Senior Major Gifts Officer

SENIOR MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER

Martha’s Table requires all team members and classroom volunteers to have completed a COVID-19 primary series and received one booster dose. Team members who are not yet eligible for a booster must submit proof of their booster vaccination within 2 months of receiving their final primary series dose or an original monovalent booster vaccine to hr@marthastable.org.

Martha’s Table will consider waiving the vaccination requirement for:

• Team members who object in good faith and in writing, pursuant to procedures established by the City Administrator or his or her designee, that the employee’s vaccination would violate their sincerely held religious beliefs; and

• Team members who have obtained and submitted written certification from a physician or other licensed health professional who may order an immunization, that being vaccinated for COVID-19 is medically inadvisable because of the employee’s medical condition.

Team members who believe they qualify for either exemption must submit a request for a waiver along with appropriate documentation to support their request to hr@marthstable.org.

Martha's Table is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants who are unable to be vaccinated for religious or medical reasons should contact Human Resources (hr@marthastable.org) as soon as possible to engage in the interactive process and explore what, if any, reasonable accommodations Martha's Table is able to offer.

ABOUT MARTHA’S TABLE

At Martha’s Table (MT), we believe that every Washingtonian deserves the opportunity to thrive. For over forty years, we have worked to support strong children, strong families, and strong communities by increasing access to quality education, health and wellness, and family resources.

Together, we are “One MT.”  This means we work across all three of our locations to support our shared mission. In all that we do, we exemplify our four core values of respect, compassion, teamwork, and accountability. These values -- and our commitment to “white glove service” -- guide how we engage with the communities we stand alongside and how we work together as a team. When you come to Martha’s Table -- as a guest or as a team member --  you are valued and you deserve our very best.

In order to be the best version of MT, we are deeply committed to equitable practices. We apply the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in providing programming and services; in creating our Board; in partnerships and procurement; and in hiring, training, and advancing our team members.

We invest in our team members’ personal and professional goals through our “STEP” program, which includes tuition for continuing education, certifications, and professional development; funding to unlock financially held transcripts; and flexible leave options.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Major Gifts Officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors to retain and increase contributions, overseeing all aspects of the Major Gifts campaign for gifts between $10,000 and $149,999, while also managing and expanding the Maz Legacy Circle planned giving society, supporting leadership giving, and leading the Annual Benefit, our largest fundraising event.

POSITION DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops and Implements a Comprehensive Major Gift Strategy that Retains and Grows Portfolio of $10,000-$149,999 donors
  • Researches, qualifies and cultivates individual and institutional (e.g. family foundations) prospects at the $10,000+ giving level.
  • Builds and strengthens authentic relationships with high-capacity donors leading to closing and stewarding high impact gifts
  • Creates and implements customized strategies for each prospect. This includes setting and meeting goals, objectives and setting significant actions or moves leading to closing gifts.
  • Develops and implements tailored solicitations for active and prospective donors that match their philanthropic interests with organizational funding needs. Drafts compelling written solicitations and cases for support, makes direct in-person asks, and facilitates solicitations by Board Members and senior leadership, as appropriate. 
  • Coordinates and attends internal strategy meetings to determine and define the areas of greatest fundraising needs.
  • Maintains a well-designed and documented prospect portfolio. Balance contacts to qualify prospects and key cultivation moves that result in stronger relationship, solicitation and commitment.
  • Maintains strong relationships with portfolio members after gifts are received through proper acknowledgement, tracking, and reporting on contributions. Thanks donors for gifts in a personal, timely manner to express appreciation on behalf of Martha’s Table. 
  • Coordinates with the Development Assistant to ensure formal acknowledgements are accurately and expediently issued. 
  • Ensures gift agreements for restricted contributions are executed in a timely
• Plans and manages fundraising events targeting major gifts (E.g. Annual Benefit and spring fundraiser) with support of development team
  • Collaborate with Deputy Chief of Development and CDCO to develop and execute event fundraising strategies
  • Co-lead planning of event with Special Assistant to CDCO (Special Assistant lead logistics; Senior MGO leads fundraising and relationship building aspects of event)
  • Coordinate and track sponsorships for the event
  • Track and report on progress to overall fundraising goals
• Maintains and Grows the Maz Legacy Circle/Planned Giving Program:
  • Expands and maintains a comprehensive planned giving program which results in funds raised through the cultivation and closing of outright, irrevocable and revocable deferred gifts.
• Data Management and Analysis
  • Records accurate and timely data, planned actions, and accomplished moves with constituents in the fundraising database
  • Regularly analyzes portfolio revenue and other key performance indicators throughout the year to assess results; interprets data to recommend and implement appropriate changes to targets or adjustments in strategies
• Management
  • Supervise the Donor Engagement Associate,  fostering professional development and ensuring a collaborative and efficient workplaces
• Other Duties as Assigned:
  • Forms strong relationships with team members across Martha’s Table to stay abreast of programmatic progress and to involve program team members meaningfully in fundraising activities. 
  • Keeps abreast of industry best-practices and services around fundraising and prospect research.
  • Collaborate with other department leaders and across the organization to engage donors through storytelling, impact reports, volunteering, events, and other relationship building activities.
  • Work closely with colleagues across departments, including Communications, Programs, and Finance, to ensure alignment and integration of fundraising efforts with organizational objectives.
• Commitment to Martha’s Table’s mission and core values of compassion, respect, teamwork, and accountability 
• Embodies and serves as a model for “white glove service” and our organization’s core values
• Attend at least 2 anchor events annually
• Performs other duties as assigned

