Major Gifts Officer–$85,000-$95,000 + Benefits– Smithtown, NY/ Hybrid

The Role

Are you a skilled fundraiser with at least 3 years’ experience securing major gifts? Do you excel in building meaningful donor relationships and thrive in an environment where your efforts directly support transformative causes? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you.

The Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs are seeking a Major Gifts Officer (MGO) for our Smithtown, NY campus.

Reporting to the Director of Development, you will play a vital role in securing donations that empower us to continue our life-changing work. You will manage all aspects of the donor journey, from identifying prospects to cultivating long-term relationships.

This is a hybrid position with 2 days remote and 3 days on site. Flexibility to work weekends and evenings for fundraising activities is required.

If you have the skills and experience to help us achieve our mission, we want to hear from you. Apply today to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee a portfolio of 110-125 major gift prospects and donors nationwide, with contributions starting at $10,000. Responsibilities include identifying, researching, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts.
• Develop successful strategies to increase donor engagement, revenue growth, and community awareness with the Director of Development and Chief Development Officer.
• Create custom cultivation strategies for each person in the assigned portfolio based on the donor’s history of giving and the organization’s knowledge of that donor’s potential.
• Provide stewardship of donors who have made or committed to make a major gift.
• Maintain meticulous records of donor interactions, inputting information into the CRM database.
• Secure appropriate project information, including budgets, and create proposals and solicitations that will be used to secure major gifts.
• Plan and execute Major Donor Cultivation events as appropriate.
• Work in a team environment to represent GDF/AVD and its mission.
• Attend events and meetings on behalf of GDF/AVD.
• Maintain and grow relationships with donors. Work with Leadership Team to identify organizational needs and work with donors to ensure all donor needs are met. Match donors’ philanthropic interests to the organizations’ funding needs.
• Develop and implement a donor engagement plan to help build relationships. Act as the point of contact for the donor within the organization to address any questions or concerns that may arise.

The Company

In 1946, when the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind was founded, its mission was simple: to provide guide dogs and training – free of charge – to people who were blind or have low vision. 

For more than 75 years, the Guide Dog Foundation has trained and placed guide dogs and service dogs to provide increased independence and enhanced mobility to individuals who are blind, have low vision, or other disabilities.  

In 2003, the service dog programs of America’s VetDogs were created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with disabilities, allowing them to once again live with pride and self-reliance.  America’s VetDogs specializes placing highly-skilled service and guide dogs to individuals with physical injuries, PTSD, hearing and vision loss, and seizures.

 It costs over $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog; however, all of the Organizations’ services are provided at no charge to the individual.  Funding comes from the generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations, businesses, and community organizations.

The Person

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college (preferably in Fundraising, Nonprofit Management, Communications, Marketing or other related field).
• Knowledge of planned giving techniques and vehicles.
• 3 + years of demonstrated history of securing major gifts.
• Strong computer skills needed to utilize research tools and implement donor cultivation plans. Experience working with CRM databases necessary.
• Superior communication skills (oral, written, and listening).
• Adhere to the highest ethical standards, the MGO position is highly sensitive and requires impeccable personal and professional integrity and discretion.
• Up to 20% travel.

#ECRUIT

Contact information

Krista Mathews