Major Gifts Officer

About REDF

At REDF, we’re building an economy that works. For everyone.

We discover and back social entrepreneurs across the United States that employ people striving to overcome employment barriers like homelessness or incarceration.  

These mission-driven businesses, called employment social enterprises, exist because they see untapped talent in their communities for the strengths they hold, not the barriers they’ve faced. 

That’s why REDF invests in their businesses, so we can help push their impact further, faster. We pair our grantmaking with capacity-building support, create space for employment social enterprise leaders to learn together, and sponsor state and federal policies that help shift perspectives. Because we believe that our economy works best when it works for everyone.

Since 1997, REDF has invested in 219 social enterprises in 31 states and DC, helping over 74,000 people create a future where they can flourish.

About the Development Team:

The REDF Development Department seeks to secure and fulfill the financial resources to support REDF’s mission and strategic plan. We do this by engaging, cultivating, and stewarding our individual and institutional funders and allies. We work closely internally with other departments to ensure that we are connecting our mission, values, results and impact to our external funders and contributors for synergetic partnerships. We are committed to results and ensuring the fiscal sustainability of REDF’s work.

The Role:

Working closely with and reporting to the Director of Development, the Major Gifts Officer (MGO) will play a key role in our work expanding and strengthening philanthropic support for REDF and our 2021 – 2025 strategic plan. The MGO will play a critical part ensuring the development team meets our fundraising goals by increasing contributed revenue to the organization and managing a portfolio of donors/prospects who have the interest and capacity to support people building a better life at a significant level. In this role, you will develop gift strategies for donor cultivation, stewardship, solicitation, and plan and execute special donor events. The incumbent will also take a lead role overseeing the creation of publications and maintaining gift recognition/stewardship programs. The MGO will also coach staff on a project basis, with potential for people management responsibilities.

This position is an exciting opportunity for individuals with a variety of experiences in development, though may be particularly well-suited towards individuals with non-profit development experience that are now looking to shift their career into the social impact sector.

The Responsibilities:

• Manage a customized portfolio of ~50-75 high net worth donors and prospects; creating a comprehensive cultivation and solicitation strategy for each donor in the portfolio based on their philanthropic goals; directly solicit major gifts in support of 2021 – 2025 raise.

• Take a leading role in scoping and identifying new prospects for assignment to the major gift’s portfolio projects; work closely with members of the development team to develop personalized materials that align with donor goals and objectives.

• Oversee solicitation and stewardship opportunities, including appropriate, concise briefing materials for senior leadership including the CEO and President and VP, Development and Marketing Communications.

• Track portfolio activity and progress; create reports on major grants to select funders and Family Foundations.

• Closely collaborate with the Director in defining and executing team cultivation strategy, particularly as it relates to major donors (develop unique cultivation and stewardship opportunities and participate in broader donor cultivation events) and innovation in the field.

• Take an active role in coaching staff; train staff on development projects; pathway towards people management

• Provide donor contact, call, and visit reports for leadership quarterly.

• Represent REDF at external functions (e.g., conferences, networking, fundraising, etc.)

The Qualifications:

• Possess a “generalist” toolkit and approach; comfortable leading and tackling projects across a wide range of donors and prospects; not afraid to see a new donor type for the first time.

• Highly autonomous and able to provide support to supervisors; amazing problem-solver; able to identify solutions around barriers for both self and the Development team.

• Able to confidently write and present executive summaries to senior audiences on complicated topics; builds buy-in through communication; handles sensitive situations with tact and empathy.

• Able to make informed decisions under conditions of ambiguity and imperfect information; able to identify and evaluate complicated trade-offs.

• Proven track record of building relationships and inspiring people to take action; Comfort soliciting five-figure or above gifts.

• Experience cultivating and sustaining relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully on the phone, via email/text, and in-person with donors, board members, volunteers, staff, and the public.

• Strong collaborator: comfortable working with others that possess a wide diversity of backgrounds, skillsets, and experience; naturally finds ways to upskill others.

• Supportive of REDF’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Continuously uses feedback and embodies a growth mindset to improve work product and personal development; confident in giving and receiving feedback to other team members.

• Experience with donor database or customer relationship management systems to track gifts/sales, and ensure complete, secure, and private records.

• Able to travel up to 30% for work purposes (once business travel resumes)

• ~6+ years of relevant experience with ~2+ years in a leadership role; experience directly managing others is a plus.

The Culture

Every team member at REDF has an impact, with the ability to influence and iterate on our strategy. We balance autonomy with collaboration, leading with learning, and innovation with expertise.  We listen, ask questions, and challenge the status quo and each other to uncover solutions that move us all to a better tomorrow.   

REDF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our different experiences, backgrounds, and stories are our strength. We know that an equitable, inclusive, and diverse workplace makes us more effective, innovative and agile.  We welcome and will consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, disability status or arrest and conviction history.  EEO is the Law.  REDF welcomes all.

The Perks

• 13 paid holidays and ample vacation time
• A generous dollar-for-dollar retirement plan match up to 4% of your base compensation
• Opportunity to learn continuously by building your skills and broadening your perspectives at conferences, workshops, and more
• Competitive, comprehensive benefits package

Positions Location and Pay Range:

San Francisco or Los Angeles preferred but open to remote. The salary range for this position is $124,430 - $146,640 and reflects San Francisco and Los Angeles based positions. The range will be adjusted according to candidate's location.

COVID Vaccine Requirement

Despite California’s movement towards herd immunity, low case rates, etc., the COVID-19 pandemic still exists at large.  We have a responsibility to provide working conditions that mitigate any direct threat to the health and safety of our employees and others affiliated with REDF and the broader community. REDF employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for accommodation through the Director of HR by emailing recruiting@redf.org (please include “Accommodation Request, Major Gifts Officer” in the subject line). Our COVID-19 Vaccine Policy will adapt as we continue to review our obligations under Federal, state, and local laws.

Join Us!

Please submit your resume and cover letter via REDF’s applicant portal.