POSITION: National Major Gift Officer

DEPARTMENT: Great Hearts America/Foundation

LOCATION: Texas

REPORTS TO: Great Hearts Foundation President

EEO Classification: Professionals

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

Salary Range: $80,000-$95,000 annually

Position Summary

The National Major Gift Officer is responsible for implementing a strategy to significantly grow a strong base of national major donor individuals, corporate sponsors, and foundation partners to secure large-scale funding for Great Hearts Academies' expansion. He or she will also have a special focus of working with major donors in Texas to support the existing network of academies there. He or she will work closely with a team to identify major prospects and approach strategies. He or she will then personally cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of approximately 150 potential and current supporters. This role will focus on national and Texas funders who are primarily interested in bringing Great Hearts to new regions or expanding Great Hearts' impact in current markets. The National Major Gift Officer reports directly to the Great Hearts Foundation President and works collaboratively with the Vice President of Development and other advancement team members at the regional or academy-level to advance the mission by inviting and enabling supporters to join in that mission financially.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manages relationships with approximately 100-150 qualified major and principal gift prospects.
• Develop and execute individual strategies for engaging, cultivating, soliciting, upgrading, stewarding and recognizing, and retaining major donors.
• Conduct proactive prospect identification and research to build a national pipeline of high-capacity donors, leveraging wealth screening, relationship mapping, referrals, strategic networking opportunities, and data mining of the existing donor pipeline to identify untapped major gift opportunities.
• Provide leadership, coordination, and execution of various major gift campaigns including individual major gift solicitation, and corporate and foundation giving solicitations.
• Ensure that a consistent and effective campaign strategy is used, moves management and status process deployed with consistency and accuracy, and that best practices are implemented for all responsible campaigns.
• Work with Foundation President, VP of Development, and other directors as necessary to bring additional financial resources to the Great Hearts growth trajectory philanthropic needs on an individualized basis.
• Travel throughout the United States for face-to-face cultivation and solicitation meetings with existing donors and donor prospects.
• Convey unified message and narratives to campaign donors in conjunction with Great Hearts communications team and development staff.
• Abides by gift acceptance, fundraising, and stewardship policies and procedures established by the Great Hearts Foundation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications, Experience and Special Skills:

• Bachelor's Degree.
• 5 to 7 years of donor-facing fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success in securing six- and seven-figure philanthropic gifts.
• Familiarity with various major gift programs such as individual solicitation, capital-intensive projects, volunteer management, moves management, and fundraising aptitude.
• Foundation relationship and grant writing experience.
• Familiarity with Blackbaud or a similar CRM.
• Strong Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) skills experience.
• Outstanding written, interpersonal, verbal communication and public speaking skills.
• Detail oriented, adaptable, organized and able to successfully manage multiple projects and tasks.
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Must be a team player.
• Passion for the mission of Great Hearts Academies and commitment to Great Hearts' core values.
• Knowledge of the educational and philosophical landscape in which Great Hearts operates.
• Ability to cast a convincing vision for potential donors while maintaining firm command of details.
• Must be available to work some evenings, weekends and extended hours for meetings and events.

Additional Requirements

Type of fingerprint clearance: Must possess or obtain valid fingerprint clearance card in Arizona and Texas.

Physical functions: Requires but is not limited to standing, sitting, repetitious hand and body movements, bending, squatting, and reaching. May be required to move or position equipment up to 15 pounds approximately.

Travel required: Travel throughout the United States for face-to-face cultivation and solicitation meetings with existing donors and donor prospects.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and fingerprint clearance in accordance with state requirements.

Travel required: May need to travel locally for training and professional development opportunities.

This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions. It does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.