PRIMARY FUNCTION
The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for leading the organization's philanthropic strategy to
generate the annual cash contributions necessary to achieve organizational funding objectives
established in partnership with the Chief Resource Development Officer and aligned with the
organization's financial goals. Reporting directly to the Chief Resource Development Officer, the
Major Gifts Officer provides strategic leadership for all fundraising initiatives, with a primary
focus on major gifts, planned giving, donor engagement, and long-term philanthropic growth.
The Major Gifts Officer will develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies that
strengthen and expand the organization's network of donors, cultivate meaningful philanthropic
partnerships, and ensure sustainable funding to support the organization's mission, growth, and
impact. This role is accountable for generating annual philanthropic cash contributions that meet
or exceed organizational fundraising objectives and deliver a strong return on the organization's
investment in the position, with a target of no less than five times the total organizational
investment.
KEY ROLES (Essential Job Responsibilities)
Strategic and Organizational Leadership
- Serve as a primary fundraising partner to the Chief Resource Development Officer in
advancing major gifts, planned giving, and endowment strategies, including donor
cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and long-term relationship development efforts.
- Participate in regular pipeline meetings with leadership and key stakeholders to monitor
donor engagement, assess portfolio performance, and guide cultivation, solicitation, and
stewardship strategies throughout the donor lifecycle. Ensure timely follow-up, align
donor strategies with organizational fundraising objectives, and support long-term
financial sustainability for BGCMC.
- Work with BGCMC’s CEO, Board and organizational leadership to understand
organizational needs and programmatic growth goals and develop tailored strategies to
engage donors in the expansion to new sites and possible capital campaigns.
- As agreed upon with the Chief Resource Development Officer, achieve annual goals
related to the acquisition, retention, engagement, and growth of high-net-worth donors
defined as $10,000 or more annually. Ensure the development and execution of strategies
that strengthen donor relationships, expand the organization's major donor base, and
increase philanthropic support.
- Lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for major and planned giving
donors, aligning donor engagement efforts with the organization's growth strategies,
expansion opportunities, and long-term funding priorities to sustain and increase
philanthropic support.
- Partner with the Board, its applicable committees, and affinity groups to leverage their
networks to sustain and expand the donor base, with a focus on growing philanthropic
engagement in key geographic and community markets, while providing a high level of
support, tracking, and follow-up.
- In partnership with the Chief Resource Development Officer, work with leadership across
the organization to establish a unified communications strategy that provides clear and
consistent donor communication across events, capital campaign opportunities, annual
giving, major and planned gifts.
- Support and assist with the execution of capital campaign strategies, ensuring seamless
integration with broader fundraising efforts and providing oversight of key campaign related donor communications and engagement.
Major Gifts and Planned Giving Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of individuals at a major gift ($10K+) level and serve as the primary
relationship manager responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding
these donors.
- Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive planned giving program,
advancing it to a more strategic and innovative level aligned with organizational growth.
Cultivate and steward planned and multi-year giving commitments to strengthen long term philanthropic sustainability for BGCMC.
- Collaborate with the Chief Resource Development Officer and Finance team to ensure
best practices in tracking and stewardship efforts to ensure that all donors receive
consistent recognition, communication, and an accounting of the impact of their gifts.
- Monitor progress toward fundraising goals and key benchmarks, ensuring alignment with
annual revenue targets.
- Provide regular reporting on fundraising performance, pipeline activity, and donor
engagement trends, including recommendations for course correction as needed.
- Participate in regular revenue review and revenue audit meetings to evaluate fundraising
performance, monitor progress toward revenue goals, ensure accountability and accuracy
in reporting, and support strategic decision-making related to philanthropic growth and
sustainability.
- In collaboration with the Chief Resource Development Officer, leverage cross-functional
development team members to advance fundraising goals, ensuring all activities are
coordinated and executed through the Chief Resource Development Officer to maintain
clear departmental alignment and leadership structure.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Serve as a primary external representative of the organization in donor meetings,
community engagements, and philanthropic events as directed by the Chief Resource
Development Officer.
- Partner closely with the Chief Resource Development Officer as a key external face of
the organization within the donor community.
- Support donor-facing fundraising initiatives, events, and campaigns as appropriate.
- Lead cultivation and stewardship of high-capacity donors to ensure consistent and
meaningful engagement.
- Support donor recognition, communication, and impact storytelling in collaboration with
organizational partners.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation of donor engagement, cultivation activity,
and fundraising progress.
- Ensure strong continuity in relationships with key philanthropic stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance with all fundraising regulations, ethical standards, and donor
confidentiality policies.
- Contribute to annual fundraising planning and long-term revenue strategy development.
- Provide weekly updates and reports to the Chief Resource Development Officer as
requested.
- Participate in Resource Development meetings, pipeline meetings, and additional
meetings as requested under the leadership of the Chief Resource Development Officer.
- Serve as lead for the Resource Development Committee with a focus on major gifts and
planned giving strategy.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal: Maintains close contact with assigned staff to provide technical assistance in matters
of fundraising operations; interacts regularly with the Chief Resource Development Officer,
Senior Leadership Team, staff, and as assigned with Advisory Committees and Committees.
External: Assist with planning cultivation & stewardship activities/events; perform
administrative tasks associated with the creation and distribution of event support material.
Maintain contact as needed with external community groups, volunteers and others.
SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Knowledge of Major Gifts & Planned Giving best practices, donor prospecting,
cultivation and creative stewardship, and advanced fundraising.
- Proficient background in fundraising for non-profit organizations with a sophisticated
donor base and proven success in raising major gifts of $10,000 or more.
- Strong strategic thinking skills and the ability to develop effective engagement and
solicitation strategies for a diverse group of individual donors.
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent relationship building skills and the ability to understand the needs and interests
of donors. Outstanding listening skills and the desire to hear people’s stories.
- Strong organization and time management skills. Ability to manage multiple deadlines
and complete projects on time.
- Understanding of best practice in donor stewardship and experience in developing high impact, cost-effective stewardship approaches.
- Proficiency in donor database.
- Ability to track progress and report results with accuracy.
- Must have a deep understanding of planned giving vehicles and the donors who use them
and relate well to the planned-giving constituency.
- Excellent project management as well as good writing and communication capabilities.
- There will be a high level of coordination of work, requiring extensive interaction with
staff in the Development Department and external constituents. Teamwork is essential.
- Must be able to exercise independent discretion and judgment to manage assignments and
projects in a timely and effective manner.
Physical Demands
These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an
employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable
accommodation can be made to
enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of this position.
While performing the responsibilities of this position, the employee is required to talk and hear.
The employee is often required to sit and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel and to
manipulate keys on a keyboard. The employee is often required to stand, walk, reach with arms
and hands, climb or balance, lift up to 25 pounds and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision
abilities required by this job include close vision.
Major Gifts Officer Details:
Location: Administrative Office
Schedule: Mon – Fri between 8am-5pm; Hours may vary depending on the location or situation of the day; Regular night and weekend work required.
Compensation: $110k-$120k
Pay: $110,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- What is your highest level of education?
- What is your experience with fundraising and event planning?
- What is your experience with raising major gifts of 10k or more?
- What is your experience with donor database programs, and provide examples?
Work Location: In person
