[Hiring] Senior Development Officer @American Foundation for the Blind

Role Description

Join American Foundation for the Blind as our Senior Development Officer and lead a nationwide major and planned giving program that advances our mission and expands philanthropic impact. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Senior Development Officer serves as the lead fundraising professional responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, stewarding, and retaining donors capable of making significant philanthropic investments. This role is accountable for achieving annual major and planned giving revenue goals while fostering long-term donor engagement and philanthropic growth.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced fundraising professional who thrives on relationship building, strategic planning, and securing transformational philanthropic investments in support of a mission-driven organization.

What You'll Do

• Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of AFB's major and planned giving program.
• Partner with the Chief Development Officer to develop annual fundraising plans, budgets, goals, and donor engagement strategies.
• Develop and implement long-term plans for donor acquisition, retention, stewardship, and philanthropic growth.
• Establish and manage a comprehensive Moves Management program encompassing donor identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and recognition.
• Achieve annual major and planned giving revenue goals.
• Personally manage a portfolio of major gift and planned giving donors and prospects.
• Maintain an active schedule of donor visits, cultivation meetings, stewardship activities, and fundraising events.
• Identify and prioritize donors and prospects, prepare solicitation strategies, and support successful gift closures.
• Develop and oversee donor recognition initiatives, including naming opportunities, a planned giving society, VIP events, donor profiles, and personalized communications.
• Draft donor-focused proposals, reports, presentations, and other fundraising materials.
• Collaborate with Resource Development colleagues and program staff to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities.
• Serve as a liaison to estate professionals, financial institutions, and legal partners.
• Manage a prospect pool and oversee the administration of realized gifts to ensure timely and accurate processing.
• Monitor fundraising performance metrics, maintain donor records, support audit requirements, and ensure effective use of donor relationship management systems.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of seven years of successful experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and planned gift donors and prospects, or equivalent related experience.
• Demonstrated success securing major and planned gifts.
• Experience managing donor portfolios and advancing prospects through the full donor lifecycle.
• Strong oral, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated emotional intelligence and the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong relationship-building and collaborative skills.
• Working knowledge of planned giving and estate planning principles.
• Demonstrated experience leading the full gift cycle, including identification, cultivation, gift commitment ("the ask"), recognition, and ongoing stewardship.
• Proven ability to build donor relationships and secure major and planned gifts.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze fundraising data, donor trends, and performance metrics to inform strategy.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a remote environment.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, ethical conduct, and a commitment to confidentiality.
• Proficiency with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Zoom, and related technology.
• Ability to travel nationally up to 50% of the time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing a national major and planned giving program.
• Experience developing and executing planned giving strategies.
• Demonstrated success growing donor acquisition and retention programs.

Technology Used

• Salesforce
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Google Workspace
• Trello
• Slack
• Zoom

Benefits

• Remote work flexibility
• Competitive salary range: $105,000 - $118,000 annually, based on qualifications and experience.
• Up to 50% nationwide travel required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AFB is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.