Leads the major gifts team which includes managing all relationships that have the potential to generate at least $10,000 in support, outright or deferred, on an annual basis. Leads a team that raises $10 million in new commitments a year (including outright support, stock, bequests, life income gifts, and trusts) and works directly with high-net worth individuals and legacy prospective donors that leads to support that enables the Foundation to support its mission and charitable programs and, when required, AARP and its affiliates to support its public policy, education, social impact, and outreach programs, as well as other priorities. Leads developing, planning, implementing strategic direction for aggressive fundraising initiatives for individuals designed to secure, and maintains ongoing sources of private funds, including targeted or organization-wide campaigns, special fundraising initiatives targeted to individuals, and managing high-level volunteers that have the interest and capacity to mobilize their influence and networks in support of generating contributed support.
Areas of Responsibility:
- Defines strategy and directs all major gift fundraising, outright and deferred, to generate support for the Foundation (and AARP programs, when appropriate).
- Leads a comprehensive major gifts program and develops strategies to ensure a successful major gifts fundraising effort.
- Manages relationships with all major gift donors and prospective donors. Oversees management of gift planning and major gift teams and works in partnership with the CDO and appropriate AARP leaders to create and implement sound strategies for major gift fundraising.
- Responsibilities are strategic and operational. Deals with a variety of complex challenges which range from developing a strong case for support within an innovative approach for developing programs and interventions at scale to managing a robust, growing pipeline, and effective stewardship of the Foundation’s top individual donors.
- Serves on high-level, cross-functional teams, ensuring that the Foundation meets its revenue and dashboard goals. Has wide latitude to make independent decisions and judgements.
- Works behind the scenes to resolve problems, mediate disputes, and deal with issues. Provides guidance for maximizing the use and impact of the CDO’s time as it relates to high-level major gifts opportunities and a growing pipeline of high-net worth prospective donors. Must be able to evaluate intangible factors, such as potential changes in the economic, political, business, or social environment in order to recognize and maximize opportunities with the Foundation’s top individual donors.
- Leads a dynamic and robust major gifts and gift planning team.
- Ensures the growth of a multifaceted revenue stream (i.e., outright and deferred gifts) with targeted efforts to raise money from individuals, including those that use other giving structures to facilitate their giving (e.g., DAFs, family foundations, estates, and trusts).
- Advises on funding sources appropriate for particular projects and works to solicit and cultivate donors.
- Leads the organization and development team on relationships with all major donor prospects through effective identification (new prospects), cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Works with the appropriate colleague(s) to ensure appropriate acknowledgement, recognition, and stewardship of gifts (and donors) from individuals managed (regardless of the area or organization supported) personally or by the team.
- Shares responsibility for managing effective relationships with direct response and corporate/ foundation relations team members.
- Develops campaign and engagement strategies for individuals that help draw individual major gift prospects closer to the mission and work.
- Oversees (in conjunction with appropriate colleagues) all marketing and direct response efforts for generating leads to major gift prospects, including ads in the magazine and direct response (online and offline) for generating leads to the Foundation’s legacy programs (e.g., bequests, trusts, life income gifts, beneficiary designations).
- Ensures an effective lead generation process utilizing internal resources and outside vendors (e.g., marketing, direct response, calling qualification) to provide and manage a steady stream of new prospective major gift prospects.
- Leads special campaigns targeted at special constituencies (e.g., board, staff, lead volunteers).
- Builds a dynamic and robust pipeline of individuals, of AARP members, and non-members with the capacity and interest to make a major gift to the Foundation, including all engagements, channels, and engagement efforts that identify or cultivate a growing group of potential individual supporters.
- Develops an effective gift planning and major gift program that provides unrestricted and program specific support to Impact Programs, in conjunction with appropriate colleague(s). Uses creative and flexible approaches to funding programs at the national, regional, state, and local levels. Works closely with the Chief Development Officer (CDO), Impact Program Vice Presidents, and staff to fully understand program objectives so that engaging and effective fundraising strategies can be designed and implemented.
- Ensures appropriate activation, acknowledgement, recognition, and stewardship of commitments regardless of the area or organization supported.
- Works closely with the Chief Financial Officer (or designate) to develop campaign and proposal budgets that accurately reflect the request and accompanying work that corresponds with approved budgets.
- Provides clear, written, regular updates on all interactions with individuals managed by the major gifts team and ensures they are recorded in the data management system. Works with appropriate colleague(s) to ensure accurate pipeline and progress reports.
- Works in partnership with the CDO and President of the Foundation to create and implement sound strategies for major gifts fundraising that beneficially advance common goals and strategic priorities.
- Promotes cost efficiencies in all fundraising efforts. In concert with the CDO, evaluates current and proposed major gift strategies and recommends actions to modify fundraising approaches to ensure success.
- Manages the relationship with appropriate agencies and vendors who support gift planning and major gifts efforts, including all outsourced services (e.g., estate planning call center) and program managers (e.g., CGA program administration).
- Ensures compliance with all applicable laws and follows ethical standards for charitable giving as defined by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP). Leads the Foundation programs with integrity.
- Understands, promotes, and demonstrates attributes in the Foundation’s principles and core
Educational Background:
Completion of a Bachelor’s degree ( an advanced degree and Certified Fund Raising Executive preferred)
Skills/Experience:
- 12-15 years of demonstrated success in major gifts fundraising and successful gift planning expertise; or an equivalent combination of training and experience related to a senior, established fundraiser in the profession that align with the duties of the position.
- Leadership and strategic qualities to develop and manage a comprehensive major gifts program and staff and to lead appropriate day-to-day activities and operations that meet the goals of the team.
- Experience developing solid working relationships with high-net worth individuals, as donor prospects and volunteers.
- Good understanding of the rules and regulations regarding 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) fundraising programs and operations.
- A record of success in leading, organizing, and implementing financial goals and strategies, analyzing and identifying problems and formulating creative solutions.
- Strong, effective communications and presentations skills that engage and persuade individuals to support AARP and Foundation projects and programs and that effectively market those programs to diverse, high-profile major corporate prospects.
Compensation/Benefits:
AARP offers competitive benefits with a 401K, 100% company funded pension plan, health, dental, vision and life insurance, STD/LTD, paid vacation and sick, and other benefits.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Nov 25 2018
Active Until:
Dec 25 2018
Hiring Organization:
AARP
industry:
Nonprofit