Director, Major Gifts Position Available In Collier, Florida

Director, Major Gifts 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars Naples, FL 34116

Job Title:

Director of Major Gifts Reports To:

Chief Development Officer Classification:

Full-time, Exempt Supervisory Responsibilities:

None Date:

05/01/2025

About Us:

Grace Place for Children and Families is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by educating children and families. Located in beautiful Naples, FL, we empower individuals with high-quality educational programs and support services. Join us in making a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve and help move Collier County forward!

Position Overview:

Are you a strategic thinker with a heart for philanthropy? Do you have the leadership skills to inspire a team and the drive to make a real difference? If so, we want you as our Director of Major Gifts! This role is all about driving development initiatives, building lasting donor relationships, and leading our fundraising team with enthusiasm and creativity.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategies and Tactics Develop compelling case statements for each giving level, supported by impact statements from students, staff, donors, and volunteers. Create specific solicitation plans for each level of the gift pyramid. Regularly review and adjust the gift pyramid based on progress and feedback. Create a menu of naming opportunities. Train at least 50% of board members in major gift solicitation and invite their participation in tours, meetings, and events. Encourage current donors to increase their giving levels by developing tailored upgrade proposals. Provide personalized recognition and engagement opportunities for donors who move to major gifts. Develop a donor stewardship plan to ensure ongoing engagement and appreciation. Collaborate with marketing and communications to create impactful promotional materials. Monitor and analyze fundraising trends to adjust strategies accordingly. Identification Review current donor database and conduct wealth screening to identify potential major gift donors. Use data-driven approaches to identify and prioritize potential major donors. Invite Board Members to identify new potential major gift donors annually. Reach out to top 100 prospects based on capacity and affinity. Host three new major gift prospects on campus per month. Implement a moves management system to track and cultivate prospects. Make willingness/ability to bring major donors a criterion for new Board Member selection. Conduct prospect research to identify new potential donors. Utilize social media and digital platforms to identify and engage potential donors. Network at industry events to discover new major gift prospects. Cultivation Develop a comprehensive major gifts campaign with clear messaging and branding. Create pieces for all stages of donor engagement (cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship). Develop personalized engagement plans for the top 50 donors and top 50 prospects. Host quarterly small-group events for major donors and prospects. Engage board members in coordination, inviting, networking, or hosting events. Create additional opportunities for donors to engage directly with program staff and beneficiaries. Implement a leadership giving society for donors of $10,000+. Invest in high-quality marketing materials showcasing impact. Leverage digital platforms and create a major gifts section on the website. Produce video testimonials from beneficiaries and current major donors. Organize exclusive tours for major gift prospects to showcase the impact of their potential contributions. Develop a donor recognition program to acknowledge major gift donors publicly. Create personalized thank-you notes and gifts for major donors. Solicitation Develop compelling case statements for each giving level. Create specific solicitation plans for each level of the gift pyramid. Assign dedicated staff to manage relationships with donors at different levels. Create a menu of naming opportunities. Encourage current donors to increase their giving levels by developing tailored upgrade proposals. Provide personalized recognition and engagement opportunities for donors who move to major gifts. Prepare detailed proposals for major gift solicitations. Conduct face-to-face meetings with potential major donors. Follow up with donors after initial solicitation to address any questions or concerns. Utilize peer-to-peer fundraising to leverage existing donor networks. Stewardship Provide impact reports to all major donors twice yearly. Host annual major donor recognition events. Establish a major donor advisory council with four board members. Upgrade 15 of 45 current donors to major gift level ($25,000). Increase donor retention rate across various giving levels. Implement personalized stewardship plans for existing donors. Regularly communicate the impact of contributions through newsletters and reports. Host exclusive events and recognition programs for loyal donors. Develop a donor appreciation program to recognize long-term supporters. Create annual reports highlighting the impact of major gifts. Organize donor appreciation events to celebrate their contributions. Send personalized updates on the progress of funded projects. Metrics and Evaluation Track the number of major gifts secured. Monitor average gift size. Measure donor retention rate. Evaluate ROI of the major gifts program. Track donor engagement through surveys and feedback. Analyze fundraising data to identify trends and opportunities. Report on progress to the board.

Qualifications:

Proven experience in major gifts fundraising and donor relations. Strong leadership and team management skills. Excellent communication and presentation abilities. Ability to analyze data and forecast trends. Experience in grant writing. Passion for our mission to break the cycle of poverty through education. How to

Apply:

Ready to make a difference? Submit your resume and a cover letter. Join us at Grace Place for Children and Families and help us create a brighter future for Collier County!

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Grace Place values diversity in the workplace and among our partners and other stakeholders. It is the policy of Grace Place to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants on the basis of experience, training, education, and ability to do the available work without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. This policy relates to all phases of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, employment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, reduction of workforce and termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, the use of all facilities, and participation in all company sponsored employee activities. Provisions in applicable laws providing for bona fide occupational qualifications, business necessity, or age limitations will be adhered to by Grace Place where appropriate. Employees and applicants shall not be subjected to harassment, intimidation or any type of retaliation because they have (1) filed a complaint; (2) assisted or participated in an investigation, compliance review, hearing or any other activity related to the administration of any federal, state or local law requiring equal employment opportunity; (3) opposed any act or practice made unlawful by any federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity; or (4) exercised any other legal right protected by federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity. The above-mentioned policies shall be periodically brought to the attention of supervisors and shall be appropriately administered. It is the responsibility of each supervisor at Grace Place to ensure affirmative implementation of these policies to avoid any discrimination in employment. All employees are expected to recognize these policies and cooperate with their implementation. Violation of these policies could be considered a disciplinary offense.

Disclaimer:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.