Development Officer

The Development Officer is responsible for developing and managing a comprehensive major gifts program to support the mission of ICAN. This role focuses on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of major donors and prospects while collaborating with staff, board members, and volunteers to advance a culture of philanthropy across the organization. The Development Officer applies strategic moves management, data-driven decision-making, and personalized donor engagement to secure leadership-level gifts and long-term donor relationships.

The Development Officer oversees the strategy and execution of a major gifts fundraising program, managing a personal portfolio of prospects and donors. This role is accountable for revenue generation from individual donors, stewardship, and cross-departmental collaboration. They provide leadership in donor relations, manage development systems and reporting tools, support integrated fundraising campaigns, and contribute to overall development department success. Will promote the philosophy and mission of the agency by performing the following duties.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Major Gifts Portfolio Management

• Develop and implement a comprehensive major gifts strategy aligned with ICAN’s fundraising goals.
• Maintain and grow a dynamic portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, ensuring consistent, personalized engagement.
• Align donor interests with organizational priorities to drive long-term philanthropic relationships.

Moves Management & Donor Engagement

• Lead a strategic moves management process to guide donors through the pipeline from identification to stewardship.
• Design and implement individualized cultivation and solicitation plans for each major donor prospect.
• Schedule and conduct donor visits and meetings, involving board members and key staff as appropriate.

Donor Data, Reporting & Analytics

• Ensure timely and accurate entry of all donor interactions and activities in DonorPerfect.
• Utilize donor data, analytics, and reporting tools to assess progress and inform fundraising strategy.
• Track and measure performance of portfolio activities against defined goals.

Stewardship & Recognition

• Manage stewardship efforts to ensure major donors receive meaningful engagement and impact reporting.
• Oversee donor recognition programs, including naming opportunities, in line with donor preferences and organizational guidelines.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Partner with staff, board members, and volunteers to support major gifts strategy and cultivate relationships.
• Promote a culture of philanthropy across departments and teams.

Event Engagement & Campaign Support

• Support fundraising events as opportunities for major donor cultivation and engagement.
• Lead planning and execution of donor-centered events with an emphasis on relationship-building and stewardship.
• Coordinate with vendors and manage event volunteers to ensure success.

Annual Fund & Integrated Development Support

• Contribute to annual giving and integrated fundraising campaigns.
• Support development communications, grant proposals, and stewardship reports as needed.

Ethical Standards & Confidentiality

• Maintain strict confidentiality of donor and organizational information.
• Adhere to the highest standards of ethical fundraising in accordance with AFP guidelines.

Other Job Functions

• Supports the Development and Marketing Director with special projects and other duties as assigned.
• Participates in organization-wide initiatives and events to support ICAN’s mission and visibility.
• Represents ICAN at donor meetings, events, and in the community as needed.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree required in a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in fundraising, with a focus on major gifts, individual giving, or donor relations.
• Proven track record of securing major gifts ($5,000+) and meeting or exceeding annual fundraising goals.
• Experience with donor database systems (DonorPerfect preferred) and fundraising analytics.
• A valid NYS Driver's License is required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong understanding of fundraising principles, donor lifecycle, and moves management strategy.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a talent for building and maintaining relationships with donors, volunteers, and internal stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience writing donor proposals, stewardship materials, and reports.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating across departments in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to detail and deadlines.