support donor recognition, leveraging existing events as opportunities for acknowledgement and stewardship.
• Provide regular updates to the Chief Development Officer regarding major gift solicitations, moves management strategies, and requests for leadership engagement/stewardship.
• Prepare for regular portfolio review meetings and moves management discussions in partnership with the Chief Development Officer and Development Director Leadership Team.
• Recruit and steward individual donors by building year-round engagement activities to maximize revenue and build donor loyalty.
• Set up meetings for CEO, CDO, and board members, as appropriate, to focus on solicitation and/or strategic stewardship of donors.
• Collaborate with Director of Stewardship & Prospecting to implement prospect management strategies utilizing CRM.
• Identify and communicate potential opportunities and/or relationships to increase the chapter's ability to raise funds and grant wishes.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

 Our Perfect Candidate

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher or related equivalent experience.
• At least three to five years’ experience in fundraising with a proven track record of securing major gifts from individuals and advancing gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• CFRE a plus.
• Flexible schedule and must have the ability to travel.

Required Abilities and Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate major gift relationships and close five- and six-figure gifts personally and effectively.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and discretion with the ability to exhibit good judgment necessary for solicitation and cultivation of donors.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Articulate and persuasive oral presentation skills.
• Aptitude for making cold calls and securing in-person meetings with donor prospects.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to solicit funds through personal contacts with donors and prospects.
• Innovative, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple projects well, working both independently and as a team member.
• Experience with donor management including upgrading major donors.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with all constituents including vendors, donors, staff, volunteers, wish families, and the public.
• Time-sensitive, goal orientated, and deadline driven.
• Proactively share information and communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
• Experience demonstrating discretion and holding sensitive and personal information about donors in confidence.
• Understanding of industry standards regarding donor stewardship, solicitation, confidentiality, gift crediting, and financial principles.
• Must be able to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
• Maintain valid U.S. Driver’s License and be willing to travel overnight.
• Demonstrated proficiency in MS Office and database management software such as Salesforce.

Company Offers:

• Hybrid work environment
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and education
• Comprehensive benefits package available: (healthcare, vision, dental and life insurances; 401k company match; paid time off and holidays)

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer!

To Apply:

Please submit your cover letter with salary requirements, and resume to hr@ntx.wish.org