Director of Individual Giving

The Director of Individual Giving/Donor Impact is a highly motivated and results-driven fundraiser who is comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires strategic coordination of all major, annual, and planned giving components including significantly growing the individual prospect pool with a capacity of $10,000 or more; implementing engagement opportunities designed to increase the number of annual donors via direct mail appeals, creating, and sustaining individual gift clubs, working with volunteer committees, and collaborating on successful fundraising and cultivation events. Candidates should possess familiarity with gift planning vehicles and best practices and a successful track record in closing annual, major, and planned gifts. This person will manage a portfolio of prospects annually and will cultivate, directly solicit, and steward these donors.

The Director of Individual Giving/Donor Impact is a key member of a seven-person Development team who will regularly partner with the VP for Development & Communications, Director of Corporate Engagement, Director of Grants, Director of Marketing & Communications, and Donor Impact Administrator.

Responsibilities:

• Actively manage a portfolio of 100 key donors and prospects who have a strong capacity and affinity to support the Clubs.
• Provide support to VP for Development & Communications and CEO to ensure they are targeting key donors and prospects in all phases of the donor cycle
• Raise a minimum of $1M in unrestricted funding toward the Annual Fund goal with a focus on donor retention and growth.
• Create and execute an integrated annual campaign plan inclusive of direct mail, personal asks, phonathon, social media, and email throughout the fiscal year.
• Create, execute, and evaluate a personal fundraising plan for their portfolio and refresh it annually.
• Develop customized strategies and moves management plans in the portfolio.
• Create and update a “prospect list” of potential new individuals to engage including people who may have a giving history with BGC Hartford but have not given in recent years.
• Engage donors in meetings; with an expectation to hold 7 donor meetings per month in person and/or via phone/video conference.
• Complete pre-call planner before meetings to plan strategy; capture notes and next steps in CRM database. The director will document the results/outcomes of these meetings weekly and work closely with VP for Development & Communications and Donor Impact Administrator to establish metrics and reporting systems.
• Responsible for planned giving initiative, including but not limited to the promotion of planned giving opportunities, sharing expertise and knowledge with the Development team, and the identification, solicitation, and cultivation of prospective and current planned giving donors.
• Enlist and manage suburban awareness committee structure in consultation with the VP for Development & Communications to ensure committees are addressing:
• Prospect review to identify individuals with major gift capacity
• Host a BGC Hartford campaign to rally support for: Third-Party events, Awareness Receptions for targeted major gift prospects, all suburban household direct mail, and other peer-to-peer fundraising and awareness outreach
• Work collaboratively with peers in the Development Department throughout the donor cycle to understand donor giving history & interests requesting research from the Donor Impact Administrator, preparing asks, and proposals, and ensuring a comprehensive stewardship plan for individuals is completed.
• Helps to ensure all gifts are properly processed, acknowledged, and stewarded by working with the Donor Impact Administrator.
• Work collaboratively within the Department to develop and refine donor-giving clubs including the Milbank Society ($10k ) and ensure benefits for the donors in their portfolio are delivered.
• Work with the VP for Development & Communications to incorporate strategies using influencers from the Development Committee, Board of Trustees, and other volunteers.
• Participate in regular prospect management meetings with CEO, and Development team to assess prospect plans, review strategies and track progress.
• Media promotion
• Demonstrate and communicate BGC Hartford's philosophy, objectives, standards, and programs through all methods available to members, their parents, and the public. Provide quality program activities that are inclusive, welcoming, respectful, and responsive to the diversity of members, families, and community.

Internal/External Partnerships:

• Work collaboratively with board members and staff on fundraising for the organization.
• Adhere to the AFP Donor Bill of Rights.
• Grow relationships with existing and new donors.
• Remain active in promoting the Club to the community and partners.
• Maintain a welcoming and inclusive environment for all staff, youth members, families, volunteers, donors, and visitors.
• Serves as a visible and capable leader and representative for the Club.
• Attend staff and local community meetings as required.
• Maintain contact with potential and current donors, community and corporate leaders, public relations professionals, and community groups.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to touch, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

DISCLAIMER:

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.

EOE Statement

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford is an equal-opportunity employer, committed to inclusion and diversity. We ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university preferred. CFRE encouraged.
• A minimum of 5 to 7 years of experience in nonprofit development and volunteer management, specifically with experience with personal solicitations and/or direct involvement with annual fundraising.
• Demonstrated successful experience in securing major gifts and developing strong relationships with individual donors.
• Superior communication skills, both written and verbal, and strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to provide leadership and guidance to other team members.
• Technology and computer literacy are essential. Applicant must be proficient in Microsoft Office programs and fundraising database experience (e.g., DonorPerfect) is preferred.

The ideal candidate will be an entrepreneurial, self-motivated professional with an understanding and knowledge of trends in individual giving and insight into donor motivations. Applicants should be able to think and act independently and creatively to significantly broaden the organization’s relationships with individual donors and can work with colleagues across the organization, including executive staff and Board of Trustee members, and to establish and foster relationships that encourage a collaborative work environment.