Major Gift Officer

Overview Major Gift Officer — Media Research Center, Herndon, Virginia The Media Research Center has retained the recruiting firm Big Fish on this search. Please get in touch with Angel Fimbres-Barcelo at View email address on click.appcast.io for any questions or referrals regarding the role. Big Fish is a boutique recruiting firm specializing in the talent needed to drive policy change. Learn more at recruitbigfish.com. About the Media Research Center The Media Research Center (MRC) is seeking a Major Gift Officer (MGO) to help expand and strengthen its national fundraising efforts. This role will focus on building and managing relationships with philanthropists who support MRC’s mission of exposing and countering bias in the news media. The Major Gift Officer will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects nationwide, cultivating relationships that lead to meaningful and sustained philanthropic support. The ideal candidate is entrepreneurial, relationship-driven, and passionate about advancing the principles of free speech and media accountability. This position is based out of MRC’s headquarters in Herndon, Virginia, with up to 40% travel required to cultivate and steward donor relationships through in-person engagement. Key Responsibilities Manage a Major Gifts Portfolio: Oversee a nationwide portfolio of up to 150 donors and prospects with the capacity to make gifts of $5,000 or more. Develop and execute strategies to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors. Expand Fundraising Capacity: Raise at least $1 million annually through new donor acquisition and deepened relationships with current supporters. Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective major donors. Align donor interests with MRC’s strategic priorities through customized proposals and thoughtful engagement strategies. Structure and present complex gift opportunities that advance the organization’s mission. Event Planning and Engagement: Plan and execute quarterly donor-focused events to cultivate new supporters and strengthen relationships with existing donors. Collaboration and Strategic Partnership: Work closely with leadership, volunteers, and development staff to support fundraising initiatives and donor outreach. Partner with the Director of Development to ensure alignment with MRC’s overall fundraising strategy. Donor Stewardship: Provide high-touch stewardship through personalized communications, donor briefings, proposals, and recognition efforts. CRM and Administrative Management: Maintain accurate donor records and reporting using Salesforce and other development tools. Track donor engagement, portfolio activity, and fundraising progress. Travel and Relationship Building: Travel across the United States to cultivate and steward donor relationships through face-to-face meetings and events. Manage travel and engagement budgets effectively. Required Experience & Qualifications 5+ years of fundraising experience or experience in a related field. Demonstrated success cultivating and closing gifts of $10,000 or more. Experience managing a portfolio of individual donors and building new donor pipelines. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present persuasive proposals. Experience with CRM platforms, preferably Salesforce. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Strong alignment with MRC’s mission to restore media balance and combat bias in the news media. Entrepreneurial mindset with strong work ethic, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Ability to travel up to 40% for donor meetings and events, including periodic visits to MRC’s headquarters if working remotely. #J-18808-Ljbffr Gilder Search Group