Major Gifts Officer

Major Gifts Officer 
Position Description

Date: November 5, 2024

RANGE - $110,00 - $140,000 DOE

Status: Fulltime and Exempt
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Schedule of Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM
Possible Percentage of Work from Home: Up to 50%
Mandated Reporter: No

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

CORA’s mission is to provide safety, support and healing for individuals who experience abuse in an intimate relationship, and educate the community to break the cycle of domestic violence.

As a 501c3 organization with an annual operating budget of ~$8M, CORA is the only agency in San Mateo County with the sole purpose of serving those experiencing intimate partner abuse, CORA provides safety, support, and healing. CORA’s comprehensive services include a 24-hour hotline, collaboration with law enforcement, safe house options, legal services, and family-centered mental health therapy. In addition, CORA provides community education and prevention programming throughout the county. CORA is a multicultural agency committed to serving individuals regardless of age, ethnicity/race, financial status, language, sexual orientation, immigration status, class, religion, gender, gender expression, or mental or physical ability.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Major Gifts Officer plays a vital role leading CORA’s development team in annually securing ~$2.5M by cultivating and stewarding major donors, building the major donor pipeline, and developing and managing strategic fundraising initiatives – to maximize all individual donor revenue growth. The successful Major Gifts Officer will  prioritize donor retention and upgrade, build long-term relationships, conduct donor research, develop strategies, including planned giving, to increase donor support, and actively support annual fund campaign success. It is a high-touch role involving regular face-to-face meetings, calls, and a variety of personalized touchpoints with major donors. The position will work closely alongside the Chief Executive Officer, Board members, the Board Development committee, and the broader development and marketing teams to maximize individual donor revenue growth, ensure effective donor cultivation and stewardship, and build long-term organization sustainability.

The ideal candidate is experienced in donor cultivation and strategic fundraising, passionate about growing relationships, and capable of creating impactful fundraising campaigns. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Major Donor Cultivation and Stewardship

• Manage an existing portfolio of ~140 major gift prospects and donors by conducting virtual/ face-to-face meetings, making phone calls, and soliciting gifts to meet financial goals  
• Devise and implement creative donor upgrade strategies
• Prioritize donor retention and upgrade, planned giving implementation, donor/prospect research, and relationship building
• Cultivate relationships with existing donors to ensure long-term engagement and support
• Develop and execute planned giving programs designed to encourage donors to make long-term and legacy commitments

Strategy Work

• Develop donor pipeline strategies, corporate sponsorships, and oversee fundraising campaigns focusing on gifts over $5k
• Create and implement new initiatives to grow CORA’s fundraising capacity, including outreach to individual donors and the creation of new retention and upgrade programs
• Plan and oversee execution of campaigns including End of Year, End of Fiscal Year, and Giving Tuesday, among others

Strengthened Donor Cultivation

• Focus on outreach to individual donors, creating retention programs, scaling recurring giving, and increasing donor giving levels
• Cultivate opportunities for major donors, ensuring stewardship and retention of key supporters.

Major Donor Development

• Implement creative planned giving initiatives, conduct donor research, and engage donors for long-term retention
• Develop strategies to grow major giving opportunities and increase the impact and, where desired, recognition of key supporters

Event Management

• Oversee events to ensure implementation with the goals of increasing opportunities for engaging new and stewarding/cultivating current donors
• In collaboration with the team, develop a strategy for donor-focused events that align with CORA’s mission including VIP and Leadership Circle events  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in donor cultivation, fundraising strategy, or nonprofit development
• Bachelor’s degree (advanced degree preferred)  
• Demonstrated success in fundraising growth  
• Proven experience in donor engagement strategy development and implementation, and event management
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Strong CRM system management, Bloomerang preferred
• Excellent communication skills, with a passion for engaging donors and the community
• Prefer candidates with leadership experience within a non-profit
• Prefer candidates with CFRE credential
• Prefer candidates with passion for work involving the impact of Intimate Partner Abuse

WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Possess valid CA Driver’s license, insurance, and ability to drive own vehicle for work purposes to travel within San Mateo County and on the Peninsula
• The position may require working outside of standard office hours to attend fundraising events and meetings

MANDATED REPORTER STATUS – NO

This position is not a mandated reporter.

CORA HISTORY AND OVERVIEW

CORA has provided services to survivors of intimate partner abuse since 1977. Our services include Crisis Intervention, Safe House options, long-term supportive housing, mental health counseling, and legal advocacy. CORA also leads community education initiatives to help prevent domestic violence and to foster healthier relationships. CORA is committed to a collaborative, strengths-based, and client-centered approach that respects the diverse backgrounds and needs of survivors.

CORA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek diversity with respect to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, mental or physical disability, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and any other category protected by Federal, State, or other applicable laws. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

All applicants are welcome. Individuals who are bilingual, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and/or survivors of domestic violence are strongly encouraged to apply. The position will remain open until filled.