Philanthropy Officer for Major Gifts

About the role

The Philanthropy Officer for Major Gifts is responsible for establishing, maintaining and enhancing relationships with a portfolio of 125–200 major donors and potential donors to develop major gift opportunities, acquire new gifts, increase giving amounts and retain support. This role involves developing engagement opportunities, building strong rapport with donors, fundraising, and collaborating with the Development team.

Who We Are

Unbound is an international nonprofit based in Kansas City, Kansas, and founded by lay Catholics grounded in the Gospel call to put the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable first. Our mission is to support families and communities worldwide on their self-directed paths out of poverty. Our vision is to build a world free from poverty where all people have access to resources, community support and the ability to make decisions that improve their lives and uphold human dignity. Unbound offers a practical way for sponsors, donors and volunteers to make a personal and direct impact as partners in our global community. Through walking with a child and family, youth, elder or community on their path out of poverty, our supporters have an opportunity to expand their worldviews and be part of creative solutions to poverty.

Responsibilities

• Donor Management and Stewardship: Manage a portfolio of major donors, engaging them through personalized communication strategies, including thank-you messages, impact reports, and stewardship updates. Utilize a thoughtful stewardship plan focused on retention-based philanthropy to deepen donor relationships and encourage increased contributions.
• Communication and Engagement: Execute a communication strategy to cover all donor interactions. Craft emails, proposals, and presentations tailored to major donors. Engage with donors through phone or virtual meetings to ensure they feel connected and valued by Unbound.
• Fundraising and Development: Work toward meeting and exceeding individual fundraising goals, with an annual target ranging from $650,000 to $850,000. Monitor and report on key program metrics and goals.
• Collaboration and Strategy: In collaboration with the Development Director and Relational Fundraising team, develop and implement strategies to identify, qualify, and cultivate potential major gift donors, and strategies to solicit, acknowledge, and report on gifts. Collaborate with other Major Gift Officers, Sponsor Support, Planned Giving, Data Analytics, Income Processing, and Marketing Communications.
• Database and Record Keeping: Ensure all donor interactions are accurately tracked and documented in donor databases, including Salesforce and internal portals. Maintain donor data to ensure accuracy and transparency of interactions across the Development team.
• Professional Development: Keep current with industry best practices and engage in ongoing professional development to support a robust major giving program.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a related field; global experience is a plus.
• 2–3 years of proven experience in donor management and fundraising with a track record of meeting significant fundraising targets.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of writing clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive proposals.
• Tech-savvy with a high comfort level using databases and donor management software, particularly Salesforce.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment and manage multiple priorities; able to quickly establish credibility and build rapport to be recognized as a leader and expert.
• Strong accuracy and organizational skills; energetic, self-starter who demonstrates a strong work ethic.

Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to synthesize information into clear, concise, compelling messages for donors, internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent listening skills to authentically extend respect and build trust.
• Ability to build trusting, collaborative relationships with donors and internal and cross-functional partners; strong teamwork aptitude required.
• Data-driven decision-making to execute on business/management strategy; ability to identify and seek needed information through research.
• Represents the organization in a dignified manner; approaches others with tact and respect; reacts well under pressure; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments; inspires trust in others; works ethically and with integrity.
• Professional appearance and attitude; self-motivated and goal-driven.
• Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships and the ability to model core values.

Travel

Up to 25%; primarily domestic, with periodic trips abroad.

Physical Abilities

• Frequently required to sit, stand, and walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms.
• Required to talk and hear consistently.
• Specific vision abilities include the ability to distinguish the nature of objects by using the eye.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, and/or drag up to fifty (50) pounds if necessary.