The Organization
The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), a 36-year-old national nonpartisan organization, empowers low- and moderate-income households to build and preserve assets by advancing policies and programs that help them achieve economic mobility. As a leading source for data about household financial security and policy solutions, CFED understands what families need to succeed. We promote programs on the ground and invest in social enterprises that create pathways to financial security and opportunity for millions of people.
Position Overview
We seek a Major Gifts Officer to join our 6-person Development Team to significantly expand our work to secure funding from individuals. The Major Gifts Officer will be responsible for identifying and developing relationships with new and current CFED supporters, cultivating those relationships to the point of solicitation, and then soliciting (or helping solicit) significant gifts of $25,000 and above under the direction of the Chief Philanthropy Officer.Our successful candidate will thrive on open collaboration; intellectual curiosity; an energetic, entrepreneurial approach to challenges; an upbeat, collegial environment; and hard work and drive toward fulfilling CFED’s mission.
Responsibilities:
⦁ Work closely with the CEO and Chief Philanthropy Officer to recruit, launch and staff the inaugural CFED President’s Council – a small but mighty network of individual donors contributing $25K+ to CFED annually and leveraging their networks to secure a minimum of $1.5M in support for CFED annually.
⦁ Personally manage a portfolio of 75 to 100 prospects. Provide consistent cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship through personal visits, telephone calls, written proposals and other communications for key CFED projects.
⦁ Plan and execute solicitation strategies leading to major gifts.
⦁ Travel throughout the country to pursue these strategies and build enduring relationships.
⦁ Articulate CFED’s needs, values, and ambitions through excellent informal and formal communications, including written proposals.
⦁ Partner with the Communications Team to design and coordinate CFED fundraising events and materials.
Qualifications:
⦁ Passionate about helping to create an opportunity economy for all families in the U.S.
⦁ Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five years of fundraising experience with a track record of portfolio management resulting in meeting/exceeding yearly solicitation goals.
⦁ Demonstrated success personally soliciting gifts of $25,000 and above.
⦁ Experience with launching a fundraising Advisory Board or Council with specific fundraising responsibility.
⦁ Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with CFED leadership, staff, prospects and donors.
⦁ Excellent organizational skills and successful experience managing events and other complex activities in support of development initiatives.
⦁ Highly developed verbal and written communication skills and the ability to make effective presentations to small groups.
⦁ Demonstrated experience in conducting research and assembling data, analyzing information, and preparing effective, accurate and timely reports and other documents to support development activities.
⦁ Willingness and ability to travel nationally.
⦁ Previous experience with Planned Giving helpful, though not required.
⦁ Previous experience with Salesforce helpful, though not required.
FLSA Status: Exempt
Physical Requirements: Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time throughout the workday.
Required Travel: >20%
To apply, submit your cover letter and resume online here.
CFED is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that diversity of background and perspective are strengths, and seek to continue to grow a diverse, highly committed, skilled, and collaborative staff.
We encourage candidates from various backgrounds to apply.