The Open Society Institute–Baltimore (OSI-Baltimore), the sole field office of Open Society Foundations’ U.S. Programs, supports a grant-making, educational, advocacy, and capacity-building program to expand justice and opportunity for Baltimore residents. With support from a range of individual, corporate and foundation investors, its current work focuses on helping Baltimore’s youth succeed, reducing mass incarceration and its social and economic costs, tackling drug addiction, and building a corps of Community Fellows to bring innovative ideas to Baltimore’s underserved communities. A significant amount of the office’s work focuses on policy reform at the state level, increasing opportunity and justice throughout Maryland.
Open Society Foundations
The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to criticism, whose laws and policies are open to debate and correction, and whose political institutions are open to the participation of all people. We seek to strengthen justice and the rule of law; broaden respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities; encourage pluralism and a robust diversity of opinion; deepen democratic practice and participation; expand economic equity; support effective governance; and invest in individuals, public and private organizations, and social movements that advance these goals.
We are a global network of foundations committed to local knowledge and national expertise. Our network includes national foundations, regional foundations, and other geographic programs operating in more than one hundred countries. At the same time, many programs with global reach operate from our four headquarters in Europe and the United States, including programs on digital information, documentary photography, drug policy, early childhood, education, fellowships, fiscal governance, higher education, human rights, international migration, justice, public health, scholarships, think tanks, and women’s rights. In addition to making grants to organizations and individuals, the Open Society Foundations engage in policy advocacy, legal advocacy and litigation, program-related investing, and public communications, as well as providing direct assistance to governments. Most programs and foundations in the network are governed or advised by their own boards.
The Open Society Foundations are the global philanthropies of George Soros, who, as chairman, plays an active role in the work of the foundations.
Job Profile
The major gifts officer is a key member of the OSI-Baltimore Donor Development team, which currently comprises a director of development and a senior development associate and is slated to grow. The team works closely with OSI-Baltimore’s director, the communications team, program staff, and OSI-Baltimore Advisory Board members to raise at least $4 million per year to match the support donated by George Soros through Open Society Foundations’ U.S. Programs. Reporting to the director of development, the major gifts officer will be responsible for building upon and managing the major individual donor giving program, which raises approximately $2 million per year. In 2015 and beyond, the Development Office will likely increase its revenue goal overall (from corporations, foundations, and individuals) by $500,000 to $1 million per year.
The position requires a proven track record of developing relationships with high net-worth philanthropic individuals and the ability to structure specific solicitations and to negotiate and close gifts while adhering to ethical fundraising practices. The major gifts officer will develop and execute a comprehensive and detailed moves-management plan for cultivation, solicitation, appreciation, and stewardship of gifts from individuals, initially focusing on approximately 100 active major donors and 50 active prospects. He or she will manage intelligence gathering to determine the levels of gifts to request from prospects and current donors and to develop strategies for solicitation and stewardship. The successful candidate will be outgoing and entrepreneurial and enjoy interacting with donors and prospects. The major gifts officer will schedule and make 12 to 15 visits per month to prospects and donors, sometimes accompanied by the OSI-Baltimore director, program staff, or board members, and will participate in planning and implementing key events to advance donor development objectives.
The position requires a thoughtful and results-oriented development professional, who applies both a mission- and metrics-driven approach to fundraising. The major gifts officer will keep accurate and timely records of solicitations, gifts, and contact information in the donor database (SalesForce). He or she will also manage mail and online appeals, based on approved plans and schedules. The major gifts officer will value teamwork, be motivated by a growth environment, and make reliable, sound decisions. Flexibility and a willingness to work simultaneously on a wide range of tasks and projects with a pleasant, diplomatic manner are also critical to the success of this position.
As part of the Donor Development team, the major gifts officer will contribute to the preparation, deployment, and monitoring of work plans, timelines, budgets, and revenue goals for the development unit annually. Under the director of development, the major gifts officer will prepare materials for and make reports to the OSI-Baltimore Advisory Board and its Development Committee. From time to time, the major gifts officer will be called upon to take on assignments or participate in working groups and discussions on topics beyond donor development that are related to OSI-Baltimore, U.S. Programs, or the Open Society Foundations as a whole. Work is carried out independently and occasionally requires travel and the ability to work on weekends or evenings to support special events.
Qualifications
- bachelor’s degree (BA) from a four-year college or university
- seven to ten years of fundraising experience specifically in major gifts
- experience in the social justice or public policy arenas
- strong skills in prospect research, relationship analytics, and problem solving
- proven ability to respond to prospects and donors with consideration, exercising discretion and confidentiality both within and outside of OSI-Baltimore
- outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with attention to detail
- ability to conduct quantitative analysis to track and report on goals
- ability to work effectively as a team member and independently, with a high-level of self-motivation and ability to set and meet goals
- ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure, trouble-shoot, and meet short- and long-term deadlines with a heavy workload
- proven ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide array of people with diverse backgrounds
- interest in continued professional growth and in the professional development of colleagues
- professional integrity and a commitment to the mission of OSI-Baltimore
- proficiency in using Microsoft Office Word and Excel
- proficiency in using SalesForce, Stripe, and Formstack preferred
Work Environment and Physical Demands
Essential functions are typically performed in an office setting with a low level of noise. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Compensation
Commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits package.
Application Instructions
Please email resume and cover letter with salary requirements and three references by February 27, 2015, to:humanresources@opensocietyfoundations.org. Include job code in subject line: MGO-OSIB.