Major Gifts Officer

 Major Gifts Officer

 The Trinity-Pawling School is a leading independent all-boys boarding school with a close-knit community of 100 employees and 300 students.  Our activities and efforts are focused on our mission, which is to educate and instill a value system that prepares young men to be contributing members of society amidst the challenges of the ever-changing world.  Currently, we are seeking a Major Gifts Officer.

 The Major Gifts Officer reports to the Director of Advancement and works closely with Advancement and Trinity-Pawling School leadership to develop a comprehensive strategy and implement a robust major gifts and planned giving program in support of Trinity-Pawling School’s mission, vision, and present and future strategic goals.

 Essential Duties

• Support the Director of Advancement and Trinity-Pawling School leadership in strategic planning and revenue forecasting by executing plans in support of individual and team fundraising benchmarks aligned with the School’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Identify, research, qualify, categorize, cultivate, solicit and steward current and prospective donors of planned gifts, integrated planned/major gifts, and future campaign/transformational gifts through fundraising best practices and strategies.
• Maintain and increase donor engagement, and secure planned and major gifts through personalized correspondence, concept briefs, proposals, presentations, telephone calls, in-person visits, and/or other relationship-building methods.
• Manage a portfolio of prospects including alumni, parents, family members, trustees, community members and other stakeholders of the School.
• Conduct a predetermined number of personal visits/month with qualified prospects to ensure achievement of fundraising goals; moving donors along the prospect pipeline; and nurturing and deepening relationships to better understand and strategically align donors’ priorities and goals with the needs of the School.
• Solicit gifts for building renovation/construction, naming opportunities, endowment, programs, scholarships, legacy initiatives, and unrestricted or other support identified as a priority by the School.
• Help grow a culture of philanthropy among the School’s networks, shaping the messaging for compelling and tailored fundraising appeals and solicitations.
• Leverage knowledge of the various forms of planned giving and estate planning, inclusive of tax implications of charitable giving, in the solicitation and acquisition of planned gifts, and prepare life income and other planned gift proposals, including calculations and related documents for donors and their advisors.
• Develop and implement marketing strategies for planned gifts and expand planned giving opportunities through special events and meetings.
• Articulate the mission, programs and activities in a succinct and compelling manner; and recruit/train volunteers as necessary.
• Work collaboratively with other members of the Advancement office across all organizational revenue streams as needed.
• Improve efficiency by analyzing data (ex: donor pool, response rates, ROI, etc.); establishing goals by using benchmarking data and best practices from peer institutions; analyzing demographic and psychographic trends; and creating reports from the School’s database.
• Develop personal mastery by participating in professional development, networking to incorporate best practices, and reading professional publications.
• Promote the interest of students by being a good role model, establishing and reinforcing clear boundaries and guidelines, encouraging students’ autonomy and independence and acting in a transparent manner.
• Performs other duties as may be required.

 Position Requirements

BA degree required with at least 8 years experience in frontline fundraising experience, with a minimum of 5 years in major gift fundraising, and demonstrated success with soliciting and securing 5+ figure gifts and planned gifts. Familiarity with education and/or fundraising in an independent school environment is preferred.  The qualified candidate will also possess:

• social skills, a sense of humor, flexibility, dependability, high energy, creativity, entrepreneurialism, analytical and problem-solving skills, self-motivation, sound judgment, high ethical standards, collegiality, and the ability to work effectively with a team;
• excellent writing skills with impeccable grammar, attention to detail, and eloquent prose, in forms ranging from casual emails to information-laden newsletters/blogs, concept briefs, or proposals.

And be able to:

• successfully manage all aspects of the giving cycle and employ moves management strategies
• make in-person planned and major gift solicitations, as well as assisting the Director of Advancement, the Board of Trustees and others with solicitations
• conduct timely and appropriate follow-up, successfully close planned and major gifts, and achieve or exceed fundraising goals
• analyze donors’ propensity, capacity, and enthusiasm to give, and ensure donor alignment
• communicate effectively the various planned giving vehicles and tax implications to donors and their advisors
• communicate effectively with top-level donors, trustees and senior administrators
• develop and maintain strong, ongoing engagement with donors through successful relationship-building strategies
• create, plan and implement multiple and concurrent projects and events
• leverage technology by extracting data to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations and reports using software such as MS Word, MS Outlook, MS Excel, Raiser’s Edge, etc.
• establish and build relationships with individual high-net worth donors and trustees
• build cross functional partnerships
• participate in evening and weekend activities and able to travel both domestically and internationally
• meet the physical demands which include sitting for prolonged periods of time at a desk or computer workstation, using repetitive arm, hand and finger movements traveling on uneven terrain, climb/descend stairs/stand for long periods of time and carry up to 50 pounds.

All resumes must include a cover letter. 

Note:  Trinity-Pawling School is mandating that all eligible employees are vaccinated against Covid-19.

Trinity-Pawling School offers all full-time employees a comprehensive benefit plan which includes medical, dental, retirement, and paid time off as well as the use of our state-of-the-art facilities. 

 The Trinity-Pawling School provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, the School complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.  Employment is contingent on candidates receiving a satisfactory criminal background check