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Fundraising Strategy and Execution: Exceptional ability to develop comprehensive major gift strategies, set fundraising goals, identify key initiatives, and evaluate progress against targets. Demonstrated success in areas of major gift, planned giving, and fundraising events, as well as soliciting and stewarding donors giving in the $10,000-$149,999 level is essential. (critical skill)
• Data Analysis and Utilization: Keen ability to analyze fundraising data using CRM databases and other tools  for assessing performance, identifying trends, and making informed decisions to adjust strategies as needed. Knowledge of data analytics methods and tools is essential for optimizing fundraising efforts. (critical skill)
• Donor Communication and Engagement: Strong written and verbal communication skills to craft  compelling messages and deliver them effectively across multiple channels to diverse audiences. A persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills. Knowledge of donor communication best practices and experience in donor stewardship and outreach activities are important for building and maintaining donor relationships.
• Leadership and Team Management: Demonstrated leadership skills providing management of annual giving programs, supervising staff, managing vendors, and coordinating cross-departmental collaboration efforts. Knowledge of leadership and team management principles, including effective communication, delegation, and motivation techniques, is essential for leading a successful annual giving strategy.
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: The ability to collaborate effectively with other department leaders, stakeholders, and external partners is important for aligning annual fund strategies with overall fundraising and institutional goals. Knowledge of fundraising regulations, donor data compliance standards, and ethical fundraising practices is essential for maintaining positive relationships with donors and stakeholders. Ability to maintain a high level of poise and professionalism in all circumstances
• Budget and Project Management: Knowledge of budgeting principles and experience in managing budgets is important for developing and managing the annual budget for fundraising events, tracking expenses, and ensuring financial objectives are met. Project management skills are needed to plan, organize, and manage concurrent donor communication campaigns in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Proficiency in Every Action or sophisticated CRM system
• Experience managing a portfolio of major donors
• Experience soliciting five and six figure gifts.
• Collegiality – the ability to develop and maintain good relationships with colleagues on other teams across the organization, as well as points of contact at partner organizations.
• A proactive nature, willing to roll up one’s sleeves to help out the organization in ways that fall outside the job description, such as taking part in volunteer shifts.
• Creativity – finding new, innovative ways to communicate with funders/prospects and leverage our communications resources.
• Ability to inspire, generate excitement, shared purpose, and actions
• Strong verbal and interpersonal skills and confidence necessary to engage in face-to-face and/or phone solicitations
• Understanding of multichannel direct marketing and familiarity with segmentation strategies using a large constituent database
• Experience working effectively in a large, complex non-profit and working across departments to gather information, data, and stories of impact; demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Strong community awareness and understanding with a demonstrated commitment to the values of diversity, inclusiveness, and empowerment.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree plus 4 years of experience in development, demonstrating a successful track record creating annual giving campaigns, soliciting gifts, and conversion strategies preferred. Or 6 years of progressively successful fundraising experience, preferable in a nonprofit or higher education setting.
• Firm knowledge of full fundraising cycle and best practices, from prospect identification to donor stewardship. Commitment to using moves management approach to major gift development. Ability to work both independently without close oversight: also a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside the organization
• Proven track record of successfully meeting or exceeding fundraising goals, preferably in a non-profit setting.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience supervising staff and fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to articulate a compelling case for support and engage donors effectively across various channels.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and implement data-driven fundraising strategies.
• Creativity and innovative thinking
• Proficiency in fundraising CRM systems and data analysis tools. 
• Commitment to the mission and core values (Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork) of Martha’s Table.
• Knowledge of the Washington, D.C. philanthropic landscape is a plus.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Vision: Ability to read small print and view a computer screen for prolonged periods.
• Hearing: Ability to tolerate exposure to noisy conditions.
• Speech: Ability to be understood in face-to-face communications, to speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood over a telephone or computer.
• Upper Body Mobility: Ability to use hands to grasp, and manipulate small objects; manipulate fingers, twist and bend at wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower head.
• Strength: Ability to lift, push, pull and/or carry objects which weigh as much as 20 pounds 
• Environmental Requirements: Ability to encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with others; work independently; work indoors.
• Mental Requirements: Ability to read, write, understand, interpret and apply information at a moderately complex level essential for successful job performance; math skills at a high school proficiency level; judgment and the ability to process information quickly; learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy, compare, compile and coordinate information and records. Understand how to manage stress.
• Remote Work Requirements: 50% in office; 50% remote. Flexibility to work nights and weekends as needed (e.g. for anchor events)
• Additional Work Conditions & Physical Abilities: Ability to be flexible and adapt as needed between various in-person working environments. The walking and standing components are primarily related to occasional meetings and interviews with key stakeholders. Driving/commuting is sometimes also necessary for partner or community meetings/events.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

This position requires the completion of a satisfactory background check. Martha's Table is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment of any kind.Martha’s Table is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion or belief, age, sex (including pregnancy), national, social or ethnic origin, disability status, HIV status, family medical history or genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, family or parental status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Martha's Table will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at 202-328-6608 or via email at hr@marthastable.org.