Save the Children, a leading global humanitarian organization focused on children, is expanding its fundraising team in Northern California. The Director of Philanthropy will possess a blend of frontline fundraising experience and will be an integral member of the Major Gift team with a focus on securing $10,000 gifts and higher. This position is responsible for building and maintaining a significant base of major gift support from individuals and their networks located primarily in Northern California. This person will be responsible for maintaining relationships with existing major and planned giving donors, identifying prospects, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding both new and existing donors for annual support. This position is a remote position and based in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, California.
- Initiate, deepen and maintain strong relationships with donors – identifying prospects and cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding existing and new major donors. (25%)
- Execute donor cultivation and solicitation strategies, make ongoing assessments about their efficacy, and modify fundraising strategies as needed, to meet revenue target. (20%)
- Develop and execute fundraising plan, incorporating exclusive cultivation activities, to expand major giving by individuals in the assigned areas; represent Save the Children at key local events. (15%)
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records in the fundraising database and track progress using major gifts’ custom reports. (15%)
- Prepare strategy, briefing and debriefing materials for face-to-face meetings with donors. (10%)
- Establish and maintain strategic relationships with colleagues in Resource Development, program staff in both U.S. Programs and International Programs, and members of other departments at Save the Children. (10%)
- Perform other duties as related or assigned, including special projects and possible management of interns or other voluntary staff. (5%)
- Minimum 7-10 years' of fundraising experience
- Proven ability to build strong relationships with a variety of constituents and strong working relationships with high net worth individuals as well as the ability to increase donor giving and a successful track record of raising five, six- and seven-figure gifts and planned gifts
- Strong creative thinking capability to develop engagement strategies with maximum impact and strong background and experience in special event fundraising with a successful track record of using events to attract and maintain donors
- Exceptional listener with ability to understand the needs and motivations of others, find common ground and synthesize information into compelling narratives
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Knowledge of and familiarity with the Bay Area/Silicon Valley and Northern California philanthropic community
- Be comfortable working independent and navigating complex systems remotely
- Be entrepreneurial in spirit
- Ability to work from a dedicated home office, which allows for private and confidential conversations
- Flexibility to travel within the Bay Area to visit donors, program sites, and other stakeholders as needed, and two-three times per year to Save headquarters in Fairfield, CT
- Flexibility to travel to international program sites (on average, once per year)
- Detail orientation and exceptional strategic thinking and problem solving skills
- Strong organizational skills and discipline in stewarding donor information and donor databases and records
- Adherence to the highest ethical standards
- Passion and commitment to Save the Children’s mission and values
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Blackbaud CRM
- Campaign and planned giving experience
- Experience working with business executives and community/nonprofit leaders.
- Past experience working in a regional setting outside of a headquarters office
- Understanding of global humanitarian issues