Major Gifts Officer, National Fundraising & Capital Campaign

Title: Major Gifts Officer, National Fundraising & Capital Campaign

Employment Status: Exempt

Salary: $160,000-180,000 — salary/bonuses commensurate with experience/performance

Supervisor Title: Associate Vice President, Institutional Advancement

Date Revised: August 2026

Meridian International Center empowers leaders to advance the next era of diplomacy. Our work is rooted in a simple but powerful idea—Open Diplomacy—the belief that diplomacy does not belong to governments alone. Business leaders, innovators, scientists, governors and mayors, artists, and athletes now stand on the front lines of global engagement. Through global leadership programs and education, Meridian equips these leaders with the insights, relationships, and networks they need strengthen America’s international partnerships and turn dialogue into lasting impact. Since 1960, Meridian’s historic Washington campus has served as a gateway between Washington and the world, engaging tens of thousands of leaders—including more than 180 who later became heads of state. Today, amid growing global complexity and division, Meridian’s mission has never been more urgent: to serve as a trusted, nonpartisan, and innovative partner that brings leaders together, accelerates solutions to shared challenges, and helps shape the future of American diplomacy. The Major Gifts Officer will play a pivotal role in shaping this future.

Summary of Position:

Meridian International Center is seeking a dynamic, experienced Major Gifts Officer to help lead the next phase of the organization's national fundraising growth, with its capital campaign as the primary focus of major-gift activity.

Working closely with the organization's leadership, the Major Gifts Officer will be responsible for raising $2 million in new philanthropic partnerships in the first year, with a focus on securing new 5-7 figure gifts from HNW individuals, family offices, and family foundations. Experience raising major gifts from the c-suite in the private sector a plus as is experience in foundation/corporate proposal writing. The role will expand Meridian's national network of philanthropic partners, with particular emphasis on New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington, D.C.

Strong candidates will bring front-line individual major-gift fundraising experience from think tanks, public policy organizations, museums, universities, cultural institutions, and civic organizations. International-affairs experience and intellectual curiosity preferred.  

This position is located in Washington, D.C., and Meridian requires MD, DC, or VA residence for all employees. 

Position Responsibilities:
Primary Focus on Individual and Family Foundation Major Gifts
* Cultivates, solicits, and closes new 5-7 figure gifts from individuals nationally, with emphasis on New York City and Washington, D.C.
* Serves as the primary relationship manager for individual donors in the portfolio, leading personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
* Develops donor materials, proposals, and solicitations tailored to Meridian’s programs and initiatives.
* Manages benefits, recognition, and acknowledgments for donors in the portfolio.
Capital Campaign
* Cultivates, solicits, and closes major campaign gifts and multiyear pledges, building and advancing the 20M campaign prospect pipeline toward its goals.
* Partners with senior leadership to execute campaign strategy supporting the renovation and historic preservation of Meridian’s historic John Russell Pope–designed campus and program endowment that advances American smart power.
Executive & Board Partnership
* Prepares and staffs the CEO and Trustees for cultivation meetings and major gift solicitations.
* Supports the launch and growth of a Trustee Emeritus giving council, including outreach, stewardship, and renewals.
* Designs and executes high-touch philanthropic partner engagement, including a New York salon series hosted by Trustees and other partners.
* Partners with Board leadership to identify, cultivate, and help recruit prospective Trustees.
Corporate & Foundation Partnerships
* Cultivates, solicits, and closes 5-7 figure gifts from c-suite and private sector/foundations. Relationships with decision makers in the following sectors is a plus: technology, space, finance, energy, culture, sports, healthcare, and city and state civic engagement partners.
* Builds relationships with corporate and foundation decision-makers nationally, connecting their priorities to Meridian’s programs.
Portfolio Management & Operations
* Carries a personal portfolio of 80-150 individual and corporate prospects and is accountable for meeting first-year and ongoing revenue goals.
* Maintains disciplined moves management in Salesforce and tracks pipeline KPIs — qualified meetings, engagements, and philanthropic partner moves.
* Reports regularly to senior leadership on activity, pipeline, and progress to goal.
* Coordinates across Meridian divisions to align funding opportunities and strategy.
* Represents Meridian at meetings and events nationally as appropriate.
* Completes administrative responsibilities on deadline; other duties as assigned.
* Team support on research, proposal writing, event production, and briefs is available.
Education / Experience:
* Undergraduate degree preferred.
* At least 10 years of progressive responsibility in a nonprofit fundraising environment.
* Capital campaign fundraising experience required — direct experience raising major gifts and pledges within a capital or comprehensive campaign.
* Demonstrated experience expanding philanthropic partnerships nationally is required with existing relationships or fundraising experience in New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington, D.C.
* Proven record cultivating and closing 5-7-figure gifts.
* Existing relationships with major philanthropists focused on solving global challenges.
* Or any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
* An accomplished relationship builder with strong interpersonal instincts and the ability to effectively engage directly with philanthropic leaders.
* Demonstrated experience with moves management and ability to independently update moves and pipelines in Salesforce.
* Positive mindset, looks for good and strengths in others, identifies opportunities for improvement and iteration of strategies, and does so to draw out the best in the team.
* Proven ability to independently identify, engage, solicit, and close major philanthropic partners.
* Experience closing complex, multiyear gifts from diversified sources.
* Ability to align the priorities of high-net-worth individuals, corporate leaders, and foundations with organizational goals.
* Highly organized and able to manage multiple projects against quantitative goals.
* Keen sense of personal integrity and discretion when handling sensitive information.
* Superior written and verbal communication skills.
* Must be intrinsically motivated, self-starter type, who thrives in entrepreneurial environment.
Technical Requirements:
* Independent Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
* Salesforce experience required; iWave experience required.
Employer’s Statement:
Meridian is committed to empowering global leaders and amplifying voices from a wide variety of backgrounds to create pathways for greater understanding, shared values, and respect. Connecting people has been our foundation for more than 65 years. If you share our values and enthusiasm for promoting non-partisan collaboration to address global challenges and opportunities, you can find a home at Meridian.

As an equal opportunity employer, Meridian is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, personal appearance, family responsibilities, marital status, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, District of Columbia, or local law. This commitment applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.

Meridian provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities and to individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs and practices, and for pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, as required by applicable law. Applicants who require an accommodation during the application or interview process are encouraged to contact Human Resources.

Meridian offers a comprehensive benefits package, which may include medical, dental, retirement, life and disability insurance, voluntary benefits, paid leave, and paid holidays. Eligibility and coverage are subject to the applicable plan documents and Meridian policies.

How to Apply
Please submit both a resume and a cover letter with your application; submissions missing either document will not be considered.

Only candidates being considered for this position will be contacted. PLEASE DO NOT CALL or E-MAIL in reference to this position.

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