Manager of Individual Giving

About This Role

Water For People has set out ambitious plans that require increased financial support for our Everyone Forever strategy of extending sustainable water and sanitation services to everyone, without exception, in every district where we work. Our goal is to raise $300M by 2030 and major gifts are a key area of income growth.

The Manager, Individual Giving is a frontline Major Gift Officer responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of high-capacity individual donors through strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. This role builds deep, donor-centered relationships to secure significant philanthropic investments that advance Water For People’s global impact.

In This Role You Will

• Manage, own and grow a portfolio of major donors who give $10K+ per year and/or legacy gifts with the objective of increasing contributions each year and growing the total net worth of the portfolio to more than $1 million annually.
• Following the major gifts process, customize major gifts strategies to maximize the giving potential through communication with donors (emails, in-person meetings, virtual meetings, and phone calls) and direct asks for financial support
• Analyze the existing mid-level donor pool to identify high-potential prospects and strategically cultivate and upgrade donors into the major gifts portfolio, in close collaboration with the Donor Engagement team to ensure a seamless donor experience.
• Prioritize in-person donor cultivation by traveling up to 50% of the time within the United States for donor meetings, relationship-building activities, conferences, and events.
• Actively cultivate legacy giving, gifts made through a donor’s will or estate, as a core major gifts strategy, and serve as a resource to advance legacy conversations across the Major Gifts team.
• Build long-term trusting relationships through personalized acknowledgements to donors after renewing their commitments to Water For People.
• Manage assigned Water For People Ambassadors (former Board members) and Safe Water Guardians (estate/bequest donors) through formalized communication and consistent outreach.
• Participate in conferences and/or speaking engagements to increase Water For People exposure and research/meet new prospects.
• Work closely with Global Programs, Marketing, and Finance teams to develop strong fundraising cases to secure funding for the organization’s immediate and long-term funding priorities.
• Collaborate with the Donor Engagement team, senior leadership, and external partners to advance giving strategy and ensure appropriate documentation and stewardship processes are completed.
• Accompany major donors to Water For People’s program countries to visit field work
• Work with C-level Water For People staff to steward donors.
• Leverage activity of Donor Impact to deliver engagement opportunities for donors to enhance their financial and non-financial support.
• Lead the Grant Management process when required, alongside the Grant Writers, for portfolio of accounts and follow procedures of process from pre‐proposal through grant close.
• Demonstrate a culture of philanthropy across the organization and peer leadership within the Major Gifts team and Donor Impact.
• Track and record all donor details, meetings, interactions and prospect research on a weekly basis using the constituent database Raiser’s Edge and regularly monitor account progress through the donor pipeline.

Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.

You Will Excel In This Role If You Have

• Bachelor’s degree in related discipline or equivalent work experience
• At least 4 years’ successful experience in major gift fundraising, including prospect research, relationship building, and face-to-face gift solicitations with high-capacity individuals
• Demonstrated experience raising 5-to-6 figure gifts.
• Have well-developed written, oral, interpersonal, and communication skills, with a high level of sensitivity for professionalism, propriety and confidentiality.

Bonus Points If You Have

• Experience using Raiser’s Edge database

More About This Role

• Travel approximately 50% domestically, with possible travel internationally to visit Water For People’s programming where conditions are very rural.
• Candidates must be citizens or legally authorized to work in the US.
• This position can be fully remote or can work from our office in Greenwood Village, Colorado.
• Water For People will only seek candidates from the following states: CO, DC, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, NE, NC, OH, OR, SD, TX or VA.
• Ability to work outside regular business hours at times to meet with personnel located in other time zones.