Leadership Gifts Officer

REPORTS TO
Chief Development Officer

POSITION SUMMARY
The Leadership Gifts Officer plays a key role in Samaritans’ development efforts by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding current and future leadership donors who contribute to Samaritans suicide prevention work. The Leaderships Gifts Officer will also be responsible for identifying and leveraging planned and deferred gift opportunities. The Leadership Gifts Officer will work closely with Samaritans Chief Development Officer, Executive Director, and program staff, as well as volunteer leadership, including some members of the Board of Directors and Samaritans Council. The role presents a major opportunity for a motivated professional to help build upon Samaritans successful Life Saving Society (donors who annually contribute $1,000 or more) and develop a community of individual and family investors committed to preventing suicide in Massachusetts. Samaritans saves lives with a 24/7 Helpline, grief support services, and extensive community education and outreach. The ability to connect with the mission, vision and values of Samaritans is vital; familiarity with the issue of suicide prevention is a plus.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manage a portfolio of 100 – 150 Life Saving Society members and prospects, stewarding relationships that will lead to an outstanding donor philanthropic experience at Samaritans and increased support for Samaritans’ programs and services.
• Identify leadership and major gift prospects, introduce them to Samaritans and invite their participation to advance the organization’s goals.
• Prepare and present written, PowerPoint, and oral briefings, follow-up materials, letters, proposals, and contact reports on prospects and donors in a timely manner.
• Identify and leverage planned and deferred gift opportunities.  Steward donor relationships to introduce them to and solicit legacy gift commitments.
• Work collaboratively with the Chief Development Officer, program staff, and the organization’s leadership, including the Executive Director, members of the Board of Directors and Samaritans Council, and high-performing 5K Team Captains.
• Track and manage accurate records of prospect research, engagement and solicitation activities for each donor or prospect.
• Organize and assist with cultivation and stewardship activities and events.
• Utilize Samaritans events to identify, cultivate, and steward donors and prospects, including the Breakfast for Hope, 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention, Boston Marathon team events, Annual Meeting and other opportunities.
• Champion Samaritans at community events and in other public settings.
• Manage solicitation process for Lifesaving Society through mail and follow up calls. Directly solicit donors and prospects by phone.
• Assist with establishing protocols, communication paths, and move management steps in new Salesforce CRM

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS

• Some travel required for events and trainings as well as visits to donors.
• Flexibility in meeting demands and remaining positive during interactions is essential.
• Flexibility in working hours appropriate for donor events is required.
• Successfully completes the volunteer befriending training and 3 learning shifts

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• Must possess strong communication skills, including ability to make effective and persuasive presentations orally and in writing to volunteers, staff, board members, donors and others
• Ability to communicate and interact effectively with others at all levels within and outside the organization. 
• Resolving conflicts and internal issues appropriately, providing difficult feedback to volunteers. 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively to maximize teamwork and camaraderie across the organization.
• Polished and authentic presence with excellent interpersonal skills

PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Polished and authentic presence with excellent interpersonal skills
• Minimum of 4 - 6 years of appropriate development experience, including direct gift solicitation experience. Proven track record of increasing philanthropic revenue.
• Familiarity with leadership, major and planned gift fund raising.
• Proven ability to identify, cultivate, solicit and close five-figure gifts from individuals and families.
• Experience working with board members and board committees.
• Excellent relationship management skills and experience.
• Planning and project management skills necessary to complete work on time and manage competing priorities.
• Must be comfortable on the phone, email, and in person.M
• Must possess strong organization skills, be detailed oriented and accomplish tasks within prescribed time frames.
• Computer (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), and fundraising software, such as Raiser’s Edge or Salesforce required.
• Ability to work with sensitive and confidential material.
• Creative, resilient and strategic in approach
• Experience working with diverse team in a variety of situations.  Must be able to evaluate problems accurately and display good, sound judgment.
• Must be results-oriented, mission-driven, and accountable.

Salary
$80,000-$100,000

How to apply
Please send your resume (saved as Lastname_resume) and abrief cover letter (saved as Lastname_coverletter) addressed to the hiring manager, explaining your interest in the position to jobs@samaritanshope.org with “Leadership Gifts Officer” in the subject line.  Application without a cover letter will not be accepted.