Major Gifts Officer

About the Opportunity:

We are seeking an experienced Individual Giving Manager to join the foundation of a well-established professional association. This is an excellent opportunity for a fundraising professional who enjoys building meaningful donor relationships, developing fundraising strategies, and working closely with Board members and organizational leadership.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in nonprofit fundraising, major gifts, or individual giving and understands how to move a prospective donor from initial cultivation through solicitation and long-term stewardship.

This position will inherit an established donor program while also having the opportunity to bring fresh ideas, develop new prospects, and help shape the organization's future individual giving strategy.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and grow a portfolio of major gift prospects and existing individual donors.
• Identify, research, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective major donors.
• Develop individualized fundraising strategies and solicitation plans based on donor interests and giving potential.
• Build strong, long-term relationships with donors through personal meetings, events, calls, and other high-touch engagement.
• Partner closely with Board members and organizational leadership to identify prospects, leverage relationships, and determine the best approach for donor solicitations.
• Develop fundraising plans and campaigns around specific programs, initiatives, and funding opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to grow five- and six-figure individual gifts.
• Manage annual giving, major giving, planned/deferred giving, and donor recognition initiatives.
• Track donor activity, relationship development, and fundraising progress through the organization's CRM and moves-management processes.
• Prepare donor communications, proposals, appeals, visit reports, and follow-up correspondence.
• Participate in fundraising, networking, and donor cultivation events.
• Collaborate with internal program leaders to identify compelling opportunities for donor support.
• Ensure donors receive appropriate acknowledgement, recognition, and ongoing stewardship.
• Monitor progress toward annual fundraising and revenue goals.
• Provide guidance and oversight to a Development Project Coordinator.
• Represent the organization professionally with donors, Board members, executives, volunteers, and other key stakeholders.
• Travel periodically for donor meetings, conferences, and fundraising events.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 4+ years of progressively responsible fundraising, development, nonprofit, or related experience.
• Demonstrated experience with major gifts and/or individual giving strongly preferred.
• Experience personally cultivating and developing relationships with donors and prospects.
• Strong understanding of the donor lifecycle, including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Experience developing fundraising strategies, campaigns, or donor engagement plans.
• Experience working directly with Boards of Directors, trustees, volunteer leaders, or senior executives strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with high-level and high-net-worth individuals.
• Track record of working toward and achieving fundraising or revenue goals.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a high level of emotional intelligence.
• Ability to navigate complex relationships with professionalism, discretion, and political awareness.
• Confident networker who is comfortable initiating conversations and developing relationships at events.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strategic, proactive, organized, and capable of working independently.
• Prior supervisory experience is preferred but not required.
• Healthcare, medical association, foundation, or professional association experience is a plus.
• Experience with fundraising databases, donor CRMs, or moves-management systems preferred.
• Willingness to travel periodically.

Full-Time | Hybrid – 2 Days In-Office, 3 Days Remote