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Major Gifts & Grants Specialist

Summary of position – The Major Gifts  & Grants Specialist fills a crucial strategic support role for the mission of Safe Passage/Camino Seguro, supporting a donor-centric philosophy of fundraising through careful stewardship, creative growth strategies, and research-driven grant planning. This position is responsible for developing and supporting donor relation strategies for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donors and foundation partners. This position reports to the Director of International Development, is full-time, non-exempt, and is based in our New Gloucester, Maine office.

The Major Gifts component of this position (c. 75% of your time), involves working with our Raiser’s Edge NXT (RE) database manager to use our data to support, strengthen, and promote a major gift program within Safe Passage’s annual fundraising plan, and recommend innovative mechanisms to developing new revenue streams. This position requires competency with RE or similar databases, an ability to collaborate with outside contractors and staff in multiple countries, and the ability to strategically utilize the data to target VIP donors, support the development of our strategic plan and our communications materials, and provide background materials for reporting purposes.

The Grants component of this position (c. 25% of your time) explores the unique funding opportunities for a school seeking to break the cycle of poverty in the Guatemala City garbage dump community. Opportunities may include foundations, corporations, or government sources. This individual will collaborate with the Director of International Development and the U.S. and Guatemalan development teams in the research, writing and management of the grants, and play a key role in grant reporting.

I. Essential duties and responsibilities

• Support the achievement of Safe Passage/Camino Seguro’s annual fundraising goals by identifying and qualifying new prospects for assignment to the major gifts portfolio, along with next-steps/follow-through.
• Provide support to the Director of International Development and Executive Director in the way of preparation for cultivation, solicitation or stewardship opportunities, including appropriate, concise briefing materials in advance of meetings with donors and prospects.
• Work with the appropriate staff to develop impact reports and other personalized materials directed at individual donors/prospects.
• Develop unique cultivation and stewardship opportunities for the strategic expansion of the major gifts program.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of the data in the Raiser’s Edge.
• Review major gift analysis and reports in coordination with the Director of International Development and the development team.
• Prepare profiles, monthly reports and updates as requested
• Quarterly review of donor segmentation for fundraising/reporting/major donor management.

II. Essential duties and responsibilities

• Responsible for the management of all grants within the organization.
• Actively research and identify grant opportunities worldwide.
• Work closely with the Director of International Development to develop an annual grants strategy.
• Oversee the proposal submission process for the team to ensure high-quality proposal narratives, and follow-up on the progress of submitted proposals.
• Organize the yearly grants calendar.
• Collaborate with teams in the United States and Guatemala in managing grant details and preparing grant progress reports.
• Lead the team in grant writing and reporting.