The Henry Ford is a nonprofit organization, an internationally recognized cultural destination, and a one-of-a-kind workplace. Our team is inspired daily by one another as well as the authentic stories of innovation that we share across our four venues. We want you to be part of this legacy and take it forward.
The Senior Major Gifts Officer is a front-line fundraising professional responsible for securing major philanthropic support for annual, campaign, special restricted and endowment fundraising opportunities of The Henry Ford. Key responsibilities include identification, engagement, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects capable of making gifts of $100,000 and more, with increased emphasis and activity cultivating, soliciting and stewarding gifts in range of $250,000 to $1,000,000. This position plays a pivotal role in growing THF’s family of donors by identifying potential major gifts and helping to establish a strong pipeline now and for future fundraising opportunities as we move toward our 100th anniversary in 2029. This position is expected to raise between $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 annually in unrestricted, restricted, and planned gifts and meet metrics for donor contacts and proposals, with a focus on gifts at $100,000 and higher.
The Henry Ford advancement team is wrapping up a $150 million comprehensive campaign this year. 2024 fundraising priorities will be supporting a diverse range of projects and new initiatives such as edible education, a new historic iconic civil rights structure moving to Greenfield Village, invention education learning products and competitions, Drivers Club experiences, general operating needs and sustainable support. This is a great opportunity for a curious and self-motivated fundraising professional with exceptional people skills and appreciation for the impact individuals can make through philanthropy.
Essential Responsibilities
• Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards local, regional and nationwide donors for The Henry Ford.
• Actively works a donor portfolio of 100-125 individuals capable of contributing to the collective annual fundraising goals for the Advancement team through meaningful connections and relationships through gift solicitation and stewardship.
• Develops and implements strategies to secure gifts of $100,000+ in support of annual operations, special projects, campaign projects and for the endowment.
• Committed to meeting with donors and has “strategic contact” between 12 to 15 prospects/suspects per month with a balanced portfolio that identifies, qualifies, cultivates and stewards donors and donor prospects.
• Leads planned giving program strategy, communication and informative and cultivation events.
• Builds own individual lead generation and maintains an active suspect and prospect pool as defined by the Senior Director of Institutional Advancement.
• Tracks all activity with donors and prospects within Institutional Advancement CRM donor database and Raiser’s Edge.
• Keeps Senior Director of Institutional Advancement of prospect activity on a regular basis. Supports Individual Giving Officers successes and development.
• Develops individual “moves” plans for each prospect and leads within the moves management system.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Your Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 5+ years’ experience in development with a proven track record of securing major gifts of $100,000+ from individual donors.
• Strong familiarity with the non-profit sector, particularly the cultural institution community.
• Action and detail-oriented, highly energetic professionals with a track record of building donor relationships, closing gifts in the five to six-figure range and skilled at inspiring, influencing and engaging people.
• Demonstrated ability to strategize, develop and implement fundraising moves plans for donors.
• Campaign experience preferred.
• Strong writing skills
• Ability to conceive and implement creative donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies
Special Skills
• Commitment to and enthusiasm for The Henry Ford’s mission, vision and values, and the ideals of philanthropy and the practice of ethical fundraising
• Work comfortably and professionally with donors, foundations, Trustees, individual prospects, and volunteers
• Confidentiality of materials/documents containing donor and trustee information and correspondence
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills
• Strong conversational skills and curious minded
• Listening for personal value and goals
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams and Zoom
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Team player
• Persuasive
• Creativity
• Flexibility
• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Goal-oriented
• Time management and prioritization
• Familiarity with CRM software, creative project management software, and social media platforms
• Sense of humor
Mon-Fri, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week + occasional nights and weekends
Remote work: 75% / Onsite/in-person: 25%
Minimal travel required
This job description is subject to change at any time.
It is the policy of The Henry Ford to prohibit discrimination in any employment, donor or volunteering opportunity (including but not limited to recruitment, hire, employment, program participation, promotion, salary, benefits, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment or service as a volunteer) based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, genetic information, pregnancy, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, physical/mental disability. Marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, height, weight or any other such characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. This Policy applies to all of our employees, donors and volunteers to ensure that they are treated without discrimination.