Development Officer

Overview

Reports to - Senior Director of Development and Marketing
Supervises - None (may work with contract or administrative support)

The Development Officer at Next Door is a frontline fundraiser, primarily responsible for building relationships with prospective leadership level donors, cultivating existing donors toward their highest capacity, and developing new major gift support. Roughly 90% of this role is spent meeting, communicating, and following up with donors. The remaining 10% involves planning, coordinating, and executing high touch cultivation and stewardship events, in collaboration with the development and marketing team.

This role will play a critical part in growing and sustaining Next Door's philanthropic support and deepening donor engagement with our mission. A passion for the mission is a must!

• Manage a portfolio of prospective and active leadership-level donors (approximately 150 individuals and family foundations).
• Conduct regular in person (or virtual) meetings, donor visits, follow up calls / emails, and relationship building activities.
• Develop and execute personalized moves management strategies (cultivation, solicitation, stewardship) to upgrade donor support.
• Research, qualify, and qualify new major gift prospects aligned with Next Door's mission and priorities.
• Collaborate with the President, Senior Director, board members, and other senior staff in donor engagements when appropriate.
• Prepare briefing materials, gift proposals, case statements, tailored impact reports, and follow-up stewardship communications.
• Maintain accurate, timely records and activity tracking in the donor database (e.g. Raiser's Edge NXT).
• Analyze donor data (giving history, capacity, engagement) to inform solicitation strategies.
• Work cross-functionally with program, marketing, and finance staff to align development asks with compelling program narratives and budget needs.

• Plan, coordinate, or help implement donor cultivation, recognition, and stewardship events (e.g. donor dinners, small salons, behind-the-scenes donor tours).
• Ensure events are donor centric, mission driven, and aligned with Next Door's brand and messaging.
• Collaborate with marketing, volunteer, and other staff (or contractors) to manage logistics, materials, guest lists, budgets, and follow up.
• Track event outcomes, donor feedback, and next-step actions for attendees.

• Contribute insights to the annual development planning and forecasting process.
• Serve as a key thought partner to the Senior Director of Development and Marketing on major gift strategy and growth initiatives.
• Participate in development team meetings, share best practices and lessons learned.
• Stay informed of philanthropic trends, best practices in major gifts, and mission-relevant external developments.

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Typically, 3-6 years of experience in individual major gift fundraising, donor relations, or comparable experience in a nonprofit environment. Those with a sales background in the private sector will be considered
• Proven track record of securing leadership-level individual gifts (or evidence of capacity to do so).
• Experience in moves management, pipeline cultivation, and relationship-based solicitation and engagement.

• Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills. Able to articulate compelling mission narratives and case for support.
• Comfort and effectiveness in meeting with high-net-worth individuals and senior level stakeholders.
• Strong project management, follow up, and organizational skills, able to manage multiple donor relationships simultaneously.
• Proficiency with donor databases (e.g. Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, or similar CRM) and ability to analyze donor metrics.
• Collaborative mindset; ability to work across teams (program staff, marketing, finance) to craft compelling asks and stewardship.
• High integrity, discretion, and respect for donor confidentiality.
• Self-motivated, entrepreneurial, and able to work with minimal supervision in a results-driven culture.
• Flexibility to travel…