Major Gift Officer

Summary: The Major Gift Officer reports to the Director-Major and Institutional Giving. This role is responsible for building and stewarding donor-centered relationships with Missouri Botanical Garden supporters and potential supporters.

This position creates and delivers personalized strategies for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for each donor in their portfolio with a goal of increased engagement and philanthropic giving. The Major Gift Officer also works closely with Major and Institutional Giving colleagues to coordinate activities and opportunities to best match donor interests and maximize philanthropic outcomes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

* Manage a portfolio of 100-150 current and prospective donors

• Provides exceptional stewardship to friends and supporters of the Garden.

• Responsible for soliciting gifts primarily at the $10,000 gift value and higher. Most gift discussions will be for cash gifts and pledges, but the Giving Officer should be prepared to discuss and seek counsel as appropriate, on estate and planned gifts, gifts of securities, and gifts in-kind.

* Utilizes prospect research in order to develop strategies for identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major individual gifts.

• Assumes a lead role in setting appointments with prospects, conducting meetings alone or as part of a team, and coordinating necessary follow-up.

*Conducts Garden tours and visits for donors and prospects, participates in fundraising strategy meetings and supports events at the Garden's main campus and off-site locations.

*Develops and executes individualized recognition plans and proposals for assigned donors, with a goal of capitalizing on existing recognition and stewardship opportunities.

• Works with the Garden Giving Societies program to prepare and execute strategies to increase giving in ways that enhance donor relationships and support long-term donor loyalty.

• Develops and fosters collaborative relationships with colleagues throughout the Garden.

• Provides comprehensive and timely reports summarizing activity, project status, and work plan timelines.

• Utilizes the donor information system (Tessitura) to record all relevant donor data and interactions to support strong donor engagement and communication practices.

• Fosters a culture of teamwork, cooperation, and respect within the division and throughout the Garden, to include all employees, supervisors/managers, volunteers, and visitors.

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Adheres to all Garden policies and procedures including those outlined in the Employee Handbook and Garden Safety protocols.

Supervisory Responsibilities: this position does not have direct reports or supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies:

• Communication: Effectively combines listening, verbal and written communication skills and visitor relation skills.

• Collaboration: Incorporates teamwork, mutual respect, active engagement, cooperation and visitor focus.

• Accountability: Takes initiative and ownership of responsibilities and demonstrates the ability to prioritize and to take action.

• Problem Solving: Blends problem solving skills, judgement and decision making skills along with creativity and resourcefulness.

• Stewardship - Promotes and adheres to sustainability, safety and security protocols; Fosters a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion; Demonstrates effective and prudent use of Garden resources; Maximizes contributions during work hours.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years' experience in annual and/or major gifts fundraising efforts, including documented success in individual gift fundraising, prospect research, solicitation, and records management.

• Experience with and knowledge of planned giving vehicles and practices strongly preferred.

• Proven ability to engage and interact with a wide variety of people; strong customer service orientation.

• Advanced working knowledge and understanding of fundraising principles and practices.

• Willingness to work as part of a team required; proven ability to work collaboratively with internal team members for the purposes of achieving goals/objectives.

• Proven track record of taking ownership of projects through successful completion and coordinating multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.

• Must be able to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure, demonstrate and instill in staff members a high degree of professionalism, integrity, loyalty, and service to the organization.

• Experience with a donor database(Tessitura preferred)

• Strong presentation and public speaking skills.

• Scheduling flexibility that allows working occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays.

• Adheres to all health and safety policies/procedures.

• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receive all vaccinations as recommended by your healthcare provider prior to hire date. The Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on local health department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain required travel clearances, driving permits, and vaccinations for all countries where travel is required.
• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree required in Communications, Non-profit Management, or related degree.

• CFRE designation preferred.

• An equivalent combination of skills, education and experience may be considered.

Computer Skills:

• Intermediate skill level using Microsoft Office Word and Excel programs required; strong working knowledge of Outlook required and PowerPoint preferred.

• Proficient experience using database software programs (i.e. Raiser's Edge, Tessitura).

Other Skills and Abilities:

• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receive COVID-19 vaccinations by hire date, and the Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on community health department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain visas, vaccinations and immunizations for all countries where travel is required.

Language Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively in English (verbal and written).

Mathematical Skills:

• Requires ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate percentages and decimals.

Reasoning Ability:

• Requires ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Ability to possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Physical Demands:

• Requires ability to make frequent telephone calls and routine in-person visits to the organization's current and future donors and prospects.

• Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing) and sit for extended periods of the work day.

• Must be able to lift and carry 20 pounds when transporting supplies and assisting constituents; occasional hands-on participation with event set-ups required.

• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., step stool ladders, etc.)

• Ability to move up and down stairwells (multiple MBG buildings have stairs); walk about facility frequently throughout work day; frequent standing, reaching and stooping - 25% or more of the workday may be spent standing on feet.

• Ability to drive (use of surrey to conduct constituent tours and meetings).

• Must be able to work both indoors and outdoors.

Work Environment:

• Quiet indoor office setting; shared work space, office environment with multiple staff within the department.

• Comfortable working in immediate proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering questions regarding the Garden and its operations.

• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions (i.e., in temperatures over 100F as well as temperatures below 0F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed).

• Dynamic and fast-paced, requiring ongoing cooperation with multiple internal and external audiences.

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden:

• Assigned donors and prospects

• Institutional Advancement staff

• Other employees/volunteers

Supervisor:

• Director, Major and Institutional Giving