Director of Major Gifts

Description

Appalachian Voices seeks a Director of Major Gifts to play a critical role in the growth of the organization and its fundraising efforts. The Director will work with a high-performing fundraising team to develop and implement an effective individual-focused philanthropy program that will support Appalachian Voices’ strategic plan. The successful candidate will serve as the principal major gift fundraiser, managing a nationwide portfolio of major donors and prospects with four, five, and six-
figure philanthropic capacity. This position oversees a membership/annual giving coordinator and works
closely with the foundation and grants team.

Job Duties

Key responsibilities include:

❖ Act as the primary relationship manager for individual major gift donors: identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donors and prospects. Benefactors with annual gifts exceeding $1,000 are considered major donors.
❖ Manage a portfolio of 150 donors, including donors with the capacity to make 5-figure gifts; work closely with leadership to develop 6-figure gifts.
❖ Develop tailored donor strategies and cultivation plans for each donor in the portfolio, with thoughtful consideration to the donor’s interests, motivations, and preferences.
❖ Travel extensively in the Southeast and regularly throughout the U.S. to broaden engagement of donors with Appalachian Voices’ work (when circumstances allow).

❖ Collaboratively develop, manage, and implement a strategic plan designed to acquire, qualify, and cultivate new major gift opportunities, with a focus on growing the pool of donors capable of making 5- and 6-figure gifts.
❖ Prepare Board, staff leadership, and other influencers involved in donor relationships for meeting and events.
❖ Regularly communicate with major gift donors in person, by phone, electronically, and in
written materials.
❖ Closely monitor the acknowledgment and recognition process to ensure donors are
properly stewarded.
❖ Persuasively convey the mission of Appalachian Voices to diverse groups who are important to
the organization’s overall prosperity.
❖ Assist with donor communications, including regular updates, the Annual Report, End of Year solicitations, and other fundraising pieces as needed.
❖ Track interactions with donors and maintain the integrity of those records, including upholding
key deliverables and deadlines.
❖ Work collaboratively as part of the Development team to achieve annual goals.
❖ Keep the Development Team and leadership current on major gifts work via briefing and
debriefing materials.

Skills Required

The successful Director of Major Gifts will need to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and
prospects with a range of financial means. This will require an innovative mindset and creative thinking
particularly as it relates to the volume of donors and prospects, and the visibility and exposure of the organization. Appalachian Voices seeks candidates who are unafraid to take risks based on sound principals, data, and information. The ideal candidate for this role will be a self-starter, curious, confident, organized, disciplined, impact-focused, and adept at translating complicated ideas and outcomes into appealing donor communications and fundraising packages. The ideal candidate’s specific qualifications include:

Background
❖ Experience in non-profit development, preference for experience working with high net-worth donors.
❖ Preference may be given to candidates with prior experience in environmental or economic justice, social justice advocacy, or policy advocacy.
❖ Professionals from marketing, sales and other relationship businesses are encouraged to apply.

Fundraising Skills and Accomplishments
❖ Experience in all stages of major donor portfolio management, from identification to stewardship.
❖ Enthusiastic commitment to a high-touch model of donor cultivation with an ambitious schedule of
personal visits, telephone, and email outreach.
❖ Charismatic interpersonal style that establishes quick connections with donors.

❖ Demonstrated ability to analyze donor data and develop a systematic and strategic approach to pipeline
development.
❖ Knowledge of moves management systems and processes necessary to advance major donors in their
commitments.
❖ Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to translate complex policy work into tailored and compelling donor messages.
❖ Record of working closely with a chief executive, as well as policy and senior strategy teams, to develop concept papers and proposals.
❖ Record of successfully engaging senior leaders and Board members in the fundraising process.

Personal Characteristics and Leadership Style
❖ A confident thinker and self-starter.
❖ An ambitious, motivated initiative taker who works to high standards.
❖ Comfort working in a collegial, goal-oriented, and entrepreneurial environment.
❖ Exceptional organizational skills and judgement necessary to manage competing priorities and long-
term projects.

❖ Intellectually curious; ability to develop a deep understanding of, and speak authoritatively on, programs and activities.
❖ Commitment to the mission of Appalachian Voices and sincere interest in the region.