Major Gifts Officer

Supervisor: Director of Major Gifts

Employee Status: Year-Round, Full Time, Salary, Exempt

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday with occasional evening/weekends

Salary Range: $72,000 – $80,000 per year, depending on experience

Work Location: Shelburne Farms (in-person)

 

Who We Are

Shelburne Farms is an education nonprofit on a mission to inspire and cultivate a sustainable future. We offer transformative learning experiences to help educators and students create a better world.  Our home campus is a 1,400-acre working farm located on the unceded, traditional, and contemporary homelands of the Winooskik band of the Abenaki.

What We Do

• Engage youth and people of all ages in learning experiences that inspire them to build just, diverse, resilient, caring communities.
• Steward our working lands and heritage buildings as we embody values of place and community through caring for and sharing our natural, agricultural, cultural, and human resources.
• Collaborate with educators and other local, national, and international partners to advance education for sustainability worldwide

Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Shelburne Farms recognizes that justice, equity, and access are central to sustainability. We are committed to translating these values into action across the organization by improving equitable outcomes in our culture, programs, and services.  Shelburne Farms is working to create experiences of belonging for all, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, and people of all economic realities. We are passionate about building and sustaining a diverse and welcoming working and learning environment for all program participants, guests, and staff.

 

Position Objective

This position directly contributes to Shelburne Farms’ mission to inspire and cultivate learning for a sustainable future by developing and stewarding long-term relationships that will lead to philanthropic support through major, capital, and planned gifts.

Key Responsibilities 

• Manages a portfolio of donor relationships through the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycles
• Forges relationships with prospective donors that will lead to major gift solicitations
• Regularly meets with donors and prospects in-person and virtually
• Devises and implements donor-centric fundraising strategies to meet activity and revenue metrics through portfolio planning and moves management
• Establishes and maintains relationships with volunteers and friends of the Farm who may be able to assist with prospect strategies
• Helps plan and implement donor cultivation events
• Conducts prospect research

Qualifications & Experience

• Inspired by the Farm’s mission, vision, core values and strategic plan
• Commitment to fostering a culturally aware learning community, open to multiple perspectives
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in development
  Proven fundraising experience with identifying, cultivating, soliciting and closing gifts from individual donors. Prior experience at the major gift level is preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must possess strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, flexibility, resilience, and a positive attitude
• Proficient in Microsoft applications
• Experience working with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge preferred
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and meet deadlines
• Ability to work well independently and as a team player
• Demonstration of good judgment, professionalism and the highest standards of ethical conduct.
• Available to work occasional weekends and evenings

Physical Factors

Able to work in close quarters in an open, busy office environment
Ability to travel locally and nationally as needed
Must be able to drive a car and have valid drivers license

Compensation & Benefits

• We offer two medical plans, a Flexible Spending Account for medical and dependent care expenses, voluntary dental and vision insurance, company paid long term disability and life insurance with additional voluntary life insurance options, and a 401(k) with the potential for company match.
• Paid Time Off & Sick Time: 20 paid days off per year and 7 paid sick days per year.
• Additionally, we offer a 30% discount on Farm products.

How to Apply

Submit a resume and response to the questions outlined below to [email protected].

Title your email subject as “Major Gifts Officer”.

Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled. In your cover letter, please describe:

• How your qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of the Farm and this position
• How your experiences, values, and/or efforts demonstrate your commitment to the values of diversity, justice, and equity
• How you heard about the position

 

Shelburne Farms is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Candidates with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences are strongly encouraged to apply. The duties and responsibilities described herein are not intended to be a complete and comprehensive list; additional tasks may be assigned to this position from time to time, and the scope of the position may change based on operational demands.