Major Donor Director

New York City, NY
Department: 
Development

The Director, Major Donor position is based in New York and is responsible for the overall organizational Major donor program via identification, solicitation, and cultivation of major donors. This position works in coordination with the Vice President of Global Development and other development staff.  The primary goal of the Director, Major Donor is to raise the overall program budget of $3.5 Million in 2010 through cultivation and stewardship of current (approx. 500) and potential major donors. The Director, Major Donor is also responsible for renewals, upgrades and continuous strategic identification of current and new major donors.     The Director, Major Donor works closely with staff in HQ (Washington, DC), New York, and other cities as needed. 

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

  • Identify, cultivate, and solicit new prospects capable of donating major gifts (+$1,000) to secure current funding and raise new money. 
  • Welcome and cultivate current donors, prospects and new donors. 
  • Work with VP of Global Development to create donor cultivation and outreach strategies.
  • Work with VP of Global Development to develop major donor cultivation and solicitation strategies, including setting up four to six meetings per month with new or potential donors for the CEO, COO or the VP Global Development.
  • Arrange for a total of five to six trips a year for the CEO, COO as well as the VP Global Development.
  • Work closely with other major gift staff, including the Major Donor Manager (DC) on the planning and execution of regular communications with major donors. 
  • Work in conjunction with the Major Donor Manager (DC) to provide monthly overview reports for the whole major donor effort (revenue and activities) to the VP, Global Development.  
  • Report  on weekly and monthly activities about major donor outreach.
  • Work closely with the Director of Events (DC) and New York Office staff on cultivation and fundraising events. 
  • Perform additional duties as needed and/or assigned.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in related field plus overall 5-7 years development experience, of which at least  3 years in the area of major gifts with solicitation experience for gifts of $25,000+.
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel, and relevant fundraising software packages required.
  • Prior donor research skills and experience in donor research tools, such as Lexis-Nexus.
  • Superb oral/written communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Proven or substantial supervisory experience.
  • Knowledge of best practices in the field as well as all relevant federal, state, and local rules, regulations, and programs/policies for meeting fundraising compliance requirements.
  • Ability to multitask, work independently, establish goals and systems necessary to implement a successful major donor program.
  • Strategic and analytical thinking skills with an ability to solve problems and make decisions.
  • Ability to represent Oceana and its role in the ocean conservation NGO community to a diverse set of constituents.
  • Ability to take initiative in suggesting ways to augment work and responsibilities of position to accomplish Oceana’s goals.
  • Ability to travel at least once a month with overnight possibilities.



To Apply:

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting a resume, letter of interest and salary expectations to Oceana via e-mail with “Major Donor Director” in subject field to: resumes@oceana.org.  You may also fax (202-833-2070) or mail 1350 Connecticut Avenue NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20036.  Candidates without development experience and who do not submit salary expectations will not be considered. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package. EOE.