Location: Remote

Hiring Range: This position's hiring is anticipated to be $72,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Interviews will occur weekly until the position is filled.
 

Summary:  The Golden Circle Officer (GCO) will oversee a portfolio of Golden Circle donors, and others with the potential to increase giving. The role is the primary relationship manager for donors giving $1,000 - $4,999 annually and prospects with the potential to give at this level, with a specific focus on advancing donors up the pipeline by increasing giving and engagement, in addition to uncovering PG prospects. GCOs will work closely with Major Gifts, Direct Response, Digital, Planned Giving, Stewardship, and other Best Friends teams to manage the pipeline of donors and ensure all donors feel special and connected to the organization while strengthening relationships to inspire more giving and movement up the pipeline. 

This position will create meaningful relationships through regular phone, mail, email, and other channels of communications to grow the support of Best Friends. This position must be able to promote the goals of Best Friends, articulate the mission and strategic priorities, and effectively present a case for support. This person will have experience leveraging direct marketing tactics to acquire, cultivate and steward mid-level donors. The GCO will utilize traditional and innovative tactics to upgrade giving, deepen donor commitment, and expand relationships. This person will collaborate with others on the Development team and throughout the organization to increase the overall pipeline portfolio giving annually. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Increase donor value by cultivating close, meaningful, personal relationships with an assigned portfolio of at least 300 donors with a focus on donors with a current gift size of $1,000-$4,999, through quarterly communication and surprise-and-delight touches, with a goal to grow portfolio value over time.  
• In addition to assigned portfolio, this position will serve as point of contact for Golden Circle members within a defined geography and his/her name will appear on print and digital correspondence for donors residing within the assigned geographic region and this person’s role will include responding to correspondence from this group as they connect and engage. The GCO will have the opportunity to include donors who reach out in this way into their assigned portfolio.
• Work in a collaborative and supportive manner to facilitate donor transfers up the development pipeline, by determining interest and capacity so they may be pre-qualified for inclusion in the major gifts/philanthropy pipeline or into Planned Giving portfolios.
• Demonstrate effective capture of personal data and use data strategically to craft an excellent donor journey that matches donor’s philanthropic goals.
• Partner with Marketing Agency, Direct Response Manager, and other internal stakeholders on segmentation and direct mail or digital package strategy for donors in portfolio and non-portfolio GC donors. 
• Facilitate at least 3 personal touches per year over a period of at least 18-months before removing from portfolio and allowing for the donor to continue to receive Golden Circle direct mail and digital touches with GCO’s signature line. (Donors who are not giving at Golden Circle level may be disqualified and returned to direct mail.) 
• Function as Point-of-Contact for all Golden Circle members and new $1k+ Donors within assigned region that are currently not in a portfolio. 
• Make thank-you calls and GC welcome calls to donors within portfolio and assigned prospects within 30 days of receiving $1k+ gift with a focus on completing the majority of this outreach within two weeks of the gift. Use these calls to determine if donor should be assigned into an actual portfolio or remain in Golden Circle general pool.  
• Make pre/post calls to those attending virtual events or visiting the Sanctuary, offering special touches where appropriate such as VIP tours and lunch with a founder. 
• Solicit and secure unrestricted annual gifts from $1,000 - $4,999 annually and collaborate with other fundraisers to solicit for gifts above this range.   
• Maintain up-to-date CRM reports and contact logs in HERO. 
• Work alongside Best Friends staff to bring the magic of the Sanctuary to the donors through various thoughtful personalized touches (e.g., videos, virtual events, Friends & Founder events, phone calls and more). 
• Work to identify opportunities to expand donor engagement to include planned giving, major giving, stewardship, and other departments. Collaborate with subject matter experts on other teams to create the best donor cultivation plans.  Support healthy transfers of donor relationships that honor a positive donor experience.
• Treat people around you with Kindness and Compassion, build trust by demonstrating authenticity and following through on your commitments, prioritize your well-being like you do our mission, and work to build strong relationships with your colleagues by participating in communication loops to share and receive honest feedback. You are responsible and accountable for the culture you add to your team dynamic. 
•  Other duties as assigned.

Skills and experience: 

• Bachelor's degree or comparable work experience.  
• 3 years’ experience utilizing direct mail to acquire, cultivate, upgrade and steward mid-level donors giving $1000+ annually.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to make meaningful connections over phone, email, text, letters, or other communications. 
• Strengths and experience in utilizing statistical information to inform, develop, and implement division and department-level strategic plans, including change management strategies and program direction; proven attention to detail with advanced organizational and time management skills.  
• Ability to collaborate and influence others positively when working with internal and external partners. 
• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with donors, adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with nonjudgmental philosophies. 
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to act decisively with a get-it-done attitude; strong interpersonal skills and a proven ability to initiate and influence change; a team player, upbeat, energetic, tactful, and diplomatic, able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with public speaking and presentation experience. Ability to professionally advocate Best Friends’ positions on issues; experience in supporting, engaging with, and developing relationships with donors. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; Blackbaud CRM, or similar donor management system, comfortable learning new systems, including online information systems.   

Physical Requirements: 

• Able to work at a computer for extended periods of time with repetitive typing, arm and hand motion. 
• Ability to travel as required. 

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society.  Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the US must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the US by Best Friends Animal Society.