Officer, Major Giving

Job Description

The External Relations (ER) department is comprised of three main but complementary functional areas: Private fundraising, Communications and Advocacy. The main objective of the department is to enable this organization of more than 12,000 staff to have the resources needed to continue serving 18 million people worldwide in places affected by war and disaster, shape the humanitarian sector by influencing key policies and reforms and build and grow IRC’s reputation. The USA Philanthropy unit, part of the ER department, leads on the organization’s work with USA-based High-Net-Worth Individuals.

Positioned within USA Philanthropy, the Major Giving team has the goal of improving private individual support for the IRC. We engage, cultivate, solicit, and steward six- and seven-figure gifts and multi-year commitments from high-net-worth individual supporters of the IRC.

A dynamic front-line fundraiser, the Major Giving Officer will help drive revenue growth through the strategic management of a portfolio of major giving prospects (defined as donors, prospective donors, and suspects with wealth capacity ratings of at least $100K and up to $4.9MM). With a geographic focus on the IRC’s designated western region of the United States, the Officer will serve as a relationship manager throughout the donor life cycle to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward six and seven-figure gifts, using donor-centric fundraising practices and deploying program and IRC leaders. The Officer will also help build a strong pipeline of major gift donor prospects and grow revenue across the region.

The Officer will be an entrepreneurial professional who excels at front-line relationship building and devising prospecting strategies for their portfolio, including crafting and implementing strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects with the capacity to give six and seven- figure major gifts. A collaborative and strategic thinker, the Officer will work closely with the Director, Major Giving Western Region and IRC leadership to handle high-level partnerships and opportunities. The Officer also will collaborate with the Global Partnership & Philanthropic Services team to secure proposals, donor engagement communications and touch points, and stewardship reports.

Major Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 70 – 100 high-capacity major giving donors, prospects, and suspects that results in retaining donors and realizing ever growing size gifts at the high six and seven-figure level.
• Create strategic correspondence, including solicitations, cultivation pieces, reports, and other stewardship materials, to engage donors and prospects.
• Work effectively across teams to craft tactics and engagement strategies to deepen donor commitment, increase giving, and fully leverage funding opportunities such as multiyear commitments, blended gifts, gifts of securities, and planned gifts.
• Choreograph, prepare strategy, briefing, and debriefing materials for face-to-face meetings and solicitations with donors conducted personally and/or with senior staff and Board leadership.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the IRC, notably Crisis Response, Recovery, and Development, International Philanthropy & Partnerships, Mass Markets, and Global Partnerships & Philanthropic Services, to align donor and organizational priorities in a way that improves income for the IRC and creates multi­faceted, deep engagement with the organization.
• Work collaboratively with a dedicated Manager to strategize and actively track and measure progress toward financial goals and movement of prospects and donors across the donor lifecycle.

Candidate Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
• Advanced degrees and/or related certifications a plus.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 3 to 5 years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience with proven expertise in major giving, especially closing $1MM+ gifts.
• Experience with Planned Giving a plus.

Demonstrated Skills and Proficiencies:

• Work successfully in a sophisticated, fast-paced organization serving multiple partners.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven track record to prioritize and deliver on time.
• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional team structure.
• Ability to handle and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.
• Have a can-do attitude with a flexible disposition to respond to fast-paced, shifting priorities.
• Experience using databases required; technology expertise is important.
• Dedication to fundraising for international development, humanitarian, human rights, social justice, and U.S. immigrant communities.

Working Environment: This role is remote full time and expected to be based in the Western USA. Applicants must have a home or alternate workspace they can effectively complete their work from during regularly scheduled hours. Successful candidate must be available to occasionally work evenings and to travel domestically as required. Occasional international travel, as needed.

At the IRC, we seek to build a welcoming, inclusive environment not only for our refugee clients, but for all of our employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we value the strength found in the diversity of voices, experiences, and backgrounds who join us in our work. Fostering an inclusive culture with equitable practices is everyone’s responsibility, and we regularly offer trainings and opportunities to learn more and find ways to do better. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, socioeconomic status, or disability status. We are dedicated to ensuring that disabled individuals are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. In your application, please feel free to indicate your preferred pronouns.

We recognize that few applicants may “check all the boxes,” but that each person has their own unique strengths that they would bring to the table. In our commitment to building a diverse and authentic work culture, we invite you to apply anyway. You belong here.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:

In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity:

IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.