Major Gifts Specialist

Overview

Major Gifts Specialist Jobs in Greater Orlando at Christian HELP Foundation Inc.

Title: Major Gifts Specialist

Company: Christian HELP Foundation Inc.

Location: Greater Orlando

Major Gifts Specialist

Reports To: Development Director Location: Casselberry, in office, with local travel as needed

Position Summary

Christian HELP is seeking a relationship driven and results oriented Major Gifts Specialist to cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors and prospective major gift supporters. This position is responsible for building meaningful relationships with donors, identifying opportunities for increased engagement and giving, and securing philanthropic investments that support Christian HELP’s mission and programs.

The Major Gifts Specialist will manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors, develop individualized cultivation and stewardship strategies, coordinate donor communications and meetings, and work collaboratively with organizational leadership to grow major gift revenue. The ideal candidate is an excellent communicator who is comfortable building relationships, sharing the organization’s mission and impact, making direct financial asks, and connecting donor interests with meaningful giving opportunities.

Required Qualifications

·      Strong Christian faith and ability to represent Christian HELP’s mission and values.

·      Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

·      Strong organizational and project management abilities.

·      Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM/database systems.

·      1-3 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, business development, sales, relationship management, or a related field preferred.

·      Experience working with individual donors, major gifts, nonprofit fundraising, or philanthropic organizations is strongly preferred.

·      Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

·      Ability to make direct financial asks, follow through consistently, and work toward measurable fundraising results.

Preferred Qualifications

·      Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field preferred.

·      Experience in ministry, church leadership, nonprofit development, or community outreach.

·      Experience in volunteer management, fundraising, or donor relations.

·      Experience successfully cultivating, soliciting, and closing individual gifts, with demonstrated ability to move prospective donors through the full relationship and giving cycle.

·      Demonstrated success making direct financial asks and securing individual, multi-year, or other significant philanthropic commitments.

·      Experience with major gift fundraising, moves management, or managing a donor portfolio.

Key Competencies

·      Relationship Building

·      Donor Cultivation, Solicitation & Stewardship

·      Major Gift Fundraising & Gift Closing

·      Public Speaking and Presentation Skills

·      Networking and Community Engagement

·      Written and Verbal Communication

·      Strategic Thinking

·      Initiative and Self Motivation

·      Organization and Follow Through

·      Collaboration and Teamwork

·      Results Orientation

Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesDonor Cultivation and Relationship Management:

·      Build, cultivate, and maintain meaningful relationships with current and prospective major donors.

·      Manage an assigned portfolio of donors and prospects through all stages of the donor relationship cycle, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, closing, and stewardship.

·      Conduct donor outreach through phone calls, emails, personal meetings, tours, events, and other engagement opportunities.

·      Develop individualized cultivation and stewardship plans based on donor interests, giving history, and capacity.

·      Identify opportunities to deepen donor engagement, increase philanthropic support, and advance donors toward a meaningful giving commitment.

·      Maintain regular contact with donors to strengthen relationships and communicate the impact of their support.

Major Gift Development, Solicitation and Closing:

·      Identify, research, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts from prospective donors whose interests and capacity align with Christian HELP’s mission and strategic priorities.

·      Prepare for and lead or participate in donor solicitation meetings, making direct financial asks with appropriate partnership from the Development Director, Executive Director, Board members, or other key leaders.

·      Develop compelling cases for support and present giving opportunities aligned with donor interests.

·      Develop and execute individualized solicitation strategies designed to secure major gifts.

·      Lead the solicitation process from proposal development through donor decision and gift commitment.

·      Follow up consistently and strategically after solicitations to answer questions, address barriers, and move prospects toward a decision.

·      Partner with leadership, Board members, and other key stakeholders to support donor cultivation and solicitation efforts.

·      Support efforts to secure multi-year commitments, planned gifts, and other significant philanthropic investments, as appropriate.

·      Assist with major gift campaigns, special initiatives, and strategic fundraising opportunities.

Donor Stewardship and Engagement:

·      Ensure donors receive timely and meaningful acknowledgment and recognition.

·      Communicate the impact of donor contributions through stories, updates, reports, site visits, and other stewardship activities.

·      Coordinate donor appreciation events and engagement opportunities.

·      Develop strategies to retain and upgrade existing donors.

·      Maintain strong relationships with key donors and ensure consistent follow-up after gifts are received.

Prospect Research and Pipeline Development:

·      Identify prospective donors with the capacity and interest to make significant philanthropic investments.

·      Conduct basic donor and prospect research to support cultivation and solicitation strategies.

·      Maintain an active and growing pipeline of qualified major gift prospects.

·      Monitor donor activity and identify opportunities for increased giving and engagement.

·      Maintain a clear pipeline of upcoming solicitations, anticipated gift amounts, probability of close, and expected timing.

·      Provide regular updates on donor pipeline activity, solicitations, projected revenue, and closed gifts.

Data Management and Reporting:

·      Maintain accurate and timely donor records, contact reports, solicitation activity, commitments, and relationship notes in the organization’s donor database or CRM.

·      Track donor interactions, giving history, commitments, proposals, solicitations, and stewardship activities.

·      Prepare reports on portfolio activity, fundraising progress, donor retention, solicitation activity, and major gift revenue.

·      Ensure donor information is handled with professionalism and confidentiality.

Collaboration and Organizational Engagement:

·      Work closely with the Development team, executive leadership, program staff, and other departments to understand organizational priorities and funding needs.

·      Partner with program staff to gather stories, outcomes, and impact information for donor communications and proposals.

·      Represent Christian HELP at community events, donor meetings, networking opportunities, and other external functions.

·      Support organizational fundraising events and initiatives as needed.

·      Participate in staff meetings, strategic planning, and other organizational activities.

Key Performance Indicators

·      Number of meaningful donor contacts and meetings completed.

·      Growth and management of an active major gifts portfolio.

·      Number of qualified major gift prospects identified and cultivated.

·      Number and value of major gift solicitations made.

·      Number and value of major gifts successfully closed.

·      Solicitation-to-close conversion rate.

·      Major gift revenue secured.

·      Number and value of donor commitments and multi-year gifts.

·      Growth of the major gift pipeline.

·      Projected revenue and anticipated timing from active solicitations.

·      Donor retention and upgrade rates.

·      Timely completion of donor stewardship and follow-up activities.

·      Accuracy and consistency of donor records and contact reports.

Physical and Work Requirements

·      Ability to work in an office, community, and event environment.

·      Regular travel within the Central Florida area may be required for donor meetings, events, and community engagement.

·      Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support donor events and organizational activities.

·      Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic communication.

Christian HELP’s Commitment

• The Major Gifts Specialist is expected to represent Christian HELP with professionalism, integrity, compassion, and a commitment to the organization’s mission. This individual will play a critical role in building lasting relationships, securing philanthropic commitments, and generating the resources necessary to support individuals and families in the community.