Senior Major Gift Officer

ABOUT LIFEMOVES

LifeMoves is the largest and most effective provider of interim housing and services for homelessness in Silicon Valley since 1987. Our mission is to end homelessness by providing interim supportive housing, tailored services, and building collaborative partnerships. With over two dozen interim supportive housing communities and more on the way, LifeMoves gives our neighbors experiencing homelessness a temporary place to call home while providing intensive, customized case management through site-based programs and community outreach.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Senior Major Gifts Officer (SMGO) is responsible for developing and executing strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors with the capacity to make significant philanthropic contributions. This individual will play a key role in securing major gifts in support of LifeMoves’ mission.

The SMGO will identify and engage prospective donors through exploratory meetings to assess philanthropic interests and giving capacity, and will build and manage a portfolio of major donors. Over time, the SMGO will be expected to achieve a minimum annual fundraising goal of $2 million.

The ideal candidate brings an understanding of donor strategy and is skilled in making direct asks to advance organizational priorities. They can discuss assets and planned giving options with confidence, listening for opportunities to secure both cash and non-cash gifts. The SMGO will foster strong, collaborative relationships, engaging Development colleagues as needed, and keeping them informed of donor interactions, issues, or concerns. They should be adept at articulating organizational priorities, interpreting project budgets, and developing compelling funding proposals. Additionally, the SMGO will be responsible for accurately recording all meaningful donor activity in the LifeMoves donor database.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build and manage a portfolio of donors and prospects in the Silicon Valley region.
• Develop and implement strategies for MG prospects and donors to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donors.
• Advance toward annual revenue, solicitation, meeting, and outreach goals, with the expectation of ultimately achieving a minimum fundraising target of $2 million per year and additional goals for bequest intentions, in close collaboration with the supervisor to track progress and refine strategies.
• Partner with the Board of Trustees and agency leadership to support their engagement and fundraising efforts.
• Engage in regular donor meetings and local events, with travel within the region as needed.
• Collaborate with program leaders and development staff to provide timely updates, acknowledgements, and recognition to donors, and to engage prospects more deeply.
• Maintain a strong knowledge of LifeMoves’ mission, programs, and priorities in order to effectively communicate with donors.
• Support the planning and execution of donor engagement opportunities, including events and site visits.
• Accurately record donor interactions, strategies, and progress in donor databases.
• Seek opportunities for ongoing professional growth and development.
• Contribute to a culture of philanthropy and help foster a respectful, collaborative, and productive work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree and at least four years of related work experience in fundraising, or equivalent.
• Proven ability to build strong relationships with donors, volunteers, and colleagues at all levels through effective interpersonal skills, active listening, diplomacy, and tact.
• Demonstrated success in soliciting and closing gifts of $25,000 or more from individual donors.
• Knowledge of and experience within the Silicon Valley philanthropic community.
• Self-starter with the ability to navigate complex organizational structures and multiple stakeholders.
• Collaborative team player with experience working closely with organizational leadership.
• Ability to absorb and synthesize complex program information and translate it into a compelling case for donor support.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with proficiency in negotiation and organization.
• Familiarity with current trends in charitable giving, particularly major gifts and planned giving.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience using donor databases.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement fundraising initiatives, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Ability to assess donor interest, capacity, and inclination to support LifeMoves, and to connect those interests with organization’s priorities.
• Strong judgement and decision-making skills, with the ability to assess situations using incomplete information; commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to effectively manage a portfolio, prioritize competing demands, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively, demonstrating initiative and flexibility.
• Commitment to fostering an equitable and inclusive work culture that values partnership, active listening, and diverse perspectives.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adult professionals. The employee must frequently use hands or fingers and handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee must frequently stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities this position requires include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.