Major Gifts Officer

Regis Jesuit High School is seeking a Major Gifts Officer to begin July 2026. The starting salary is $86,000/year (commensurate with experience), with a full benefits package available. This is a full-time, twelve-month, in-person, position. To learn more about working for Regis Jesuit High School, please click HERE. 

The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors in support of Regis Jesuit’s mission, strategic priorities, and philanthropic initiatives. This frontline fundraising professional will manage a dynamic portfolio of alumni, current and past parents, grandparents, foundations, and community partners capable of making leadership-level investments in the institution.

Reporting to the Director of Donor Engagement, the Major Gifts Officer will develop and execute individualized donor engagement strategies designed to deepen relationships and secure significant philanthropic support. The successful candidate will possess strong relationship-building skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to communicate the impact of philanthropy in compelling and meaningful ways.

As a member of the Advancement team, the Major Gifts Officer will partner closely with school leadership, faculty, volunteers, and advancement colleagues to advance a culture of philanthropy and engagement across the Regis Jesuit community. This role is expected to contribute meaningfully to annual and campaign fundraising goals through proactive donor management, thoughtful stewardship, and effective moves management practices.

The Major Gifts Officer will maintain a portfolio of approximately 100–150 assigned prospects with giving capacity in the major gift range ($25,000+), while also helping to strengthen the long-term donor pipeline through strategic engagement of emerging alumni leaders, parents, community partners, and foundations.

Essential Job Functions:

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100–150 major gift prospects and donors using a strategic moves management process focused on qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop and execute individualized donor strategies designed to secure major and planned gifts in support of institutional priorities, capital initiatives, endowment growth, and annual fundraising objectives.
• Conduct a minimum of 120 meaningful donor visits annually, both in-person and virtually, and maintain consistent donor engagement activity throughout the year.
• Prepare compelling donor correspondence, gift proposals, impact reports, and communications tailored to individual donor interests and institutional priorities.
• Partner with the Director of Donor Engagement, Vice President of Advancement, and school leadership to identify, cultivate, and solicit leadership and transformational gift opportunities.
• Collaborate with Advancement colleagues to strengthen the donor pipeline through coordinated strategies involving annual giving, alumni engagement, events, donor stewardship, and prospect research.
• Cultivate the next generation of alumni and community philanthropic leaders locally and in key national markets.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, strategies, proposals, and fundraising activity within the constituent relationship management system.
• Support Advancement events and engagement opportunities through donor participation, relationship-building, and strategic follow-up activities.
• Work collaboratively across departments to identify funding priorities, develop donor engagement opportunities, and strengthen institutional understanding of philanthropy and donor relations.
• Participate in regular strategy sessions and prospect review meetings with Advancement leadership regarding portfolio performance, campaign initiatives, and major gift strategies.

Characteristics Required for Success in This Role

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Authenticity and thoughtfulness in conveying gratitude and fostering meaningful donor relationships.
• A self-starter mindset with the ability to think creatively, strategically, and goal-oriented.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage a high volume of donor relationships while following through on commitments.
• Professionalism, discretion, confidentiality, and emotional intelligence in all interactions.
• Clear-headed problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate challenges with impartiality and sound judgment.
• Natural curiosity and a relationship-driven approach, with the ability to learn about others and connect opportunities that strengthen donor engagement and impact.

Required Qualifications (Education, Experience, Required/Preferred Skills)

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 3–5 years of frontline fundraising, major gifts, advancement, sales, or relationship management experience with demonstrated success in securing significant philanthropic support or managing high-level client relationships.
• Direct experience soliciting and closing major gifts at the $25,000+ level.
• Experience working with a customer relationship management system, such as Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge, RENXT and prospect research tools
• Willingness to travel periodically and work evenings and weekends for donor meetings and Advancement events, and be involved in the life of the school community.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in independent school, higher education, nonprofit, or faith-based advancement environments.
• Familiarity with campaign fundraising and donor pipeline development.
• Appreciation for and understanding of the Jesuit mission and values.
• Master’s degree or advanced professional training in philanthropy, nonprofit management, or related fields.