Employment

Position: Individual Giving Officer

Summary of Position:

We are seeking an Individual Giving Officer to join our team. This is a unique opportunity for a development professional with experience in individual major gifts fundraising to become part of the organization’s growing development and communications team. They will be responsible for managing a portfolio of around 100-150 donors and prospects. The Individual Giving Officer will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals in support of the Minnesota Land Trust’s mission. This position will report to the Director of Development and Communications and will work collaboratively with the Development and Communications team and program staff.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ):

All employees of the Minnesota Land Trust are expected to embrace the ideals of our DEIJ plan and incorporate our DEIJ goals into their ongoing work. All employees should be familiar with the current DEIJ plan.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Major Gift Fundraising: 85%

• Develop and manage an assigned portfolio of 100–150 major gift donors and high wealth prospects who have the capacity to make annual or multi-year commitments or planned gifts. Serve as the primary relationship manager, developing and implementing personalized cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Conduct significant donor interactions monthly for the purpose of qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors, with a starting goal of 15-20 per month. Metrics include major gifts closed, major gift solicitations, funds raised, visits and prospect qualification.
• Maintain an annual “Top 25” pool of prospective major donors who will be solicited for a significant commitment in the next 12- to 18-month period.
• Design and implement a donor qualification strategy.
• Develop and execute new and ongoing strategy for qualifying donors to ensure retention, growth of donor’s contributions, and recapture of previous donors.
• Expand and provide structure to the planned giving program, employing a deep understanding of the principles and techniques associated with planned giving and financial and estate planning.
• Create case statements and other donor collateral as needed.
• Involve senior leadership and the CEO in the cultivation and solicitation process when appropriate.

Collaborative Development Efforts: 15%

• Occasionally serve as event-planning liaison for fundraising events if major donor perspective is needed.
• Serve as a member of the Development and Communications team and assist with fundraising appeal planning and execution, donor relations, database operations, and other joint department project.
• Develop a significant prospect pipeline in collaboration with the development team.
• Work with the Director of Development and Communications to assign portfolio assignments as appropriate.
• Prepare prospect or donor memos for senior staff in advance of donor meetings and events.
• Work with development and communication colleagues to help prepare cultivation and stewardship collateral.
• Perform development-related administrative duties including timely entry of donor data and contact reports in the CRM, budget management and personal expenses.
• Conduct donor prospect research when needed.

Position Requirements:

1. A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required for this position and at least five years of experience working as a major gifts professional or philanthropy officer.
2. An ability to build rapport with donors, volunteers, colleagues and board of directors.
3. Experience writing fundraising proposals and using a CRM to track donor & prospect management.
4. A collaborative approach and a commitment to working as part of a team.
5. An ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
6. Well-organized and self-directed.
7. Experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, email, calendar programs and CRM.
8. Professional demeanor and excellent communication skills.

Physical Demands:

1. Office duties to be performed at a desk and at a computer.
2. Ability to occasionally travel long distances by car to meet prospects and donors and attend events.

Salary Range: $88,000 – $100,000 annually

Location: Saint Paul, MN hybrid

Supervisor: Director of Development and Communications

Classification: Full time, Exempt

To Apply:

Please email a cover letter and resume saved as a single PDF to Sue Martinez at smartinez@mnland.org. Position is open until filled.

Minnesota Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Company will not discriminate because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, genetic information, sex, disability, age, or any other status protected by state or local law, for employees who fall within the jurisdiction of such law.