Major Gifts & Planned Giving Officer (High Street, Boston)

Position Summary:

As a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston’s (BGCB) Development team, the Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer will secure outright and multi-year commitments from individual donors at the $25,000+ level as well as planned gifts at all levels. Additionally, the Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer will play a significant role in expanding the comprehensive planned giving program of this dynamic, established, and growing organization. Reporting to the Senior Director of Individual Giving, this position will work closely with the Nicholas President and CEO, Vice President of Development, Major Gifts Officer and Board, and volunteer leadership to achieve annual fundraising goals and build a pipeline of major and legacy donors to position BGCB for ambitious revenue growth over the next five years. Philanthropy ensures BGCB can serve more than 8,000 individuals each year with contributed support providing 80% of the annual operating budget. The ideal candidate is a team player with excellent relationship management, persuasive writing and communication skills, a successful track record in securing gifts at $25,000+ level, experience soliciting planned gifts, and thrives in a fast-paced environment

Our Mission: The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston is to help young people, especially those who need us most, build strong character and realize their full potential as responsible citizens and leaders. We do this by providing: a safe haven filled with hope and opportunity, ongoing relationships with caring adults, and life-enhancing programs.

Our Values:  

• Youth First – We keep children and teens at the forefront of every action and decision to elevate members’ voices.
• Integrity – We conduct ourselves with honesty and transparency and strive to do the right thing, every day, and every time.
• Community – We foster an inclusive culture by celebrating diversity and respecting the inherent dignity and worth of everyone.
• Equity – We commit to providing opportunities to create just outcomes that honor the needs, experiences, and values of our community, especially those with marginalized identities.
• Innovation – We apply a forward-thinking approach that encourages teamwork, adaptability, strategy, intention, and creativity to address today’s challenges and build positive futures for all members.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Commitment to BGCB’s mission and values, constantly learning and maintaining a thorough understanding of Club programming to inform creative ways to develop personalized funding proposals for top donors.
• Building upon BGCB’s fundraising momentum and achievements, managing a portfolio of 150 major and planned giving donors and prospects, acting as an externally facing fundraiser to strategically develop relationships with new prospects, taking existing relationships to the next level through proactive outreach and face-to-face meetings and solicitations.
• Develop and implement overall strategies for engagement, solicitation, cultivation, stewardship, and follow up with the goal of increasing the number of gifts, donors, and revenue at the $25,000+ level.
• Build on existing momentum to continue to grow planned program through identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding deferred and estate gift donors through face-to-face visits. Work closely with Prospect Researcher to conduct prospective donor research. Identify untapped planned giving constituencies.
• Oversee internal donor tracking and moves management for portfolio and support Senior Director of Individual Giving with tracking outreach and efforts with all major gift and planned gift prospects and donors in Raiser’s Edge NXT.
• Secure at least 10 face-to-face donor and prospect visits a month (100-150 a year).
• Prepare timely and complete gift proposals and illustrations, bequest language and other gift agreements to secure deferred gifts. Work with donors, their advisors, and attorneys to finalize gift terms and transfer assets to Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.
• Through effective conversations and listening, deepen understanding of BGCB’s mission by sharing a strong and consistent message about BGCB’s powerful work and its priorities with donors.
• Work collaboratively with the individual giving team to determine best next steps and engagement activities for major and planned gift prospects.
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Individual Giving and Director of Annual Giving to build the pipeline of major gift donors and prospects.
• In partnership with the Sr. Director of Individual Giving, design and implement all aspects of a comprehensive organization-wide planned giving program. Work closely with other members of the team to integrate planned giving into cultivation and solicitation cycle for potential donors and their families. Seve as an in-house planned giving expert for fundraising staff and volunteer solicitors.
• In partnership with the Sr. Director of Individual Giving and the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications, support a comprehensive marketing program to promote legacy giving.
• Project, monitor, and track major gifts revenue and expenses, adjusting business plans according to results.
• Manage acknowledgement process, briefings, contact reports, gift agreements, pledge and naming documentation.
• Work closely with the special events, communications, and donor relations team to support fundraising efforts. Actively seek and manage donor engagement activities at BGCB Clubs and attend events.

General BGCB Expectations:

• Healthy Behavior Modeling – Teaching youth/teens the importance of living an active, healthy lifestyle is a BGCB priority. As a result, all staff is expected to model healthy behavior while working with our members.
• Inclusive Environment – BGCB values creating child-friendly environments, where youth/teens of all abilities can be successful and participate. BGCB expects employees to embrace its focus on inclusion of all members, regardless of disability or developmental challenge.
• Continuous Learning – Building the capacity of staff is central to BGCB. The organization encourages and requires that all staff participates in annual professional development opportunities that continue to cultivate their skills in the youth development field.
• Safe Spaces – Every staff member shares the responsibility for ensuring BGCB is, and remains, an environment free of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse.

Position Requirements (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Work Demands)

• Bachelor’s degree with 6-8 years of major gifts and direct solicitation experience.
• Experience soliciting legacy gifts and managing a planned giving program
• Experience with Board Committee management and the ability to maintain a high level of diplomacy and confidentiality.
• Highly collaborative, creative, motivated, and energetic individual with successful track record of developing and executing meaningful major gifts strategies.
• Commitment to BGCB’s mission.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build strong and effective internal and external relationships.
• Superb organizational skills, strong follow through and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently with exceptional project management skills.
• Sense of humor and ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Basic knowledge of planned giving vehicles.
• Experience and aptitude for working with fundraising databases, Raiser’s Edge preferred.
• Willingness and ability to work select early mornings and evenings as needed.

 Job Type: Full Time

Schedule: 9 am 5 pm