What are the responsibilities and job description for the Annual Giving Direct Marketing Gift Officer position at Food Bank for the Heartland?
Position Title: Annual Giving Direct Marketing Gift Officer
Supported by: Director of Development
FLSA Status: Exempt, Full-Time
Our Story:
Food Bank for the Heartland has connected our communities with food, resources, and hope since 1981. The fight against hunger is our ongoing, collaborative effort. We work with individuals, organizations, food manufacturers and distributors, grocery stores, the USDA, and Feeding America to procure food and purchase food to supplement donations. Through the collective power of our leadership, employees, partners, volunteers, and donors, we can reach more communities, serve more people, and address food insecurity more directly and effectively. As new needs arise, we are ready.
Our Philosophy: Every service we provide, program we offer, and decision we make is rooted in our core Mission, Vision, and Values.
In Short:
The Annual Giving Direct Marketing Officer works to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward annual gift support and build the pipeline of donors for the Food Bank. This position manages a comprehensive, strategic annual giving program, including direct marketing, digital marketing, days of giving campaigns, and special third-party virtual campaigns. The Annual Giving Officer engages donors through robust campaigns utilizing direct marketing, online/electronic tools, monthly giving, matching gifts, and peer-to-peer opportunities, while enhancing donors’ experiences with Food Bank for the Heartland. The position provides strategic, short-medium- and long-range planning for growing the annual giving program and meeting fundraising goals while fostering the growth of best practices in annual giving at the Food Bank. The Annual Giving Officer participates in donor relations activities and supports tools and initiatives that convey gratitude and outcomes of gifts to the Food Bank.
Your Mission:
Supported by: Director of Development
FLSA Status: Exempt, Full-Time
Our Story:
Food Bank for the Heartland has connected our communities with food, resources, and hope since 1981. The fight against hunger is our ongoing, collaborative effort. We work with individuals, organizations, food manufacturers and distributors, grocery stores, the USDA, and Feeding America to procure food and purchase food to supplement donations. Through the collective power of our leadership, employees, partners, volunteers, and donors, we can reach more communities, serve more people, and address food insecurity more directly and effectively. As new needs arise, we are ready.
Our Philosophy: Every service we provide, program we offer, and decision we make is rooted in our core Mission, Vision, and Values.
In Short:
The Annual Giving Direct Marketing Officer works to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward annual gift support and build the pipeline of donors for the Food Bank. This position manages a comprehensive, strategic annual giving program, including direct marketing, digital marketing, days of giving campaigns, and special third-party virtual campaigns. The Annual Giving Officer engages donors through robust campaigns utilizing direct marketing, online/electronic tools, monthly giving, matching gifts, and peer-to-peer opportunities, while enhancing donors’ experiences with Food Bank for the Heartland. The position provides strategic, short-medium- and long-range planning for growing the annual giving program and meeting fundraising goals while fostering the growth of best practices in annual giving at the Food Bank. The Annual Giving Officer participates in donor relations activities and supports tools and initiatives that convey gratitude and outcomes of gifts to the Food Bank.
Your Mission:
- 60% Annual Giving Direct and Digital Marketing
- Build and implement strategic and tactical plans for achieving annual giving goals and metrics.
- Develop and maintain understanding of best practices and industry trends around direct marketing practices.
- Serve as liaison to direct marketing vendors and other contractors to create and implement full year direct marketing strategies and plans to ensure execution of fundraising appeals and achieving fundraising targets.
- Manage relationship with direct marketing vendors providing the day-to-day coordination and approval between vendors and External Affairs.
- Develop annual giving budget and manage expenses within approved budget for direct marketing efforts.
- Manage internal and third-party peer-to-peer virtual events by working with event organizers, assessing needs, and coordinating appropriate technical support.
- Produce online donation forms, peer-to-peer virtual campaigns, matching gifts campaigns, and appropriate processes within each to include fund restrictions, direct and digital marketing specific prospect list builds.
- Manage sustainer monthly gift campaigns to include communication, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities for monthly donors.
- 30% Annual Fund Reporting and Stewardship
- Collect, analyze, and report on data to inform annual giving strategies and evaluate their impact and success. Manage dashboards concerning annual giving and virtual campaigns.
- Support stewardship and donor relations activities including the use of platforms supporting broadcast email, video capabilities and drip marketing campaigns.
- Participate in Prospect Management initiatives to deepen individual portfolios and build an overall donor pipeline by identifying prospects for monthly giving and prospects that are ready to be in the research phase for capacity growth.
- Capture new information for entry into our donor data base regarding Monthly donor’s interests, relationships, life events and information about capacity for philanthropic giving.
- 10% Database and operational Support
- Collaborate with Data Base Manager and CRM provider on best practices and implementing innovative tools concerning the annual giving program.
- Collaborate on, support, and attend Food Bank special events, like Celebrity Chef. Represent the Food Bank at various speaking engagements and check presentations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge and Experience in Annual Giving Fundraising.
- Demonstrate experience in direct marketing and prospect segmentation.
- Demonstrated experience with planning and project management in fundraising environment.
- Experience working with vendors.
- % Understanding of and comfort with data bases.
- High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to represent FBH with professionalism and customer service skills when interacting with donors, stakeholders, and vendors.
- Proficient at task management and oversight, including the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks, be flexible, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to troubleshoot complex issues and problem solve.
- Works well and effectively with others on collaborative projects.
- Ability to work independently
- Familiarity with statistics and reporting
- Curiosity and research skills
- Must be able to always maintain confidentiality.
Your Story:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- 3 years previous annual giving and non-profit experience required.
- Three years’ experience in working with data bases preferred.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office is required with exceptional skills using Excel.
- Lived experience with the impacts of systemic racism or marginalization is a plus.
About The Team:
Everyone at Food Bank for the Heartland, from our administrative staff and warehouse employees to our team members working in partnership in the various community locations, shares a common vision: to help eliminate hunger in our service area—one initiative, program, and thoughtful decision at a time. Our culture is committed to welcoming you to our table, supporting your passion and drive, and focusing on diversity, growth, and community involvement.
This role is vital to the Food Bank for the Heartland’s team and is directly supported by our Director of Development.
We provide an environment to help you succeed.
Food Bank for the Heartland is an equal-opportunity employer, and we’re excited to work with talented and empathetic people of all identities. As required by law and in line with our commitment to diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity, FBFH does not discriminate based on someone’s identity in any aspect of hiring or employment. Our code of conduct provides a beacon for the kind of company we strive to be, and we celebrate our differences. FBFH will consider all qualified applicants.
FBFH is committed to inclusion. As part of this commitment, FBFH welcomes applications from individuals with disabilities and will work to provide reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodations are needed to participate in the job application or interview process, don't hesitate to get in touch with adurr@foodbankheartland.org
We support your well-being.
We offer medical, retirement, supplemental, and leave benefits. We have resources such as our Employee Assistance Program to support your mental health.
