Major Gift Officer

Children’s Cancer Research Fund is a national nonprofit dedicated to ending childhood cancer. We fund transformational research with the greatest potential to bring better, safer treatments and cures to children with cancer. Our approach is unique – we fund research across the country, not just at one hospital or institution, and our funding priorities address health disparities, aggressive and relapsed cancers, and long-term health after cancer. We also help kids and families find community and amplify their stories as they navigate the difficult experience of cancer treatment and survivorship.

Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF) has grown its base of supporters significantly in recent years through the expansion of national childhood cancer research funding. As such, CCRF is poised to capitalize on this growth and create opportunities in its major donor and planned giving programs. The organization invites applications for a Major Gift Officer, to serve the needs of an expanding group of supporters who desire a deeper level of engagement with CCRF’s mission. The Major Gift Officer will be a key member of the organization’s Development team. This is a full-time, exempt position.

Reporting to the Director of Development, Individual Giving, the Major Gift Officer is a frontline fundraiser who is responsible for guiding donors through the full relationship continuum, from identification and cultivation to solicitation and stewardship. The role will manage a portfolio of approximately 120 to 150 individuals with the capacity to make outright and planned gift commitments of $10,000+. The role carries responsibility for securing $1M+ annually from their portfolio once fully established (within ~2 years.) The Major Gift Officer will represent CCRF with individuals and families to generate transformational philanthropic support for childhood cancer research.

The Major Gift Officer will work closely with the individual giving team, research impact team, board of directors, and volunteers. This position requires a sophisticated fundraiser who can translate complex science for donors, build meaningful relationships with supporters nationally, and work across departments to ensure fundraising initiatives are successful.

Success will be measured on metrics established annually in coordination with the Director of Development, Individual Giving, specifically targeting the following performance measures: overall revenue secured, number of completed solicitations, number of donor meetings, donor retention, and stewardship touchpoints.

For an experienced frontline fundraiser, this is an important opportunity to shape the future of childhood cancer research at an organization defined by both legacy and possibility.

While this role is posted as remote, preference will be given to candidates located in the Twin Cities. If a Twin Cities–based candidate is hired, they will be required to work out of our Minneapolis office two days per week.

Responsibilities of this role:

  • Manage and solicit a portfolio of 120 - 150 major and planned giving prospects.
  • Develop individual strategies to ensure that each major donor and prospect has a clear strategy and timeline for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
  • Plan and execute customized approaches to engage donors and prospects.
  • Write customized proposals and appeal letters for donors and prospects.
  • Support donor retention and upgrade efforts through thank you/qualification calls.
  • Follow up on warm leads from those who self-identify as having a planned gift interest.
  • Develop strong working relationships of trust and confidence with clinical and research partners.
  • Ensure gifts are promptly acknowledged and properly recognized.
  • Maintain and properly record data and call notes about prospects and donors utilizing Salesforce CRM database.
  • Demonstrate through behavior CCRF’s core values of authenticity, collaboration, curiosity, impact, integrity and optimism.
  • Travel expectations (nationally) are approximately 15-20% of the year with the occasional weekend travel or work requirements. Team members plan travel for highest strategic impact thus, travel cadence varies.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • 5-7 years of progressively responsible major gift fundraising experience, preferably in a research or healthcare nonprofit environment.
  • Proven ability to close gifts of $10,000+.
  • People-oriented with ability to initiate and enjoy direct communication with key constituencies; customer-service orientation.
  • Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and writing skills. The ability or commitment to learning how to effectively communicate complex scientific and medical information to lay audiences.
  • A track record of securing major and planned gifts from identification through cultivation and solicitation.
  • Knowledge of Salesforce CRM preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working for a children's and/or health charity

Pay

  • $100,000-$115,000
  • This role is Exempt

Travel

  • If this position is hired outside of the Twin Cities area there will be occasional travel to minneapolis, MN/Twin Cities Area

Physical Demands

  • Sitting/Standing for long periods of time
  • Minimal lifting or bending

Benefits:

  • Medical, Dental, HSA, FSA, DCRA, Group Life, AD&D, LTD, STD
  • 403(B) with 4% match
  • Merit/Bonuses
  • Work/Life EAP
  • Hybrid/Remote/Flexible Work
  • Floating Holidays (8) & Fixed Holidays (4)
  • Vacation, Illness, Personal Time (VIP) 20 days
  • 12 weeks paid parental leave
  • Inclusive employee policies

To Apply:

Please submit an application here.