Major Gift Officer

About New America: We are a distinctive community of more than 150 thinkers, writers, researchers, technologists, and community activists who believe deeply in the possibility of American renewal. We are dedicated to realizing the promise of America in an era of rapid technological and social change.

At New America, our research and policy recommendations focus on five key thematic areas: education from birth to workforce; family economic security and wellbeing; people- and planet-centered global politics; political reform and civic engagement; and technology and democracy. In each area of our work, we put equity at the center; elevate stories of people closest to the public problems we seek to solve; invest in the next generation of leaders; and intentionally engage with local perspectives. Taken together, these efforts advance toward our vision of a more equitable America that lives up to its values.

Primary Function:  As a Major Gifts Officer at New America, you will play a critical role in expanding our general operating revenue pipeline by securing major gifts of $25,000 and above. Your primary focus will be on identifying, researching, prospecting, and cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals, traditional foundations, and corporations capable of making transformational gifts. This role demands a strategic thinker with a proactive approach to planned giving and major gift fundraising, who can effectively communicate the impact of unrestricted funding on New America’s mission and initiatives.

Responsibilities: 

1. Research and Identification:
   1. Conduct comprehensive research to identify potential donors with the capacity and propensity to give at the major gift level.
   2. Utilize advanced donor databases and other research tools to gather detailed background information on prospects, including financial capacity, philanthropic interests, and personal networks.
2. Donor Prospecting:
   1. Develop and maintain a dynamic portfolio of major gift prospects, ensuring a steady pipeline for outreach.
   2. Implement strategic prospecting methods to engage new donors, leveraging events, existing networks, and referrals from other donors or board members.
3. Relationship Cultivation:
   1. Initiate and deepen relationships with potential donors through personalized communication, face-to-face meetings, and targeted engagement strategies.
   2. Plan and execute small-scale events or private meetings tailored to the interests of high-net-worth prospects to foster engagement and commitment.
4. Solicitation and Stewardship
   1. Craft compelling proposals and presentations that articulate the need for unrestricted support and the impact of such gifts on New America’s work.
   2. Lead the solicitation process, personally making asks and negotiating gift agreements with major donors.
   3. Implement a stewardship plan that recognizes major donors appropriately and encourages ongoing engagement and repeat gifts.
5. Planned Giving and Transformational Gifts:
   1. Promote the benefits of planned giving and explore opportunities for donors to include New America in their estate plans.
   2. Work closely with the development team and senior leadership to structure transformational gifts that can significantly impact the organization’s sustainability.
6. Collaboration and Reporting:
   1. Collaborate with other departments to align donor interests with organizational priorities and projects.
   2. Regularly update and report on progress against goals to the development team and senior management, using CRM systems to track and manage donor information and interactions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or certification in fundraising, nonprofit management, or a related field is preferred.
•  Minimum of 5 years of experience in fundraising, with a proven track record of securing major gifts and managing a donor portfolio.
• Excellent research, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage and influence high-net-worth individuals and stakeholders.
• Proficient in using CRM software and other fundraising technology tools.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral.

Location: Hybrid mode in New America’s Washington D.C. offices

Compensation and Benefits: This position is a full-time role with benefits or no benefits. The annual salary will be between $70,000.00 and $86,658.00, depending on experience.

New America offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes health care, dental, and vision coverage; a generous retirement plan; paid time off; observes all federal holidays; and an office-wide closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

How to apply:  Submit a cover letter and resume. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submissions are recommended.

Physical requirement:

• This position is hybrid, working from home and in an office environment and sits at a desk for extended periods of time and requires dexterity to operate general office equipment;
• The person in this position will frequently communicate with peers, management, company partners/vendors, and the general public and must be able to exchange accurate and timely information verbally and in writing and
• This position may require walking, bending, kneeling, and standing and will require sitting for extended periods of time.

Work environment:

• The work environment is in an indoor office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets

Originality and Transparency:

At New America, we value authentic voices and intellectual property rights. All application materials, including, cover letters, writing samples, and any other submissions, must be solely your own original work. The use of AI text generation tools like ChatGPT, language models, or other artificial intelligence writing assistants is strictly prohibited for any part of your job application. Submissions found to contain AI-generated content will be immediately disqualified from consideration. Applicants have a responsibility to be fully transparent about authorship and any tools or resources utilized. We celebrate human ingenuity and want to hear your genuine thoughts and experiences. 

New America is an equal-opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce at all levels of the organization thereby creating a culture that allows us to better serve our clientele, our employees, and our communities. We value and encourage the contributions of our employees and strive to create an environment where everyone can reach their full potential and drive outstanding results. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. This policy applies with regard to all aspects of one’s employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits, and termination.