United Way of Southwestern PA (UWSWPA) focuses on solving the pressing issues you care about by bringing together the entire community — policymakers, corporate leaders, excellent agency partners, and individuals who want to help – to assist our neighbors in need and develop long-term solutions. No other single local non-profit can mobilize all of these partners and bring them together to achieve results. Together we have the opportunity to transform the lives of so many people throughout Pennsylvania and accomplish long- lasting impact.
UWSWPA is seeking an experienced major gift development officer to be responsible for managing a portfolio of Tocqueville Society members (donors contributing $10,000+ annually) and planned giving donor relationships. This work will include, but not be limited to, developing and managing relationships with specific assigned donors and prospects with the capacity to give $10,000 or more on an annual basis. This officer will focus 75% of their time within Allegheny County and 25% of time in Butler and Westmoreland Counties.
- Become a productive member of UWSWPA’s Tocqueville team, contributing to the success in growing our number of Tocqueville Society members through retention of current members and recruitment of new members across the three-county region.
- Develop cultivation and solicitation strategies for prospects and current donors across the three-county region, collaborating as appropriate with other UWSWPA staff, volunteers, and Board members.
- Track performance via various metrics, including face-to-face prospect visits, documented communications and interactions, and solicitations submitted and secured.
- Serve as an active prospect identifier and work in conjunction with staff and/or volunteers, targeting prospects for personal visits and moving annual donors through the donor pyramid into the next giving level.
- Orient, motivate, and support assigned volunteers participating in the cultivation and solicitation, of Tocqueville prospects.
- Maintain record of all cultivation strategies, contacts, solicitations, and results of contacts with prospects and donors in the database of record.
- Focus on securing support for programs that match the philanthropic interests of the prospect/donor.
- Collaborate with other development staff to maximize potential of current donors as planned giving prospects.
- Successful experience in making cold calls as well as developing cultivation and solicitation strategies.
- Extremely effective interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to establish relationships with a wide variety of people.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Ability to absorb and synthesize complex program information and translate into a compelling case for donors.
- Working knowledge of current trends in charitable giving, particularly in the areas of major and planned gifts.
- Comfort working independently and as a team member with initiative and flexibility.
- Possess the ability and discretion to work with high level donors; the ability to make persuasive verbal and written case for supporting key programs and projects and effectively match the interests of prospective donors to UWSWPA’s priorities.
- Familiarity with the targeted three-county region (both for travel and prospecting)
- 5+ years of non-profit fundraising experience, with at least three of those years in a role focused on major gift identification, cultivation, solicitation, and recognition.
- 3- 5 years of experience with various types of planned giving instruments preferred.