Senior Director of Major and Planned Giving

Our mission is to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford so all people may experience its life-changing message.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Summary:

American Bible Society has historic roots, global reach, and a vision for engaging a new generation of Bible advocates. We are seeking talented, motivated, and collaborative people to come alongside us as we share the life-changing message of the Bible into our third century of ministry.

The Senior Director of Major and Planned Giving will work collaboratively with the Chief Development Officer and senior leaders across the department and the organization at large to leverage short- and long-term strategies, initiatives and campaigns designed to meet or exceed annual revenue targets that will fuel the mission and ministry of American Bible Society. The role will lead a team of advisors responsible for cultivating major and planned gifts and growing the donor community in their loyalty and generosity of time, talent, and treasure. S/He must be committed to growth, a seasoned team lead and excellent relationship builder, and champion for best-practice fundraising.

This is a highly visible leadership role that reports to the Chief Development Officer and sits on the Development Lead Team. The successful candidate will manage a team of field gift advisors, providing leadership, mentorship, and guidance to achieve departmental goals.

Minimum Spiritual and Personal Commitment:

• Demonstrate a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
• Identify with and participate in a Christian church and proactively seek to grow in their Christian faith.
• Actively participate in organizational prayer, devotional times, and organization-wide events.
• Maintain an exemplary standard of Christian ethics, behavior, and conduct within ABS and in their public and private life outside of ABS and always uphold ABS' Standards of Conduct and Affirmation of Biblical Community.
• Demonstrate Christian maturity in all interactions as displayed by good judgment based on biblical values and principles.
• Actively incorporate their faith in all aspects of their daily work.

Key Responsibilities:

Major Gift and Planned Giving Fundraising Strategy and Execution

• In collaboration with the Chief Development Officer and Development leadership, develop and implement strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and planned giving contributors to raise resources for American Bible Society
• Lead a team of major and planned giving advisors to achieve or exceed annual fundraising goals and maximize donor engagement.
• Manage a personal caseload of donors, including the development and execution of a moves management plan for each.
• Support the advisors, Chief Development Officer and Senior Leadership Team on preparing for cultivation and solicitation visits.
• Oversee the development of the President's Advisory Council which will be designed to cultivate high capacity, strategic supporters of the ABS mission to come alongside leadership to shape the future of the ministry.
• Collaborate closely with the Donor Services and Stewardship team and Prospect Development to identify and cultivate major gift partners to higher levels of relational fundraising and growing our major donor base.

Strategic Planning and Execution

• Working in close collaboration with the Development leadership team and Prospect Development, support the development and implementation of comprehensive fundraising plans and initiatives to achieve revenue targets and advance organizational goals, ensuring alignment to strategic priorities and integration with other channels of revenue.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and best practices in philanthropy and fundraising, incorporating new ideas and approaches into our strategy.

Team Leadership and Management

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Lead a team following the ministry's policies, procedures, and applicable laws, including interviewing, hiring, training, planning, assigning and directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining staff, gathering feedback, addressing complaints, and resolving problems.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy and a collaborative and supportive work environment that encourages teamwork and innovation.
• Champion performance measures and monitor progress and effectiveness against individual and team goals. Identify areas of opportunity for improvement, support and optimization of efforts.
• Alongside Development operations, the CDO and Finance, track and forecast revenue and manage departmental budget ensuring careful stewardship of resources.

Qualifications:

• Education:
• Minimum of Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university,
• Master's in Business Administration, Non-profit Management, or related field strongly preferred.
• Experience
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising or related field.
• A minimum of 10 years in management and leadership with a clear record of success in building effective and healthy teams.
• Experience with CRM software (Blackbaud or Salesforce), and basic Microsoft software
• Technical Skills:
• Knowledge of planned giving vehicles, tax, financial, and estate planning concepts
• CFRE preferred

Key Competencies:

All ABS staff must demonstrate the following skills:

• Demonstrate desire and ability to support organizational biblical and religious goals and participate in regular work-related spiritual activities without reservation.
• Have a personal passion for and belief in the Word of God, its ability to transform lives, and the mission of American Bible Society.
• Demonstrate alignment with the vision, mission, and values of American Bible Society.

