Major Gifts Development Director

The Center for Rural Affairs is seeking a person to devote his/her professional life to building a better future for rural America. This position offers the opportunity to work in support of our highest values – fairness, opportunity and environmental stewardship – while living and working in rural America.

Position Goals:
•Raise $6 million by 2018 in new gifts, pledges and planned gifts to the Center for Rural Affairs Granary endowment, which currently has a corpus of $5 to $6 million.
•Raise an additional $150,000 in gifts and pledges for the Center for Rural Affairs National Rural Action Network by the end of 2012 and $250,000 by the end of 2013. This special short-term fund raising effort was launched to fund a new staff position aimed at doubling the number of people who receive our newsletter, respond to our action alerts on critical rural legislation, and make small annual donations.
Keys to Success:
•Develop and implement a detailed plan that identifies and ranks prospects and provides a schedule of regular contacts for each.
•Make extensive contact with prospective major donors, including face-to-face visits involving travel within the region and across the nation.
•Build strong relationships with prospective donors and deepen their engagement in the work of the Center for Rural Affairs.
•Develop an understanding of various legal vehicles for charitable contributions sufficient to discuss their tax and other implications with prospective donors, but not offer legal advice.
•Close the deal with donors by securing significant gifts that provide meaning, significance and fulfillment to their lives and essential support for the work of the Center for Rural Affairs.
•Work closely with the Executive Director, other Center staff and Center Board members in identifying and approaching major gift prospects.
Major Objectives:
Within 90 days of the start date, complete an integrated strategic plan for major gift fund raising for the Granary endowment and National Rural Action Network. The Center for Rural Affairs has about 2,000 annual donors and 30,000 people who receive our newsletter in paper or online. We have ranked prospects for large gifts and have been in contact with many of the top prospects. The strategic plan should include:
•An updated plan for each of our top 200 prospects including a schedule of contacts and visits.
•A process to continuously identify and cultivate new prospects by analyzing data and drawing on the knowledge of the board, supporters and staff to learn more about donors.
•Organization-wide strategies to get to know more of our supporters and more deeply engage potential prospects in the work of the Center.
•Strategies to build major gift development skills at the Center for Rural Affairs, including the skills of the person filling this position.
•A plan for using for using the Executive Director and Board in major gift development.
•Organizational communication strategies to support development.

Within 150 days of the start date, participate in training/continuing education on securing major gifts and planning major gift campaigns through the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy or an alternative program. (This training will be on Center for Rural Affairs time and at its expense).

Within 180 days of the start date, establish and maintain a schedule of at least 20 face-to-face visits per month with major gift prospects. Making efficient use of time and mileage will require targeting certain areas for multi-day trips and securing visits with multiple prospects in the area. Center for Rural Affairs supporters are spread across the nation. Some visits will be joint visits in which Center Board members, other donors, or the Executive Director are enlisted to help open the door, build the relationship or request support.

On an ongoing basis participate in the Center for Rural Affairs Program Council (the organizational leadership team), and other committees and teams. Work closely with administrative, communications and small donor development staff to implement technology and processes to record, manage and use information on prospects and prospects visits. Work with the communications team to devise and implement organizational communications that support development. We currently publish a monthly Center for Rural Affairs Newsletter, which sometimes features articles on development, and the quarterly “Insider” newsletter for major gift prospects.
On a quarterly basis facilitate successful board meetings by preparing reports for the Center for Rural Affairs Board and an agenda for the Large Donor and Media Committee of the Center for Rural Affairs Board. Assist the Board Chair of the Granary Corporation, a subsidiary of the Center for Rural Affairs, in organizing quarterly meetings and agendas.

Location: The position will be based in Lyons, Nebraska, though an alternative location may be considered for an extraordinary applicant.

Terms of Employment: $50,544 with annual cost of living increases plus periodic increases for length of employment. We offer excellent employer paid benefits including:
•Annual training at Center for Rural Affairs expense (Each member of the Center for Rural Affairs staff identifies training opportunities in consultation with his/her supervisor.)
•13 - 19 days vacation per year (depending on years of service) plus sick leave
•10 holidays
•Extraordinary health insurance benefits, including fully paid family medical and dental insurance plus Medical Savings Account contributions
•Life and Long-term disability insurance
•Retirement plan contributions after two years employment

Application Procedures: Send your resume to Tricia Darnell, Center for Rural Affairs, POB 136, Lyons, NE 68038 or trishd@cfra.org with a one page cover letter responding to the following questions:
•Why are you interested in this position and how does it fit in your long-term plans?
•What are your key strengths?
•What is your greatest accomplishment?
Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The position will be filled upon finding the right candidate.

The Center for Rural Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status or veteran status.