Senior Officer, Major Giving (East) at International Rescue Committee
Job Overview/Summary:
The External Relations (ER) department is comprised of three main but complementary functional areas: Private fundraising, Communications, and Advocacy. The main objective of the department is to enable this organization of more than 15,000 staff to have the resources needed to continue serving 18 million people worldwide in places affected by war and disaster. The Philanthropy unit, part of the ER department, leads on the organization’s work with High-Net- Worth Individuals.
We’re seeking an experienced Senior Officer to join our team. Positioned within the USA Philanthropy department, the Major Giving East team has a goal of deepening private individual support for the IRC by engaging, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding significant, multi-year commitments from high-net-worth individual supporters based in the Eastern United States.
A dynamic front-line fundraiser and relationship cultivator, this person will help drive revenue growth by strategically managing a portfolio of Major Giving donors and prospects capable of giving $100K or more. With a geographic focus on the Eastern region of the United States, the Senior Officer will serve as a relationship manager throughout the donor life cycle to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward five and six-figure gifts, using donor-centric fundraising practices and deploying program and IRC leaders. They will also build a strong pipeline of major gift donor prospects and increase revenue across the region.
The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial professional who excels at front-line relationship building and devising prospecting strategies. They will craft and implement strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects with the capacity to give five and six-figure Major gifts. As a collaborative and strategic problem-solver, the Senior Officer will work closely with the team’s Director to handle high-level partnerships and opportunities. The Senior Officer also will collaborate across the External Relations team to secure proposals, donor engagement communications and touch points, and stewardship reports.
Highlights of Major Responsibilities:
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Manage a portfolio of up to 100 high net worth individuals. guiding each relationship through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship with a focus on building authentic, long-term connections.
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Lead proactive prospect discovery through relationship and network mapping, leveraging research and discovery conversations to identify and qualify new donor relationships.
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In partnership with the Director of Major Giving, develop thoughtful, creative, and long-term engagement strategies that deepen donor commitment and grow giving over time.
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Travel as needed to meet with donors, prospects, and suspects across assigned geographies, building trust through consistent, in-person engagement.
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Secure five- and six-figure gifts through front-line fundraising activity, engaging senior leaders and program staff as strategic partners when appropriate.
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Develop and manage briefing and debriefing materials, meeting strategies, and solicitation plans for face-to-face interactions conducted personally and/or with senior staff and Board leadership.
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Collaborate across the IRC to align donor interests with organizational priorities, building multifaceted engagement that reflects the breadth and urgency of our mission.
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Partner with Account Managers to track progress, measure results, and move donors and prospects effectively through the giving lifecycle.
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Adapt quickly and strategically as organizational priorities shift – as an emergency response organization, the IRC moves fast, and this role requires the flexibility and judgment to pivot donor strategies in real time.
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Undertake special projects as requested.
Minimum Job Requirements
Work Experience:
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5+ years of progressive fundraising experience and demonstrated expertise in private sector or major gifts fundraising, or sales, including direct solicitation of donors or clients
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Consistent track record of closing multiple 5 and 6-figure gifts or contracts from a dynamic portfolio, including qualifying prospects and upgrading donors or clients.
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
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Record of developing blended and multi-year funding opportunities.
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Outstanding communication and presentation skills.
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Ability to develop creative and nuanced donor strategy often carried out in partnership with program staff or senior Major.
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Adaptable to change in a fast-paced work environment while keeping donor priorities at the center of strategy and relationship building.
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Ability to diplomatically and respectfully collaborate across teams internally, regardless of distance, and garner support for and complete initiatives effectively.
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Ability to identify, build, and implement processes important to support effective donor relationships.
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Ability to analyze and interpret financial data.
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Ability to navigate CRM systems and databases.
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Dedication to fundraising for international development, humanitarian, human rights, gender and racial equality, social justice, and US immigrant communities.
Working Environment: This role requires part-time remote work.
Compensation: (Pay Range: $93,000 – $110,000) Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
