Director of Major & Legacy Giving

 Leap Solutions Group has partnered with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa in their search for a Director of Major and Legacy Giving. The ideal candidate is a positive, friendly, personally motivated individual who is able to connect with people of different backgrounds and work well in a team environment. They will have proven knowledge and experience working in the areas of major and legacy giving.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

 The Director of Major and Legacy Giving is responsible for developing and implementing strategies for securing current and future financial support from a portfolio of current donors and donor prospects. Responsibilities include identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual major donors and legacy prospects. The Director of Major and Legacy Giving reports directly to the Chief Development Officer and works independently and collaboratively with all members of the twelve-person Development team.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of at least 100 actively managed prospects at the $2,000+ annual gift level.
• Enhance and expand Catholic Charities’ existing legacy giving program in coordination with development, leadership, and program staff, board members, and legacy committee volunteers.  Responsible for confirming at least 15 new legacy donors each year.
• Conduct prospect research to identify new donors and existing donors with the potential to increase giving levels, as well as legacy prospects.
• Support the CEO, CDO, and lead staff and volunteers in preparation for major gifts and legacy asks through research, preparation of individual strategies, and regular follow up.
• Work with CDO to set short- and long-term strategic goals and metrics and report regularly on status. 
• Develop strong and compelling solicitation letters and proposals, stewardship letters and reports, and contribute content and editing to other fundraising and stewardship collateral.
• Work alongside appropriate staff on annual giving donor listings, annual report donor listings, and other stewardship activities for donor recognition purposes.
• In partnership with development staff, enhance and sustain the agency’s donor stewardship program, including annual fund, legacy, major gift, and capital donor stewardship.
• Document and track all donor activity/proposals in development information system – Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud, and work closely with gift processing staff to ensure proper acknowledgment of gifts.
• Maintain working knowledge of Catholic Charities programs and be able to articulate case for support to donors.
• Attend appropriate and important community, civic and social events/activities.
   

SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent work experience required.
• Minimum three (3) years of major gifts experience.
• Minimum three (3) years of legacy/planned gifts experience.
• Proven track record of personally soliciting and closing four- to six- figure gifts.
• A personal enthusiasm for the work Catholic Charities does, and the ability to keep up to date with the issues the agency addresses.
• Ability to compellingly articulate Catholic Charities’ mission, impact, and strategy in order to inspire donors to maintain and increase their commitment.
• Appreciation for diverse populations and an ability to relate well with people of every socioeconomic level, belief, and background.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team environment.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to successfully plan and achieve short-term and long-term fundraising goals.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively and to be self-motivated, utilizing a high level of initiative, judgment, and critical thinking skills.
• Takes independent actions and calculated risks, looks for and takes advantages of opportunities, solicits feedback to improve processes or actions.
• Ability to manage confidential information.
• Demonstrated experience with Raiser’s Edge donor management software, along with a commitment to maintaining the integrity of donor data.  Must be highly computer literate.
• Demonstrated ability to be responsive to deadlines, managing and completing multiple projects simultaneously in fast-paced, demanding environment.
• Knowledge of best-practice fundraising policies and procedures.
• Requires flexible schedule, including weekend and evening work.
• Must be able to travel throughout Sonoma and Napa counties.

Agency Culture

The business and social environment we operate in has changed. What worked yesterday may not work today and will likely not work tomorrow. To thrive, we must incorporate new ways of thinking and embrace new practices. As part of our individual and agency cultural change process, it is critical that all employees of Catholic Charities aspire to the following:

• A commitment to the agency’s mission, vision, and values;
• A commitment to excellence in everything we do;
• A commitment to accreditation as well as performance and quality improvement;
• A commitment to outcomes and measured results;
• A commitment to innovation and to what is possible.

Metrics:

• Actively manage a portfolio of 120 prospects
• 100 face-to-face meetings per year
• Raise a minimum of $500,000 in the first year of employment
• 100% of meaningful donor interactions recorded in the database within 48 hours
• Personally close 15 new legacy commitments per year

NOTICE:  This job description is provided as a general summary of common job duties performed by individuals assigned this job title.  It is not all-inclusive, nor is it intended to create a contract, written or implied, between employees and Catholic Charities, nor does it in any way alter the employment-at-will relationship that exists between employees and Catholic Charities.  As a condition of employment, all agency employees are expected to perform job duties assigned by agency management even when such duties are not included in their job description.