Job Description:
The Director of Major Gifts & Annual Fund is responsible for planning, implementing, and managing strategies to secure major gifts and annual fund contributions. This position collaborates with the entire Padua community, bringing variety to daily work. The Director of Major Gifts & Annual Fund reports to the Vice President of Advancement and will assist in the management of the Advancement Operations team.
Reports to:
Vice President of Advancement
Supervisory Responsibility:
Assists in the management of the Advancement Operations team
Position Overview:
The Director of Major Gifts and Annual Fund is strategic and accomplished with experience in fundraising strategy, major gift solicitation, annual fund management, sales, marketing, event planning, or related. The Director will manage a portfolio of annual and major donors through identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Also, the Director will lead the development of strategies that result in the achievement of dollar and participation goals for the annual Franciscan Fund.
Position Purpose:
The Director of Major Gifts and Annual Fund plays a crucial role in securing the financial resources necessary for Padua Franciscan High School to advance its mission.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with the Vice President of Advancement on major gifts, identify new prospects, cultivate, solicit, and steward assigned major donors (individuals, foundations, or corporations), and utilize a moves management approach with current donors who have the potential to increase their annual giving.
- Oversee the Franciscan Fund, our annual fundraising campaign, which involves soliciting smaller, annually recurring donations from a broader donor base. An essential function of this role is the successful management of our 24-hour day of giving, Bruins Big Give.
- Work with the Vice President of Advancement in securing annual membership in the Padua Business Alliance.
- Assist the Vice President of Advancement in the management of the Advancement Operations team to ensure positive growth of goals and outcomes.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and potential major donors through personalized communications, meetings, and events.
- Conduct research to identify potential major donors and Franciscan Fund donors, assessing their capacity, engagement, and interest in giving.
- Prepare and present compelling gift proposals to major donors and Franciscan Fund donors showcasing the impact of their contributions.
- Ensure donors receive appropriate recognition, thank you letters, and updates on the impact of their contributions.
- Collaborate with all members of the Advancement team to ensure alignment of major gift and annual Franciscan Fund strategies with overall fundraising goals.
- Manage the budget related to major gifts and annual Franciscan Fund activities, including tracking expenses and revenue projections.
- Maintain accurate donor records, including contact information, donation history, and communication preferences, using Raiser’s Edge.
- Work with the Vice President of Communications to ensure strategic and timely delivery of social media communications specifically in regards to Bruins Big Give.
- Provide regular reports to the Vice President of Advancement.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant fundraising regulations, including tax laws and ethical standards.
- Contribute to the development and execution of Padua Franciscan High School’s long-term Advancement strategies.
- Attend fundraising events, conferences, and other networking opportunities to build relationships with potential donors and stay informed about best practices.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Can be honed through training, experience, and ongoing professional development. The Director of Major Gifts and Annual Fund will possess a combination of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively and efficiently raise funds for Padua Franciscan High School.
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Fundraising experience including solicitation of donors
- Proven track record of closing major and annual gifts
- Make strategic decisions by analyzing donor data and fundraising metrics
- Experience with direct mail management
- Experience with Raiser’s Edge software
- Team-player with a positive attitude
- Excellent communication skills
- Active listener
- Creative and passionate
- Outstanding customer service
- Resilient and persistent
- Able to respond to unexpected challenges
- Effective time management
- Event planning skills including logistics and promotion
- Able to travel
Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter to Vice President of Advancement Mr. Tony Shuman ’91 at tshuman@paduafranciscan.net by May 10, 2024. Indicate Director of Major Gifts and Annual Fund in the subject line.