Senior Manager, Strategic Gifts

Position Title: Senior Manager, Strategic Gifts

Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid in the office 2-3 a week)

Department: Development

Supervisor: Vice President, Strategic Gifts

Salary Range for US Based Staff: $69,329 - $81,563

FLSA Status: Exempt

 

Organization Overview:

Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With nearly four million athletes and Unified Sports® partners and one million coaches and volunteers in more than 170 countries, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and nearly 50,000 games and competitions every year. Learn more at SpecialOlympics.org. 

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Manager, Strategic Gifts is responsible for supporting the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities of select financial supporters and prospects of Special Olympics, specifically family and institutional foundations.  This detail-oriented position plays a direct role in the day-to-day functions of identifying and researching foundations that align with the mission and programs of Special Olympics, ultimately developing a strong prospect pool for future engagement and financial support. 

 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Vice President, Strategic Gifts, this position will work closely with teams across the movement to ensure the organization’s private fundraising needs are met.  Specific responsibilities include:

• Support and carry forward team objectives of recruitment and retention, helping to implement strategies related to foundation funders on both of those objectives.
• Coordinate a tailored and cross-functional focus on identifying new individual and family foundation prospects capable of making gifts at the $10,000+ level.
  • Understand how the donor pipeline works and taps into existing donors qualified to move up the pipeline, creating deeper connections with warm prospects, and pitching inspirational outreach to confirm and close cold prospects.
  • Use industry-established tools and best practices for identification work.
  • Understand, promote, and effectively communicate to new prospects our “full mission” approach to supporting the Special Olympics movement.
• Use department data management systems to track, rank, and report on prospect pool activity.
  • develop stage and alignment criteria to better review potential foundation prospects; suggest paths for outreach, as necessary.
  • lead monthly prospect pool discussions on a monthly basis.
• Participate in the formal reporting process and stewardship efforts for current foundation donors. This includes the oversight of writing, approval, submittal of programmatic reports and funder’s requirements for financial information.  This also includes contributing to the creation and execution of the stewardship program for all foundation Shriver Society donors. 
• In sync with the Strategic Gifts team, reach or exceed budgeted revenue goals.
• In cooperation with the Vice President, Strategic Gifts, contribute to revenue forecasting, budgeting, and prospect tracking activities, as requested.
• Understand the needs of each of SOI’s Global Region and affiliate program funding opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications:

• Deep familiarity with and understanding of the U.S. and global foundation community and a sense for the type of donor who may have an affinity to the mission.
• Proven ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously with a high level of independence and initiative and significant inter- and cross- department collaboration and support.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research and analyze complex information in a fast-paced work environment and juggling multiple assignments on deadline.
• 3-6 years of previous experience in development operations, in particular prospect research, prospect management, and foundation fundraising.
• Experience in data management to inform cultivation, stewardship and solicitation efforts of donors and prospects is essential.
• Comfort and experience working with high net-worth donors and family foundations.
• High level competency in verbal and written communications, including communications on behalf of senior leadership.

• Sound organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Excellent communication and personal interacti