JOB TITLE: Director, Major Gifts
DEPARTMENT: Development
REPORTS TO: Chief Development Officer
STATUS: Full-time, exempt
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) seeks experienced applicants for the full-time position of Director, Major Gifts (DMG). The DMG is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive major gifts strategy for CIR to achieve the organization’s revenue goals from individuals and family foundations.
A member of CIR’s senior leadership team, the DMG works closely with the Chief Development Officer (CDO), CEO, Executive Chair, Executive Director and Board of Directors to support the achievement of CIR’s financial and strategic goals and objectives.
In close collaboration with the CDO, the DMG is responsible for developing persuasive, factually accurate and compelling materials and messaging for donors, prospects and other external stakeholders. The DMG is further responsible for maximizing the professional, strategic and development capacity of each member of CIR’s Board of Directors and works closely with the Board Chair, Executive Director and CEO to do so.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Major Gift Development
Lead CIR’s major gifts program. Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for growing individual and major donor revenue by identifying and cultivating new prospects, soliciting gifts, and stewarding CIR’s highest-level individual donors.
In partnership with CDO, prepare and manage the annual and multi-year individual development goals and budget, and oversee execution of plans.
Create, document and implement strategies to expand the donor pipeline and upgrade existing donors, achieving aggressive targets for an increase in number of donors, gifts and overall donor engagement.
Work as part of the overall development team to develop and execute strategies to achieve annual departmental goals.
Liaise with the Executive Chair, CEO and the Executive Director for the solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship of a portfolio of 100-125 donors giving $10,000 and above, and with donors with capacity to make six and seven figure gifts. Create individual goals for each person in the portfolio based on the donor’s history of giving and the organization’s knowledge of that donor’s potential and provide ongoing, extensive support to the Executive Chair, Executive Director, CEO and Board members in their cultivation and solicitation of prospects and donors.
Working closely with the CDO, draft highly personalized donor communications, produce briefings and call sheets, recommend and prioritize next moves, and propel and facilitate donor identification, research, and outreach.
Keep meticulously detailed records in donor database regarding all major donor identification, cultivation, stewardship, solicitations, reporting requirements, and other pertinent information. Produce portfolio management reports; analyze results with the CDO and other members of the development team.
Plan and execute annual appeal and other timely mailings to individual donor prospects.
Plan and produce events, private lunches and dinners, and other in-person activities.
Partner with identified CIR staff and/or external consultants to create donor communication materials. Coordinate with key CIR editorial staff to ensure donor communications are factually accurate, compelling and accurately represent the goals, activities and aspirations of the organization. Work closely with other staff to develop membership marketing materials.
Other duties as assigned.
Collaborate with the CDO and development team to benchmark and track goals, expenses and accomplishments.
Board Relations
In partnership with the CDO, CEO, Executive Chair and Executive Director:
Provide attentive support to the Executive Chair for development related activities.
Maximize the professional, strategic and development capacity of each member of CIR’s Board of Directors through organization of Board committee structure, and creation and execution of individual giving and engagement plans for each board member.
Help plan and staff board meetings and ad hoc board committee meetings.
Help prepare quarterly organizational board reports.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
5 years+ experience working in a major gifts fundraising position; a proven track record of securing visits with prospective donors, and soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gifts in the $10,000+ plus range.
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write effectively, speak persuasively, and listen attentively. Ability to effectively communicate the mission, goals, and needs of an organization to donors, increasing donor loyalty and engagement.
Exceptional diplomacy, poise, and ability to work in high-pressure situations and on tight deadlines.
Principled, ethical, professional and committed to exceptional work quality and standards.
Highly organized, proactive, detail-oriented, and able to prioritize with superior time management and troubleshooting skills.
Experience with donor database management and systems, Salesforce preferred.
Willingness and desire to travel periodically to accompany CIR leadership on donor meetings. Must be available for some weekend and evening responsibilities.
Bachelors Degree required.
Commitment to and knowledge of nonprofit journalism field, programs, trends and issues a plus.
COMPENSATION:
Generous salary depending on experience. Excellent benefits include 15 days paid vacation in addition to office holidays; medical, vision and dental insurance for staff members, their dependents and spouse/ domestic partner; life and long-term disability insurance; employee assistance program and 403(b) plan.
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (www.revealnews.org)
The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) is the nation’s first independent, non-profit, nonpartisan media organization dedicated to preserving democracy through fact-based investigative journalism. We follow stories wherever they lead, and are not beholden to outside interests. CIR’s reporting reveals and addresses injustice, with a focus on government and corporate accountability, human rights, environmental and human health, veterans’ affairs, national security and domestic surveillance.
High-impact: CIR’s reports arm the public with the facts needed to spark federal legislation, policy change at all levels of government, public interest lawsuits, reforms in corporate practices, op eds that move the needle of public opinion, and dialogue across the aisle, coast to coast, and worldwide.
Innovation in Storytelling: CIR is pioneering new methods of storytelling by convening technologists, journalists, artists, and media-makers to advance the reach, relevance and impact of investigative journalism. Among CIR’s leading-edge contributions to the field is Reveal, the nation’s first investigative reporting program for public radio, podcast and web. Carried on more than 250 stations nationwide, including 9 of the top 10 markets, the pilot episode won a George Foster Peabody Award.
Award-Winning: CIR is known for its credibility, leadership, and for setting the bar for the highest standards in multiplatform journalism, most recently: Winner of the 2014 George Foster Peabody Award for the pilot episode of Reveal, the nation’s first investigative reporting public radio show, created by CIR and PRX; Winner of the 2014 Robert F. Kennedy Award, the nation’s premier human rights reporting prize; Winner of the 2013 prestigious Barlett & Steele Gold Award, the preeminent national business journalism medal. Other finalists included the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal; Finalist for 2012 Pulitzer for local reporting and 2013 Pulitzer Public Service Gold Medal; Recipient of 2012 and 2013 George Polk Awards for Exemplary Achievement in Journalism.
How to apply
TO APPLY:
Please email a resume and cover letter to development@cironline.org describing: 1) your interest in this position, and 2) the ways in which you satisfy the qualifications specified above. Please also include a writing sample that you wrote entirely, preferably for fundraising purposes. (If you submit a piece that you did not entirely write, please indicate the extent of input others had on it.)
CIR is an equal opportunity employer.