Job Title: Major Gift Officer
Job Title: Major Gift Officer
Classification: Exempt
Reports To: Chief Development Officer. The Senior Director of Major Gifts will provide indirect supervision and management to the analytical activities of major gift officers.
Job Summary/Objective: The Major Gift Officer will be responsible for cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major gifts in support of the college’s mission and strategic priorities. This role focuses on building meaningful, long-term relationships with alumnae, parents, and friends to secure significant philanthropic investments that advance academic programs, student scholarships, faculty support, and campus initiatives.
Position Type/Expected Work Hours: Full time, Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm with flexibility for events and weekends as needed.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Responsible for a personal solicitation portfolio of up to 100 Sweet Briar donors with a focus on donors capable of making gifts of $25,000 or more to be determined in consultation with Senior Director of Major Gifts and other leadership;
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Develop individual donor strategies to include written cultivation and solicitation plans for all assigned prospects;
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Conduct regular outreach, including in-person visits, virtual meetings, and personalized communications.
- Collaborate with colleagues on annual giving, planned giving, and campaign initiatives
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Report and record in Banner all contacts, solicitations, next steps and outcomes;
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Stewardship of donors and prospects;
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Participate in regular Major Gift Officer meetings;
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Assist with updating prospect bios;
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Assist with developing overall fundraising strategies;
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Willingness to travel for alumnae/donor meetings;
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Represent the College as requested at alumnae/donor events;
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Help identify and cultivate potential alumnae leaders and prospects.
Required Qualifications:
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Bachelor’s degree required;
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Minimum of three to five years of experience in donor relations, fundraising and stewardship;
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Proficient in all aspects of Advancement to include annual, major, and planned giving;
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Highly effective communications skills, written and oral;
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Knowledge and utilization of on-line fundraising strategies;
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Excellent judgment and high integrity;
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Positive and approachable interpersonal style, able to win trust among co-workers;
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Commitment to mission and strategic priorities of the College
- Expert level skills with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google platform
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Ability to learn complex computer system quickly and individually
Preferred Qualifications:
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Advanced Degree in a related field;
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Applicable experience within an institution of higher education;
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Experience working with alumni and volunteer leaders.
- Familiarity of gift tax implications and rules, nonprofit accounting, GAAP, and CASE rules and regulations;
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CFRE designation
Work Environment:
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Traditional office environment, primarily indoors.
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This position requires frequent travel, including regional and occasional national trips, to meet with donors and attend college events.
- Currently this is an on-campus position.
Travel: 75% for travel. Expectation of minimum 15 donor calls per month.
Physical Demands: Extensive computer use and typing; extended periods of sitting/standing may be required.
The salary range for this position is $70,000.00-$77,500.00. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and will be determined in accordance with institutional guidelines.
