We're Hiring: Major Gifts Officer

Published on January 9, 2025

Job Title: Major Gifts Officer

Reports To: Director of Development

Job Status/Salary: Full time; salary commensurate with experience; eligible for benefits package.

Beyond Hunger's Mission: Harnessing the power of communities to end hunger.

As the Major Gifts Officer you will design, develop, and implement our major gift program focused on individual and corporate funding to support Beyond Hunger’s annual operating budget of $5+M. Use your expertise and passion to help Beyond Hunger grow and evolve our mission to create a community where everyone is nourished. You will manage and cultivate relationships with existing major gift donors, research and solicit prospective donors, and engage corporate partners. This position works closely with the Director of Development, board members, and the Beyond Hunger development team to increase awareness and support of the organization’s mission and goals.

As the Major Gifts Officer, you will:

Help our donors accomplish their philanthropic goals and ambitions through a relationship with our organization.
Develop strategic funding plans for individual major gifts and corporate partnerships.
Identify, support and secure gifts at the $5k to $50k level, building a portfolio of at least 150 major donors and major gifts prospects.
Manage systems and software to track and cultivate donors and prospects, including our donor database and potential wealth screening tools.
Create a donor stewardship outreach and communication plan, with the support of the Communications Manager, including electronic and print materials, direct mailing, outreach cadence, and stewardship opportunities for events.
Collaborate with the development department to align efforts and set goals, and work with staff, the Board of Directors (BOD), and volunteers to identify and pursue corporate gifts.
Develop and implement moves management plans utilizing Beyond Hunger's extensive CRM database (Salesforce).
Make direct, face-to-face solicitations and assist board and other staff with their solicitation by providing portfolio development support, strategic counsel, and donor communications.
Plan and execute major donor prospect events and recognition opportunities.
Acknowledge major donors through public and private recognition.
Support the development of departmental budgets.
Track and report progress using specific metrics.
Contribute to general development department activities, events, and outreach.

This job might be for you if:

You're a true people-person with an outgoing nature.
You're a self-starter and are driven by results.
You have at least 6 years of nonprofit fundraising experience, including securing individual and major gifts and meeting objectives. You engage donors in our work and find their specific programmatic interests.
You are comfortable using a donor database, prospect research, and other wealth screening tools to support your moves management process.
You have honed your writing and speaking skills and use them to compel individuals to act. You are a friend of the Oxford comma.
People are inspired by your determination. You bring people in line with a vision and motivate them to reach goals.

Qualifications

BA or professional experience leading or working in a sophisticated individual giving program.
6-10 years of major gift fundraising experience, including a track record of successful donor solicitations and relationship management (highly preferred).
Exceptional interpersonal skills for donor, prospect, and colleague relationships.
High energy, positive attitude, respectful demeanor, enthusiasm for hunger issues.
Diplomacy, discretion, and strong fundraising ethics.
Cross-cultural sensitivity and fluidity.

Environment and Benefits

Flexible Work Hours: This position is mostly in-person with the ability to work remotely when needed.

Learning Benefits: Beyond Hunger highly values and partially funds staff professional development.

Paid Time Off: 15 PTO days for vacation or personal use (after six months), five sick days plus 10 paid holidays per year (some holidays are flexible), last wee of year off (12/24-1/1).

Health Care: Health & dental benefits (after 30 days), and SIMPLE IRA retirement plan (after 6 months).

Workplace Detail: Smoke- and drug-free environment. Administrative offices/workspace are not fully accessible to the mobility-impaired. Easy access to the Green Line, METRA, and free on-site parking.

Beyond Hunger is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create an inclusive and equitable workplace. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

How to apply: Send cover letter and resume to Teri@gobeyondhunger.org by February 7, 2025.

Beyond Hunger's Core Values:

Respect: We will adopt positive and asset-based orientations and practices.
Equity: Racial inequities drive hunger and must be addressed within and by our organization. By recognizing layered racial, social, and economic inequities we will enhance access to nutritious food for disproportionally affected people.
Accountability: We are committed to continual improvement. We recognize that learning is constant and must be prioritized. Therefore, we will persist in assessing the impact of our work and implementing best practices while focusing on core strengths.
Community: We deepen the impact of our work by building an inclusive community—solving hunger in partnership with volunteers, donors, residents, and, importantly, individuals who understand our impact because they personally have been affected by it.

Beyond Hunger is harnessing the power of communities to end hunger. An award-winning direct service agency, we serve residents of 13 zip codes on the West Side of Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Last year we provided critical food assistance and programming to over 65,000 individuals. We focus on health and nutrition, providing food and resources that nourish and sustain. Our work is resourced by an operating budget of over $5 M, 18 full-time staff members, 6 part-time staff, over 1300 active volunteers—and possibly you.