Job Title: Major Gifts Officer
Organization: Wine To Water
Location: Remote, US
Travel: Frequent domestic and some international travel
Reports To: Development Team Lead
Classification: Full-time, Salaried-Exempt
Supervises: N/A
About Wine To Water
Wine To Water (WTW) is a global nonprofit dedicated to supporting life and dignity for all through the power of clean water. Our mission is to transform communities through sustainable water solutions while connecting people across the world in the shared pursuit of clean water access, health, and hope. We believe that everyone has a role to play in this work—whether on the ground or across the globe.
Our Mission: Wine To Water (WTW) is committed to supporting the life and dignity of all through the power of clean water.
Core Values: Integrity, Excellence, Courageous Communication, Extreme Ownership, and Entrepreneurship
Position Summary
The Major Gift Officer is focused on building strong, long-term relationships with individuals capable of making significant financial contributions in support of the organization’s goals and mission. The Director of Major Gifts is responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of major donors and prospects.
Key Responsibilities
Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
- Through personalized engagement strategies, build and deepen relationships with High Net Worth Individuals to achieve a shared vision for advancing the mission of WTW.
- Cultivate a portfolio of new major donors, targeting and prioritizing those with capacity to give significant gifts ($100K+) and ability and interest in multi-year or legacy investments.
- Create individual cultivation plans or goals for each prospect or donor based on their history, capacity for giving, and area(s) of interest.
- Make direct, face-to-face solicitations and follow-up with customized stewardship plans.
- Identify and implement unique engagement strategies that will make every donor feel known, appreciated, and connected.
- Communicate the impact of donor contributions through reports, meetings, and updates aligned with donor interests.
Portfolio Management
- Proactively manage a portfolio of major donors with a goal of raising $1M+ annually.
- Identify new major gift prospects through research, referrals, and prospecting efforts.
- Communicate regularly with donors to ensure retention and growth. Maintain an active calendar of donor visits, check-ins, and follow-ups.
- Depending on donor interests, share engagement opportunities available across the organization to deepen the connection and exposure to the breadth of WTW’s work.
Collaboration
- Work closely with the Programs Team to understand goals, plans, and initiatives to inform proposal development and articulating funding needs to donors (prioritizing unrestricted gifts).
- Work cooperatively across teams to ensure relationships and partnerships throughout the organization are effectively supported, and information and communications are aligned. Support cross-functional campaign efforts.
- Coordinate as needed with the Marketing and Communications Team on fundraising campaigns, initiatives, events, and collateral, and ensure consistent messaging is maintained.
- Collaborate with Event Coordinators to provide unique and engaging experiences for donors.
- Uphold a team culture rooted in collaboration, agility, and a solution-focused approach.
- In line with organizational vision and departmental objectives, work with supervisor to set SMART goals, maintain regular touchpoints to update on progress, and track and report results as required.
- Engage others in solicitation activities as needed.
Reporting & Data Management
- Maintain up-to-date records of each prospect or donor in Salesforce and report on lead generation and pipeline updates.
- Regularly sync with Executive Leadership to align Major Donor goal progress, outreach efforts, and travel schedules.
- Manage Major Donor revenue and expense budget and use data to inform strategy, forecast revenue, and refine donor engagement plans.
- Maintain donor confidentiality and comply with all data protection and ethical fundraising standards.
Special Projects
- Tanzania Water Center
- Engage high-net-worth visitors and partners visiting the Tanzania Water Center as part of WTW’s major donor cultivation strategy.
- Travel to and spend time in Tanzania (Arusha) approximately 2-3 months per year to build in-person relationships with prospective major donors.
- Develop stewardship strategies for individuals who visit the Water Center, including follow-up engagement plans to convert visits into long-term donor relationships.
- Lead other, similar special projects as assigned.
Other
- Travel and represent WTW at events and in donor/partner meetings as needed/requested, using meetings/events to strategically advance relationships and move donors toward a gift.
- Other duties as assigned by Executive Leadership.
Qualifications
Required:
- 7+ years of fundraising or strategic partnerships experience, ideally within a nonprofit organization or social enterprise, with demonstrated success in growing revenue streams.
- Extensive experience and knowledge of fundraising best practices, major gift cultivation, sales management, planning giving, and campaigns.
- Proven track record in stewarding High Net Worth Individuals and securing five- and six-figure gifts from individual donors.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with ability to connect with authenticity and professionalism with a diverse range of individuals, treating everyone with dignity, respect, and gratitude.
- Ability to manage relationships, processes, deadlines, and budgets while adhering to the policies and procedures of the organization.
- Passion for Wine To Water’s mission and a demonstrated commitment to community-led impact.
Preferred:
- Business development and customer service experience in a dynamic work environment.
- Experience living or working abroad, especially in Low or Middle-Income countries (Africa experience highly desired).
- Well-versed in Salesforce, Canva, and Google Suite.
In the course of performing this position, the employee should be able to, with or without reasonable accommodation:
- Sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting and operate office equipment; the employee is regularly required to bend, stoop, kneel, and at times may be required to lift 25+ pounds and can be exposed to indoor, outdoor temperatures and various living situations. Must be able to operate motorized vehicles with a valid license.
- Must be able to operate motorized vehicles with a valid license.
- Required domestic and international travel documentation and vaccinations for entry into foreign countries may be necessary to perform this role.
- This role may be in high-risk zones and will require documentation and medical clearance by various governments to enter disaster areas with significant public health risks.
- Adhere to WTW safety action plan and procedures.
- Use computers, keyboards, phones, and other office equipment effectively to perform job duties.
- Communicate effectively verbally and in writing with colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders in person, on the phone, via video conference software, and via chat and email.
- Read and understand written documents, emails, reports, and instructions relevant to job responsibilities.
- Sit for prolonged periods looking at computer screens reading and interpreting data and creating/modifying financial information and other data.
- Organize tasks, manage time efficiently, and prioritize workload to meet deadlines.
- Move within the office environment and adjust to different workstations, along with the ability to maintain proper ergonomic posture while performing tasks.
- Attend meetings, events, or conferences, which might involve some travel and extended periods of standing or sitting.
- Maintain proper ergonomic posture while working to prevent strain or discomfort, including adjusting seating, using proper keyboard and mouse ergonomics, and arranging workspaces for comfort.
Salary Range:
$80,000.00 To $85,000.00 Annually
