We're seeking a seasoned Major Gifts Officer to support the sustainability, evolution, and expansion of The Marine Mammal Center’s conservation programs by managing a dynamic fundraising portfolio of 100+ donors and inspiring them to learn more about the Center's exciting strategic priorities. This role reports to the Director of Major Gifts, and is focused on individual relationships with donors able to give single gifts of $25,000 to $1 million+. This role will play an important part in helping to scale our work in local, regional, and national areas, raising funds for new and existing program initiatives as well as unrestricted funds.  

The Major Gifts Officer will identify, evaluate, cultivate, and manage relationships, and successfully close gifts through appropriate and timely asks. The MGO is a thought leader, providing input and support to the Center’s Board of Directors, Senior Management, and Development volunteers on a full range of development activities. Identifying and involving the appropriate partner(s) (e.g., Board Members or Conservation Program Managers) to support activities in the development and stewardship of donor relationships will be a key function of this role. 

Compensation Range: $105,000 - $115,000 / year

Benefits: 

• Holidays, Sick Time, Vacation
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program

Essential Functions: 

Major Gifts: 90% 

• Responsible for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of major gifts for both annual funds and special campaigns. 
• Partner with the Chief Advancement Officer and Director of Development to grow the Major Gifts program. 
• Collaborate with Development Team colleagues (staff and volunteers) to manage dynamic and smooth constituent experiences as donors move in and out of the major gifts pipeline, helping to meet or exceed departmental fundraising goals. 
• Work with high-level volunteers to leverage personal and professional networks to  increase the efficacy of prospecting, cultivation, and stewardship efforts. 
• Work in partnership with non-Development colleagues to provide compelling donor materials, gift proposals, and experiences. 
• Participate in ongoing public, donor, and volunteer relations, and organizational functions and events as needed. 
• Utilize data analytics, research, and an intentional timeline to manage donor relationships to result in a gift. 
• Maintain accurate database records for assigned donors, recording all conversations, actions, and proposals for tracking and reporting purposes. 
• Conduct donor research, cultivation, and solicitation to support campaigns as needed. 

Organizational Impact:?5% 

• Actively participate in organization-wide leadership committee(s). 
• Collaborate with Director, Senior Director, and/or Executive Team members to ensure the department is on track with department goals. 
• Support and prioritize the Center’s DEI objectives and integrate as opportunities arise. 

Other Duties as Assigned:?5% 

• Perform special projects and research as assigned. 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Supervisory Responsibility: 

None 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Strong commitment to the mission and strategic priorities of The Marine Mammal Center. 
• Ability to understand strategic organizational issues and influence change. 
• Strong knowledge of fundraising principles. Planning and budgeting skills for a portfolio are required. 
• A proven record of securing meetings with prospective donors and soliciting, closing, and stewarding gifts. 
• Exhibits a high degree of professionalism, including the ability to communicate effectively to build productive relationships with all donors, peers, board, and executives. 
• Previous success with gifts from wills and trusts is a plus. 
• Strong initiative and self-motivation. 
• Comfort and agility in recruiting, training, and managing volunteers/volunteer activities. 
• Adherence to the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) code of ethical standards. 
• Adaptability, empathy, and optimism under pressure.  
• Ability to assess needs, influence, collaborate, and partner with varying levels within the organization. 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team environment, collaborating seamlessly with cross-functional colleagues to achieve shared project goals, while actively contributing ideas and fostering open communication. 
• Exceptional written, verbal, active listening, presentation, proposal writing, and facilitation skills.
• Knowledge of project design, planning, implementation, and management principles and practices.  
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work by taking initiative, being proactive, reliable, responsible, and flexible with attention to detail and follow-through to accommodate varying timelines. 
• Ability to understand and synthesize complex information to communicate effectively with varying audiences.  
• Strong analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving abilities. 
• Skills in budget preparation, implementation, and accountability. 
• Strong leadership and managerial skills. 
• Proven ability to learn new technologies quickly and manage change efficiently, proactively, and in a positive manner. 
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Word) and videoconference technology (Slack, Teams, Zoom).  
• Experience with and knowledge of fundraising databases. Salesforce constituent management database, or equivalent, and Raisers Edge experience preferred. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, which may include staff, volunteers, training participants, and members of the public.  
• Ability to practice self-awareness and respect while engaging with staff, volunteers, training participants, and members of the public.  
• Willingness to support and participate in The Marine Mammal Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. 

Certifications and/or Licenses: 

• Valid driver's license with an acceptable motor vehicle record to maintain insurability standards. (Must be 21+ years old as driving company vehicles may be required). 

Preferred Education and Experience: 

This position requires a combination of education and/or experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in marketing, digital marketing, public relations, or related field; and 7 years of development experience preferred, but adjacent sales experience or other relevant experience considered.  

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:  

• This position operates in a professional office, laboratory, and hospital environment both indoors and outdoors with access to other parts of the facilities via outdoor pathways.  
• Routinely uses standard office equipment requiring repetitive motion in tasks. 
• Ability to work at a desk for extended periods using a computer. 
• Ability to drive/operate a vehicle for extensive periods of time. 
• Ability to move up to 25 pounds occasionally. 
• Ability to spend extended periods on your feet, walking, standing, crouching, and climbing stairs (potentially in inclement weather conditions).  
• Limited exposure to allergens and zoonotic diseases. 
• May involve smells associated with animals and the care of animals. 

Position Type, Expected Hours of Work, and Travel: 

• This is a full-time, on-site position, dependent upon a moderate internal meeting schedule and donor meetings.  
• Days and hours of work may vary according to the needs of The Marine Mammal Center. 
• Evening, weekend, and holiday work may be required as job duties demand. 
• Travel within California, the Hawai’ian Islands, and other national travel may be expected for this position.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

The Marine Mammal Center actively engages individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to embracing diversity within our organization because we firmly believe that diverse employee teams help us to achieve our best organizational outcomes and provide the most effective support to the communities we serve. We are deeply dedicated to creating and maintaining an inclusive, equitable, and supportive work environment.  We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. The Marine Mammal Center believes in growth and supporting our employees as best we can so they can become their best selves in and outside of work. We believe that a healthy work environment means building an inclusive culture where people can thrive together and feel supported and empowered. We believe in stretch versus constraint.

OUR MISSION

The Marine Mammal Center advances ocean health through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, research, and education.

ABOUT THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER

The Marine Mammal Center is leading the field in ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue, veterinary medicine, science, and education. For more information, please visit our “About Us” page at www.marinemammalcenter.org

To Apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter with a brief description of how your experience aligns with the role.

We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. The Center is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.