All staff must demonstrate the following skills at a level fitting their role:

• Communication Skills:
• Effective Communication: Ability to communicate effectively with team members and supervisors.
• Complex Communication: Proficient in communicating complex ideas to various stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.
• Strategic Communication: Expert in persuasive communication, adept at public speaking, and able to influence senior stakeholders.
• Teamwork and Collaboration:
• Collaborative Effort: Works well with others, shares information, and contributes to team goals.
• Team Facilitation: Facilitates teamwork, encourages collaboration, and resolves conflict within the team.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Leads teams effectively, builds strong team dynamics, and fosters a collaborative organizational culture.
• Cultural Competence and Inclusion:
• Cultural Awareness: Respects and values diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Inclusive Leadership: Promotes inclusivity and addresses biases within the team.
• Cultural Advocacy: Champions and implements organizational diversity and inclusion strategies.
• Service Orientation:
• Service Interaction: Provides courteous and helpful service to service recipients.
• Service Solutions: Understands service recipients' needs, develops solutions to meet those needs, and builds relationships.
• Service Strategy: Develops service-centric strategies, drives service recipient satisfaction, and ensures organizational alignment with service expectations.
• Adaptability and Flexibility:
• Adaptability: Willing to learn and adapt to new tasks and processes.
• Responsive Adjustment: Adjusts strategies based on new information, remains flexible in dynamic environments.
• Strategic Change Management: Leads change initiatives, drives innovation, and helps the organization navigate through significant changes.
• Time Management and Organization:
• Task Prioritization: Manages personal time effectively and meets deadlines.
• Efficient Coordination: Prioritizes tasks, manages multiple projects, and ensures team deadlines are met.
• Strategic Optimization: Develops time management strategies for the organization, optimizes productivity, and aligns team efforts with organizational goals.
• Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking:
• Issue Identification: Identifies straightforward problems and seeks help when needed.
• Analytical Problem Solving: Analyzes complex problems, develops solutions, and makes decisions independently.
• Strategic Organizational Solutions: Anticipates potential problems, creates strategic solutions and guides the organization through complex challenges.
• Leadership and Initiative:
• Initiative: Takes proactive steps to complete tasks and solve problems.
• Team Leadership: Guides and supports team members to achieve goals.
• Organizational Leadership: Sets strategic direction and inspires organizational growth.

All managers must demonstrate the following skills at a level fitting their role:

• Strategic Thinking and Decision Making:
• Analytical Thinking: Evaluates information to make informed decisions.
• Strategic Alignment: Develops plans that align with team objectives and organizational goals.
• Visionary Decision-Making: Makes long-term decisions that shape organizational strategy.
• Continuous Learning and Development:
• Self-Development: Seeks out opportunities to learn and grow skills.
• Team Development: Encourages and supports team members' professional development.
• Organizational Learning: Fosters a culture of continuous improvement and lifelong learning.
• Innovation and Creativity:
• Creative Thinking: Suggests new ideas and approaches to tasks.
• Process Improvement: Implements innovative solutions to enhance team performance.
• Strategic Innovation: Drives organizational change through creative and forward-thinking strategies.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

American Bible Society is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities and ensuring a workplace free from discrimination. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws, we will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to participate in the application process and perform the essential functions of their job.

Office Location:

• Remote considered, preference for ABS Headquarters - Old City Philadelphia

Core Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Travel Required: Travel within the U.S. (30%)

Additional Information:

• Background Check: Candidates must pass a background check as a condition of employment. This may include criminal history, credit check, and verification of employment and education history.
• Reference Checks: Employment is contingent upon satisfactory reference checks.
• Eligibility to Work: Candidates must provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
• Affirmation of Biblical Community: Candidates must sign and agree to uphold the ABS Affirmation of Biblical Community as a condition of employment.

American Bible Society is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees, in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. We believe in the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, created in the image of God, and strive to reflect Christ's love and justice in our employment practices.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is rooted in our Christian faith and values, which call us to love and respect all people.

As a faith-based organization, we require employees to affirm and uphold our Christian beliefs as a condition of employment. This requirement is consistent with our mission and ensures that our work environment aligns with our core values and deeply held religious principles.