About United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut

United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut works with the community to address critical needs and build pathways to well-being and financial security for everyone. Our work centers on ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed): working households that earn more than the poverty line but still can't afford the basics where they live. We work through five distinct strategies: Advocacy, Collective Impact, Direct Service, Grantmaking, and Partnerships. We look for innovative ways to solve hard problems, and we are looking for a fundraiser who can bring donors into that work.

Position Summary

The Major Gifts Officer is a frontline fundraiser who builds relationships with the donors who can make the biggest difference for our mission. You will manage your own portfolio of major donors and prospects, from discovery through solicitation and stewardship, and close major, multi-year, and planned gifts.

You will also manage a portfolio of mid-level donors. Your job there is to keep them giving, help them give more, and spot the ones ready for a major gift conversation. You will work closely with marketing, community impact, corporate partnerships, and volunteer engagement to make every donor's experience personal and meaningful.

This is a chance to build something. Beyond your own portfolio, you will help shape how our major gifts program grows: the systems, standards, and donor experience it will rely on for years to come.

Key Responsibilities

Manage a major gift portfolio

• Qualify and manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects
• Build an individual cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plan for each donor, with an annual revenue goal based on giving history, interests, and capacity
• Hold discovery visits, cultivation meetings, and stewardship conversations, and personally ask for gifts
• Write and present tailored proposals, working with program and community impact staff to match donor interests with funding needs
• Close major gifts, multi-year pledges, endowment gifts, and planned gifts where appropriate
• Report back to donors on the impact of their giving

Grow the mid-level pipeline

• Manage a portfolio of leadership-level and mid-level donors
• Keep these donors engaged and help them increase their giving through personal phone calls, emails, notes, events, and occasional visits
• Design donor journeys that build relationships over time and lead to larger gifts
• Identify and qualify mid-level donors with major gift potential, and move them into your major gift portfolio
• Track how donors move through the pipeline, from annual giving, affinity groups, and workplace giving up to major gifts

Use events to raise money

• Partner on the fundraising strategy for the annual gala and leadership giving events, including sponsorships and table sales
• Use events to find, cultivate, ask, and thank donors

Help build the department

• Help design the systems and processes a growing major gifts program needs, including portfolio assignment, moves management standards, gift agreements, and reporting
• Recommend where to invest as the program grows, such as staffing, tools, donor events, and planned giving
• Create a donor experience that shows donors the full range of our work, from direct service to collective impact to advocacy
• Help build a culture of philanthropy across the organization, preparing staff, board members, and volunteers to support donor relationships

Work across teams

• Marketing, on donor communications and storytelling
• Community impact, on funding opportunities and impact reports
• Corporate partnerships, on shared prospects and sponsorships
• Foundation relations, on family foundations and impact narratives

Track results

• Keep donor records and moves management activity accurate and up to date in the CRM
• Track progress against revenue and activity goals, and prepare monthly reports and dashboards for leadership
• Study donor retention, upgrades, and campaign results, and use that data to sharpen your strategy

How Success Is Measured

• Revenue raised from your portfolio
• Steady activity of substantive donor meetings each month and annual solicitations
• A well-qualified portfolio: the right donors in it, a realistic goal for each, and a timely contact and ask plan for every donor
• Retention and upgrade rates for both your major and mid-level donors
• Mid-level donors qualified and moved into major gift cultivation
• Strong proposals and impact reports, accurate CRM records, and on-time reports
• Clear systems and processes in place that let the major gifts program grow
• A collaborative, problem-solving approach that supports the team and the mission

Job Competencies

• Attention to details
• Communication
• Dependability
• Drive for execution
• Results driven

Experience & Education

Required

• 5+ years of experience in individual donor work at the mid or major gifts level
• A proven track record of securing major gifts
• Working knowledge of planned giving (bequests, trusts, gifts of retirement assets), donor-advised funds, and current trends in major giving
• Experience with CRM systems and moves management
• Strong proposal writing and in-person communication skills
• Highly organized, with the discipline to keep up consistent follow-up across a large portfolio
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for donor visits across the region

Preferred

• Experience building or growing a major gifts program from an early stage
• Experience managing or upgrading mid-level donors
• Experience with capital campaigns
• Experience with prospect research, volunteer management, and donor recognition
• CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) credential
• Knowledge of the local philanthropic community

What We Offer

• Salary: $90,000 – $110,000, based on experience
• Mileage reimbursement for donor visits

United Way includes an excellent benefits package and flexible working arrangements:

1. Medical, dental, and vision insurance
2. Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
3. 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
4. Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick time, and holidays
5. Life Insurance, long-term disability, and related coverage
6. Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
7. Professional development opportunities
8. Hybrid work environment

Statements in this Job Description are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed. They are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

United Way is an equal-opportunity employer and seeks to hire staff members who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. All positions are filled without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, employment status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If much of this job describes you, please apply. Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet all qualifications. We recognize this and encourage those with relevant skills and experience to apply.