INSTITUTIONAL GIVING OFFICER AT RAISING A READER
(FULL TIME/EXEMPT)

Created from the merger of Peninsula Community Foundation and Community Foundation Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Community Foundation brings together the complementary strengths of each foundation to create a greater impact than either CFSV or PCF could realize alone. As a result, the community foundation emerged as a center for philanthropy providing world-class services to donors and nonprofits and inspiring greater civic participation throughout the San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

Raising A Reader ® is a 501 (c)(3) supporting organization of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The organization’s mission is to foster healthy brain development, parent-child bonding, and early literacy skills by engaging parents in a routine of daily “book cuddling” with their children aged birth-five.

Raising A Reader designs, evaluates and trains licensed affiliate organizations to implement a parent involvement “read aloud” program anchored to research about human behavior and understanding of social sector change. The organization works with a number of publishers and vendors to produce training materials and book bag kits tailored to a variety of age, cultural and language demographics.

PURPOSE OF JOB

The institutional giving officer is responsible for planning and implementing solicitation strategies designed to maximize foundation and corporate support for Raising A Reader (RAR).

SCOPE

The institutional giving officer has responsibility on a day-to-day basis for planning solicitation strategies and activities, for setting priorities and determining an effective sequence of work. The DoD is apprised of unusual and/or significant developments that would be important for her/him to know. The institutional giving officer is encouraged to operate autonomously, to exercise initiative and authority within general parameters set by the DoD.

EXPECTATIONS

• Carry between 150-300 prospects
• Make 40 visits to prospects, annually
• Be a member of the Development Priorities Committee and be especially attuned to raising funds for RAR’s gift opportunities expressed as maximum or high gift priorities.
• Mentor other staff
• Raise receipts in the amount of $2 million to $5 million, annually

Salary range: $ 85-90K annually commensurate with experience.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify and evaluate gift capacity of corporate and foundation prospects.
• Identify ties to RAR via specific initiative, project or program interests while working with volunteers and staff.
• Call on prospects to establish personal contacts, gather information, qualify prospects, present ideas, develop networks, and to promote understanding of RAR’s initiatives, projects
  programs and policies. Accompany senior RAR officers, volunteers and staff on such trips.
• Review and identify gift opportunities and advocates for the same in order to maximize probabilities of support. This frequently entails discussions with program staff as well as administrative officers.
• Plan and superintend the solicitation of companies/foundations through the following steps:
• Identify and cultivate prospects, determine amount and timing of requests; focus of gift request; write or oversee the writing of proposals (often with faculty); determine which RARers (volunteers or staff) should be involved in the solicitation, secure their commitment to act, and prepare briefing materials for them; arrange necessary meetings or other steps to complete the solicitation; follow-up with oral and written communications necessary to secure the gift; follow up with appropriate stewardship to lay the groundwork for the following gift.
• Evaluate potential prospects and assign priorities among them. Institutional prospects include all levels of gift potential, including seven figure solicitations. Receive, coordinate, and clear competing requests from staff, and others for access to prospects.
• Participate in, and arrange visits by foundation or corporate officers. Choose participants, set agendas, arrange schedules and prepare background materials regarding the purpose and strategy of campus meetings. Debrief and follow-up.
• Work on behalf of both RAR’s national office and, as appropriate, with RAR affiliate organizations to secure both national and localized grants and sponsorships.
• Engage in best practices (i.e., creating written solicitation strategies, documenting actions and information through the efficient use of RAR’s development database, participating in prospect reviews, sharing pertinent information with volunteers, use of appreciative inquiry).
• Responsible for seeing that appropriate stewardship (acknowledgments and reporting) is carried out in connection with gifts from area prospects.

Support Activities for the Above

• Develop knowledge of RAR’s priorities. Coordinate with staff on those needs.
• Meet with program staff to ascertain areas of need which would be of most interest to prospects.
• Identify marketable gift opportunities for donors considering RAR’s priorities, new and continuing interests of specific companies, and linkages between RARers and foundation or corporate personnel.
• Become fully knowledgeable about foundations, the national economy, industries, corporate organizations, business strategies, and outlooks on R&D, philanthropy, sponsorships and relations with conservation organizations.
• Understand the arc of potential foundation or corporate support from gifts or grants through a co-marketing relationship and who at RAR is responsible for which programs. Identify key decision-makers and decision processes regarding corporate support.
• Edit and write or coordinate the writing of proposals.

Special Assignments

• Participation in development planning, which includes analysis of development potential for assigned prospects; strategy formation both for selected prospects and RAR-wide marketing; planning for volunteer involvement.

Functional Relationships

• In addition to the above relationship with the DoD, the IGOr works closely with colleagues in the Development Office, and with volunteers. Due to the nature of foundation and corporate fund raising, the IGO will work closely with other development officers, and with the those responsible for marketing RAR. In addition, because of RAR’s broad strategy of encouraging interaction at high levels, it is common for the IGO to work closely with the Executive Director, volunteers and program staff in coordination with the DoD.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• At least five years of development experience with demonstrated initiative and achievement in large gift fundraising
• Proven ability to strategize large gift solicitations and to demonstrate a sensitivity to the motivations of those who can make them
• Proven track record in fundraising, grantwriting, research and solicitation of institutional foundations and corporate grants and sponsorships.
• Bachelors degree required; Graduate degree a plus; professional fund development training preferred.
• Knowledge of current institutional funding sources and trends required. Specific knowledge of funding sources for child literacy and education a real plus.
• Self-motivation: must be able to work effectively without close supervision and with a variety of people within RAR to identify funding sources and initiate follow-through on approaches to funding sources. Must display a mature approach to problem solving and be able to produce in an unstructured work environment, based on setting own agenda and priorities
• Marketing and sales skills: must be able to conceptualize and implement strategies and plans for marketing gift opportunities. Direct involvement in the solicitation of prospects will call on abilities similar to those required in commercial corporate sales
• Understanding corporations: A familiarity with corporation structure, activities and decision-making processes would be helpful
• A proven ability to work autonomously and to keep a number of solicitations moving simultaneously, along with the ability to function independently with a variety of important audiences, including advisor groups, faculty, major donors, and prospects
• The ability to write and edit persuasive materials including grant proposals, informational brochures, letters, and informational memoranda
• The ability to function effectively as a member of a team, and a willingness to participate in activities and assignments that will benefit other members of the team or will contribute to the accomplishment of team objectives
• Experience with best practices including the efficient use of database systems, including prospect tracking, a willingness to strengthen strategies through prospect review and an openness to share development techniques while learning RAR’s system of best practices
• A willingness to accept liaison and special project assignments, and the ability to represent various state initiatives to prospects effectively and equitably
• Exceptional ability to organize and motivate others, including RAR administration, project and program staff, peers, and volunteers
• Appreciation of the literacy mission of RAR and the ability to market family literacy effectively and with enthusiasm
• Perseverance, a high energy level, patience, imagination, humor and creativity.
  

WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee regularly stands. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The individual may be expected to drive self or others to local venues.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Travel is required.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the incumbent in this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Submit a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and what you would bring to Silicon Valley Community Foundation and Raising A Reader. Send cover letter and resume as Word documents via email only to JValva@raisingareader.org with the position title "Institutional Giving Officer" in the email subject line.

Application deadline: open until filled.

Silicon Valley Community Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.