Major Gifts Officer

Job Description:

Position Title: Major Gifts Officer

Location: Great Hearts Phoenix Office

Reports To: Major Gifts Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt

Compensation Amount: $60,000-$65,000 annually

Organization Description: Great Hearts Academies is a nonprofit charter management organization (CMO) that operates classical preparatory K-12 public charter schools. Our academies cultivate the minds and hearts of students through the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty.

We currently serve over 30,000 students in 46 schools through Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana and are dedicated to serving new communities with our liberal arts model of public education and restoring excellence to American public education. We proudly prepare students for success at the best colleges and universities in the nation but see our larger purpose as producing great-hearted graduates that are prepared to be intellectual, moral, and engaged citizens.

Great Hearts Academies' primary goal is to graduate thoughtful leaders of character who will contribute to a more philosophical, humane and just society. As our national network grows, we will offer this opportunity to more families and educate more great-hearted graduates, serving as a catalyst for reforming public education. Additional information can be found at

Position Summary: The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for sustaining and growing an already-strong base of major donor individuals, corporate sponsors, and foundation partners to secure large-scale funding for Great Hearts Academies. He/She will personally cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of existing supporters and increasingly over time, also be responsible for identifying and approaching new major-donor prospects to introduce them to the work of Great Hearts Academies. The Major Gift Officer reports directly to the Regional Director of Philanthropy and works collaboratively with other development team members at the regional or academy-level to advance the mission by inviting and enabling supporters to join in that mission financially.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manages relationships with approximately 150 existing major donors.
• Develop and execute individual strategies for engaging, cultivating, soliciting, upgrading, stewarding and recognizing, and retaining major donors.
• Provide leadership, coordination, and execution of various major gift campaigns including individual major gift solicitation, capital campaign oversight, grant writing and corporate and foundation giving solicitations.
• Ensure that a consistent and effective campaign strategy is used, moves management and status process deployed with consistency and accuracy, and that best practices are implemented for all responsible campaigns.
• Work with campus leadership and Academy Giving Managers as necessary to bring additional financial resources to the Academy on an individualized basis.
• Convey unified message and narratives to campaign donors in conjunction with Great Hearts communications team and development staff.
• Abides by gift acceptance, fundraising, and stewardship policies and procedures established by the Great Hearts Foundation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required/Preferred Education: Bachelor's Degree.

Required/Preferred Experience:

• 2-4 years' fundraising experience. Donor-facing experience is preferred.
• Familiarity with various major gift programs such as individual solicitation, capital-intensive projects, volunteer management, moves management, and fundraising aptitude.
• Foundation relationship and grant writing experience.

Required/Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Blackbaud or a similar CRM.
• Strong Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) skills experience.
• Outstanding written, interpersonal, verbal communication and public speaking skills.
• Detail oriented, adaptable, organized and able to successfully manage multiple projects and tasks.
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Must be a team player.
• Passion for the mission of Great Hearts Academies and commitment to Great Hearts' core values.
• Knowledge of the educational and philosophical landscape in which Great Hearts operates.
• Ability to cast a convincing vision for potential donors while maintaining firm command of details.
• Must be available to work some evenings, weekends and extended hours for meetings and events.

Physical Functions: Requires but is not limited to standing, sitting, repetitious hand and body movements, bending, squatting, and reaching. May be required to move or position equipment up to 15 pounds approximately.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and fingerprint clearance in accordance with state requirements.

Travel required: May need to travel locally for training and professional development opportunities.

This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions. It does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Great Hearts Academies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.