Boston, MA

The Organization

The Boston Foundation, Greater Boston’s community foundation, is one of the largest community foundations in the nation, with net assets of about $1 billion. In 2015, the Foundation and its donors paid $135 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and received gifts of $123 million. In celebration of its Centennial in 2015, the Boston Foundation launched the Campaign for Boston to strengthen the Permanent Fund for Boston, the only endowment fund focused on the most pressing needs of Greater Boston. The Foundation is proud to be a partner in philanthropy, with more than 1,000 separate charitable funds established by donors either for the general benefit of the community or for special purposes. The Boston Foundation also serves as a major civic leader, think tank and advocacy organization, commissioning research into the most critical issues of our time and helping to shape public policy designed to advance opportunity for everyone in Greater Boston. The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI), an operating unit of the Foundation, designs and implements customized philanthropic strategies for families, foundations, and corporations around the globe. For more information about the Boston Foundation and TPI, visit tbf.org or call 617-338-1700.

Position Overview

Job Description

Title: Donor Services Officer

Department: Philanthropy Group

Reports To: Senior Director of Donor Relations

FLSA Classification: Exempt FTE: 1

Supervises: None

Position Summary: Responsible for relationship building, cultivation, and fundraising of donors. Cultivate donors for replenishment of funds, co-investments, legacy planning, and gifts to the Civic Leadership Fund. Develop and manage donor programs, undertake donor-initiated special projects, and other fund management responsibilities as assigned.

Essential Functions:

• Initiate and cultivate relationships with new and existing preferred donors with the goal of repeat gifts, deeper engagement in the work of the Foundation, and legacy planning through the planned giving program;
• Manage relationships with 100-125 Preferred Donor Advised Fund holders;
• Cultivate and steward preferred donors through relationship building for repeat giving and engagement in the work of the Foundation, with emphasis on the Permanent Fund for Boston, Civic Leadership Fund and other initiative fund raising;
• Work on planned and legacy giving/succession planning for assigned funds, in conjunction with the Director of Estate and Gift Planning;
• Develop and manage donor education and engagement activities and participate in the development and coordination of events;
• In coordination with the Senior Director of Donor Partnerships, work closely with the Program department to keep apprised of grant making strategies and to identify funding needs for co-investment opportunities to present to donors;
• Work with the investment, finance and/or fund administration teams to resolve and/or develop creative solutions to fund and grant issues and donor requests;
• Oversee scope, timeline and implementation of preferred donor initiated projects;
• Manage special funds and supporting organizations, including competitive grantmaking programs, and other duties as assigned by the Senior Director of Donor Relations or Vice President of Development and Donor Services.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Individuals assigned to this position may perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Preparation, Knowledge, Previous Experience:

• Bachelor degree or equivalent, Master’s degree preferred;
• Three to five years related work experience;

Skills, Abilities, Competencies:

• High level of customer service orientation;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and strong collaboration and influencing skills;
• Excellent analytical skills and comfort with financial content;
• Ability to understand and communicate finance, accounting and investment strategies to a wide range of audiences, including donors and professional advisors;
• Participative and proactive work style, team player, ability to give and receive feedback;
• Flexible and responsive to development opportunities as they arise;
• Mature interpersonal style and sense of humor, able to interact calmly with a diverse range of people;
• Demonstrated experience with database management and computer skills utilizing Microsoft Office products;
• Ability to work under the pressure of tight deadlines;
• Ability to make decisions about how to manage multiple tasks and organize own workload.

Preferred Skills, Abilities, Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to master grantmaking program content;
• Demonstrated ability to advise and counsel individuals and families on their philanthropy decisions making and planning.