Senior Major Gifts Officer

Jul 25

Written By Yolanda F. Johnson

Reveal/Center for Investigative Reporting
San Francisco, CA (Hybrid)

Anticipated Start Date: August 2024

Description

Position Summary

Are you a superb major gifts fundraiser who cares about the dangers to our democracy and loves investigative journalism? You might be the next Senior Major Gifts Officer at the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR), an award-winning, investigative nonprofit newsroom that is home to Mother Jones, Reveal, and CIR Studios. CIR seeks a collaborative and outcome-driven Senior Major Gifts Officer to join our development team.

Reporting to the Vice President of Development, this newly created position is a senior frontline fundraiser role that will co-manage a growing and important Bay Area portfolio. This role will also work closely with the CEO, the Director of Leadership Gifts, and the Development Researcher.

You will be part of a dynamic and experienced development team focused on supporting our newly expanded newsroom, which makes it an exciting time to be fundraising for this vibrant news organization. Funds from major donors are a key revenue stream as we continue to build out the organization’s hybrid business model. We are a distributed team with primary offices in San Francisco, New York, and Washington, D.C. The Senior Major Gifts Officer must be located in the greater Bay Area.

HOW TO APPLY

Only applications submitted to this Application Form will be considered for this recruiting round. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applicants for any given role, there may be delays in responding to every application submitted. What you’ll need for the application form:

An updated resume
A well-thought-out cover letter outlining why you are perfect for this job; how your specific vision for this role can advance CIR’s goals; and how your skills can achieve that vision.
A two-page (maximum) writing sample that demonstrates your written ability to pitch a major donor.

A Note to Potential Candidates: We recognize that potential candidates with identities that have been historically excluded from the fundraising field may be less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications as described in the job description. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply.

Responsibilities

Develop and steward an active portfolio of 75-100 major donors and prospects (individuals, select family foundations and DAF funders) to cultivate, solicit, and close gifts in support of CIR’s organizational priorities.
Cultivate meaningful donor connections through strategic in-person or virtual meetings (approximately 6-8 personalized encounters monthly).
Maintain strong relationships with existing major donors that lead to renewed funding and increased support by deepening their engagement.
Develop and execute strategies for prospecting new or lapsed, with support from the Development Researcher.
Implement major gift cultivation and stewardship plans, including major gift pipeline growth activities, in coordination with the development team.
Collaborate with the development team to craft compelling, personalized collateral and proposals to cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with a focus on multi-year commitments.
Leverage existing events and lead new initiatives to curate and execute new Bay Area in-person events focused on recruiting new prospects and strengthening donor engagement (i.e. panel discussions, cocktail receptions, salons, fireside chats, and other donor-directed initiatives).
Assist in developing and planning substantive virtual experiences for donors.
Ensure timely capture of fundraising data in Salesforce, share pertinent information with peers and senior leadership, and maintain impeccable donor records, including email communication, meeting notes, follow-ups, written engagement, solicitation strategies, and giving projections.
Develop annual revenue projections based on donor and prospect profiles, capacity, and engagement strategies.
Meet or exceed annual revenue goals.
Work to support the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging goals of the organization.
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

BA/BS or equivalent work experience.
Minimum 5 to 10 years of relevant frontline fundraising experience and project management experience, with at least 5 years in a major gifts role.
A track record of identifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing and maintaining major donor relationships.
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with an ability to build professional relationships with major donors.
Problem-solver with excellent planning and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and set and adhere to deadlines; ability to maintain confidentiality.
Outcome-driven, self-starter, and proactive with the capacity to work both independently and as part of fast-paced collaborative teams.
Grace under pressure, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to manage projects with tact, diplomacy, and good humor.
Experience with Salesforce preferred, along with a general understanding of data systems and web-based CRMs and prospecting tools like iWave.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and G Suite; experience with Asana or other project management software preferred.
Able to travel and work some evenings.
An interest or experience in fundraising in a news organization or the areas that Mother Jones /Reveal covers is a big plus.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

$135,000-$145,000

How to Apply for this Job

Apply Now

About the Organization

The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) engages and empowers the public through investigative journalism and groundbreaking storytelling that sparks action, improves lives, and protects our democracy.

Reveal, CIR’s public radio program and podcast reaches millions of people a week across more than 500 stations nationwide, its video team produces documentaries with the likes of Netflix and cable television channels, and teams up with partners across the country to distribute long-form stories in digital and print. Reveal/CIR is regularly recognized for excellence, creativity, and impact. Reveal/CIR is known for its innovation and creativity.

They push the boundaries of where and how their stories are told: REVEAL/CIR was the first investigative newsroom to launch a podcast; they’ve turned their stories into art installations and comic books; Reveal/CIR partners across the industry to reach big audiences – from Netflix to the Los Angeles Times, PBS NewsHour and The Guardian.

Reveal/CIR makes it nearly impossible to miss their stories. In our 44 years, Reveal/CIR has racked up Emmy, Peabody and Murrow awards, and have even gotten an Oscar nomination for its work. Reveal/CIR’s annual operating budget is $11 M.

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