Major Gifts Officer

We are Girl Scouts of Orange County—nearly 15,000 girls and 9,000 volunteers and adult members who believe in the power of every girl to change the world. We champion girl ambition, providing life-changing benefits so every girl, regardless of age, background, or ability, can dream big and do bigger. With programs in every Orange County zip code, we offer fun and inspiring experiences that build courage, confidence, and character.

About the role

The Major Gifts Officer will design, develop, and implement GSOC’s major gift program to grow $25,000+ gifts. This role is responsible for building, implementing, and maximizing key fund development strategies focused on individuals and family foundations. Responsibilities include identifying, researching, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding GSOC members, alumnae, staff, volunteers, and new or prospective individual and family foundation investors. The MGO will help donors achieve their philanthropic goals through a relationship with GSOC while managing fundraising initiatives to meet annual goals, including:

• Promise Circle membership of $25,000+
• Capital, program, and annual campaign gifts of $25,000+
• Juliette Gordon Low Society for planned gifts

The MGO collaborates with the Fund Development team, Board of Directors, Program Staff, and MARCOM to implement industry best practices and improve processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement individual giving and family foundation strategies to achieve annual campaign fundraising goals.
• Create comprehensive annual plans to discover, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors and family foundations through multifaceted fundraising strategies, stewardship, data management, and fundraising events.
• Write, report, and manage the family foundation grant portfolio.
• Collaborate with the Fund Development team to identify potential major gift donors from within membership and alumnae donors to grow engagement and pipeline for increased giving.
• Track all activities and correspondence as part of moves management and donor records.
• Achieve a quota of face-to-face meetings with potential donors each month.
• Partner with the Fund Development Team to ensure the quantity and quality of Wealth Engine and Major Donor Research Reports to support major gift goals.
• Assist the board and other staff with their solicitation of major gifts (e.g., provide portfolio development support, strategic counsel, and help with donor communications).
• Acknowledge major donors through public and private recognition.
• Collaborate with the VP of Fund Development and CEO for GSOC Special and Capital Campaigns.
• Build strategies and proposal materials for GSOC capital campaigns and capital need approaches for major gift individuals and prospects.
• Work with special fundraising campaign teams for approaches and follow-up with major gift donors or potential major gift donors.
• Help design and implement cultivation and stewardship events for major gift capital campaigns and specialized campaign donors and volunteers.
• Promote and strengthen GSOC’s Culture of Philanthropy.
• Additional responsibilities and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience with significant additional fundraising professional education and/or experience.
• 7+ years of experience with increasing responsibility in managing fundraising activities for 501(c)3 organizations.
• CFRE preferred, but not required.
• Experience in Individual Giving, Major Gifts, Family Foundation, and Planned Giving outreach preferred.
• Good understanding of best practices in fund development and ability to apply them at GSOC.
• Demonstrated success in implementing fundraising plans and campaigns.
• Experience in relationship building and donor stewardship.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and achieve exemplary expense ratios.
• Experience in managing projects and volunteers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; effective proposal writing experience. Able to provide samples of written work.
• Proficiency in Raisers Edge/NXT or similar fundraising software.
• Experience with donor prospect software/databases.
• Excellent computer skills including MS Office, internet research, and social media.
• Excellent problem-solving and conflict management skills.
• Able to work collaboratively across departments to achieve all campaign and event goals.
• Excellent ability to multi-task, with flexibility to respond to changing business demands.
• Community-focused with a high level of energy and enthusiasm for building relationships with staff, volunteers, and current & potential supporters of Girl Scouting.
• Active participant in a professional, respectful, and constructive organizational culture.
• Willingness to accept and promote the beliefs and principles of the Girl Scout Movement. Able to demonstrate and exemplify the qualities and actions outlined in the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
• Current knowledge of Girl Scouting is preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals and teams, and willingness to work with people regardless of age, race, disability, religion, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background.
• Licensed and insured California driver. Must be able to pass background screening, including driving records.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule.
• Bilingual preferred.