Major Gifts Officer [The Field Museum]

Posted September 22, 2014

The Major Gifts Officer will identify, cultivate, solicit, secure and steward individual prospects and donors, targeting gifts in the range of $25,000+ annually on behalf of The Field Museum. He/She will actively participate in the implementation of the Museum’s philanthropic campaigns and plans, focusing on fundraising priorities and involving volunteers and other stakeholders in the realization of Museum goals. Responsibilities include engaging and soliciting donors and friends of The Field Museum for annual gifts, major gifts and planned gifts as appropriate.

The Major Gifts Officer will work directly with other fundraisers, senior staff and volunteer leadership.

• Help assure that The Field Museum achieves its fundraising goals in collaboration with others within the Department of Institutional Advancement and interdepartmentally.
• Manage a prospect portfolio of approximately 125-175 prospects, and manage the qualification of a select group of suspects. This includes the following: develop written solicitation plans for new and current major gift prospects within prospect and suspect portfolio, develop relationships with prospects through various cultivation calls, letters and handwritten notes, complete 125-160 significant contacts per year with prospects from portfolio, and solicit and close gifts In accordance with annual goals as set by director in consultation with major gift officers.
• Develop and write donor cultivation materials, acknowledgements, volunteer solicitor briefings, training materials and reports. Produce personalized proposals for individual support.
• Coordinate and provide assistance in the design of strategies for cultivating and soliciting donors assigned to senior staff, trustees and volunteer leadership.
• With other Institutional Advancement staff, identify, qualify and research new donor prospects.
• Identify innovative development, cultivation and stewardship activities, craft new strategies and support planning that will strengthen the Major Gifts Program over time.
• Assist in the organization of occasional campaign-specific events and small donor meetings.
• Help assure that The Field Museum achieves its fundraising goals in collaboration with others within the Department of Institutional Advancement and interdepartmentally.
• Manage a prospect portfolio of approximately 125-175 prospects, and manage the qualification of a select group of suspects. This includes the following: develop written solicitation plans for new and current major gift prospects within prospect and suspect portfolio, develop relationships with prospects through various cultivation calls, letters and handwritten notes, complete 125-160 significant contacts per year with prospects from portfolio, and solicit and close gifts In accordance with annual goals as set by director in consultation with major gift officers.
• Develop and write donor cultivation materials, acknowledgements, volunteer solicitor briefings, training materials and reports. Produce personalized proposals for individual support.
• Manage other duties as assigned.

• A minimum of five years fundraising experience, including significant experience in personal solicitation, and familiarity with fundraising practices across individual, corporate and foundation giving.
• Bachelor’s degree required from four-year college or university, Masters degree preferred.
• Campaign and project management experience preferred.
• Familiarity with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge software or a similar software program, including understanding of proposals, actions, and queries.
• Able to manage confidential information with discretion.
• Experience, familiarity and/or ability to work in a complex non-profit organization with many departments, programs and fund raising priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and comfort working with donors. Experience working with high-level volunteers, donors and program staff on collaborative activities.
• Successful track record of fundraising with major donors.
• Detail-oriented with a strong focus on quality and accuracy.
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