Position Overview

Senior Major Gifts Officer

Reports to Vice President, Major & Planned Gifts

St. Michael's Hospital Foundation, through its philanthropic activities, assists St. Michael's Hospital in attracting the resources required to fulfill and enhance its mission.

The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors including members of the business and professional community. Funds are used to support priority areas as defined by the hospital including the purchasing of equipment, renovations, new facilities, research and educational priorities.

The Foundation raises funds from a variety of initiatives: annual giving; special events; major and planned gifts.

The Position

Reporting to the VP Major and Planned Gifts, the Senior Major Gift Officer’s primary role will be to contribute to the planning and implementation of Foundation activities to maximize individual, corporate and foundation donor support, cultivate existing donors to give at leadership levels, and formulate strategies for raising gifts of $10,000 or more.

The Senior Major Gift Officer will work closely with senior volunteers, board members and the like on major campaigns and support of hospital programs and priorities. He or she will participate actively in the moves management process and will work with Board Members and other volunteers to initiate the most appropriate solicitation based on the needs of both St. Michael’s Hospital and the donor.

In addition the Senior Major Gift Officer will provide direct leadership and staff support to volunteer activities.

Primary Responsibilities

Major Gift Fundraising:

Raise funds for the Foundation’s annual major campaigns

Manage a group of 100 to 150 prospects (identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship) and reviewing the strategy with members of the major gifts team. It is expected that Senior Major Gift Officers will participate in generating revenue for the Foundation at a minimum of $1 million annually soliciting a minimum of 30 asks

Work with the major gifts team to identify top 10% (prospects) to achieve 90% of fundraising goal. Works with major gifts team to identify donors from annual giving program to cultivate in order to raise gift 10 to 25 times their annual amount

Effective working relationships:

The Senior Major Gifts Officer is responsible for managing relationships with several key volunteer leaders.. Specifically:

Meet with volunteers, physicians and staff regularly to identify prospects, determine cultivation activities, etc. Identifies potential partners and develops strategies to solicit those prospects

Works with President, Vice President and major gifts team to identify new volunteers

Collaborates with volunteer leaders to keep them motivated and involved

Identifies, cultivates and solicits, with the assistance of key board members and volunteers, those persons able to make gifts of $10,000 or more, as well as other donors capable of moving to leadership levels of support

Planning & Reporting:

Develop and track detailed individual cultivation, solicitation, stewardship plans and annual budgets. Specifically:

Research and identify new major individual donor prospects by being aware of those who have histories with the Foundation and those who have sufficient means to become significant benefactors.

Identify potential partners and develops strategies to solicit those prospects and steward their gifts, including written materials such as cases for support, proposals, and scripts.

Assist in the preparation of an annual plan of measurable goals and strategies (including precise and practical deadlines), to maximize major gifts from individuals for Foundation priorities.

Assist in preparing the annual budget for major gifts

Report weekly fundraising activities (includes: names of volunteers to recruit/visit, solicitation calls, cultivation calls, Board calls-preparation for next campaign-give/get.) at Foundation’s weekly major gifts meeting and ensures that these actions are recorded in the Foundation’s Raiser’s Edge database

Prepare briefing notes, proposals and other relevant materials as needed, under the direction of the VP of Major Gifts

Ideal Candidate’s Profile

Our successful candidate will have:

University degree and/or equivalent education and experience. Demonstrated proficiency in strategic planning and moves management

Minimum four years fundraising experience with responsibility for planning, maintaining and executing strategic initiatives. Campaign experience strongly preferred

Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) an asset

Background in and appreciation for donor/prospect databases (experience with Raiser’s Edge preferred)

Demonstrated proficiency working with microcomputer applications in a Windows environment (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, electronic mail/scheduling, internet)

Excellent organizational, communications (verbal/written), interpersonal and problem-solving skills

Demonstrated ability to handle multiple priorities and be self-motivated in a high pressure and demanding work environment

Must be able to work cooperatively in a team environment

Previous experience working for a not-for-profit organization is an asset

Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of the mission and values of St. Michael’s Hospital