Major Gifts Officer

MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER


Friends of the Children Fargo-Moorhead

Location: Fargo, ND, serving the Fargo-Moorhead region


Job Type: Full-time


Reports to: Executive Director

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT CHANGE LIVES

Are you skilled at building lasting relationships, understanding what matters to people, and turning conversations into meaningful commitments?

Friends of the Children Fargo-Moorhead is seeking a Major Gifts Officer to connect individuals and families with opportunities to invest in our mission. We welcome candidates with backgrounds in fundraising, banking, financial services, relationship-based sales, account management, and business development. Prior nonprofit fundraising experience is welcome but is not required.

ABOUT US

Friends of the Children Fargo-Moorhead impacts generational change by empowering youth facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with salaried, professional mentors. Our commitment to each child lasts 12+ years, no matter what. Philanthropic support makes this long-term commitment possible.

Our values guide our work:

• Put Children First: Center the needs, dreams, dignity, and potential of the youth we serve.
• Build Relationships on Love: Develop authentic relationships grounded in trust, empathy, acceptance, and long-term commitment.
• Commit to Empowerment: Recognize strengths and create opportunities for youth, families, and our community.
• Pursue Goals Relentlessly: Set meaningful goals, follow through, evaluate progress, and adjust strategies.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Major Gifts Officer builds and sustains relationships with individuals and families whose giving can significantly advance our mission. You will manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors, secure new and increased gifts, and develop multi-year commitments that strengthen our long-term financial sustainability.

Working closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors, you will guide donor relationships from the first introduction through a gift request and ongoing stewardship. The role also supports broader fundraising efforts while protecting substantial time for donor meetings, personalized follow-up, and major gift fundraising.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Build donor relationships and secure gifts

• Identify and connect with individuals and families who have the interest and capacity to make significant philanthropic investments.
• Manage a portfolio of current donors, qualified prospects, and donors with potential to increase their giving.
• Develop personalized relationship plans with clear opportunities and next steps.
• Schedule and conduct introductory, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship meetings.
• Create compelling proposals aligned with donor interests and organizational priorities, including youth sponsorships, unrestricted support, matching gifts, and multi-year pledges.
• Personally ask for financial commitments, independently or alongside the Executive Director and board members.
• Reconnect with former and lapsed donors through thoughtful listening and relationship rebuilding.
• Recognize opportunities involving donor-advised funds, family foundations, appreciated assets, and legacy gifts, coordinating with leadership and appropriate professionals.

Keep donors connected to their impact

• Develop individualized stewardship plans that help donors feel appreciated, informed, and connected.
• Provide timely gratitude through calls, handwritten notes, meetings, and personalized impact updates.
• Collaborate with program staff to share accurate stories and outcomes while honoring youth and family privacy and consent.
• Arrange program tours, small gatherings, and mission-focused experiences.
• Coordinate gift commitments, restrictions, recognition preferences, pledge schedules, and reporting with finance and operations staff.
• Invite donors to renew or increase their support based on their interests and the impact of prior gifts.

Partner with leadership and support fundraising efforts

• Help develop the major gifts strategy, revenue goals, and long-term development plan.
• Engage board members and ambassadors in introductions, donor meetings, gift requests, and stewardship.
• Prepare donor briefings, proposals, talking points, and follow-up materials.
• Build connections within the Fargo-Moorhead philanthropic, professional, and business communities.
• Support at least two annual fundraising or donor engagement events, focusing on donor participation, leadership gifts, and follow-up.
• Contribute to year-end appeals, annual reports, donor communications, and selected corporate, foundation, and grant opportunities.
• Coordinate outreach so donors receive consistent, organized communication.

Maintain records and track progress

• Keep accurate donor database records, including conversations, interests, requests, commitments, and next steps.
• Maintain an active pipeline of qualified opportunities.
• Report regularly on gifts secured, outstanding proposals, donor retention, and projected revenue.
• Follow procedures for donor confidentiality, gift documentation, approvals, and financial coordination.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least three years of relevant experience in fundraising, relationship-based sales, account management, business development, banking, financial services, or a related field involving a client or donor portfolio.
• Demonstrated success building long-term relationships, managing a portfolio, identifying opportunities, and securing new or increased business or philanthropic support.
• Ability to describe specific results and your personal contribution, such as portfolio growth, retention, new relationships, or significant sales or gifts secured, while protecting confidential information.
• Excellent listening, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence presenting tailored opportunities and asking for a financial commitment.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, time management, and follow-through.
• Experience using a CRM, donor database, or similar system to track relationships and opportunities.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and a commitment to confidentiality and ethical relationship management.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with leadership, board members, staff, and community partners.
• Commitment to our mission and willingness to learn nonprofit fundraising practices.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience working with individuals, families, business owners, or high-net-worth clients.
• Experience securing significant gifts, closing high-value sales, or negotiating substantial or multi-year commitments.
• Knowledge of the Fargo-Moorhead philanthropic and business communities.
• Experience with donor stewardship, donor-advised funds, family foundations, planned giving conversations, grant writing, or impact reporting.
• CFRE certification or relevant professional development in fundraising, consultative sales, or relationship management.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

You and the Executive Director will establish annual and quarterly goals based on organizational priorities and portfolio readiness. Success will include:

• Securing new gifts, renewals, increased support, and multi-year commitments, with cash received and pledges tracked separately.
• Building a pipeline of qualified prospects and advancing relationships toward gift requests.
• Providing consistent donor meetings, proposals, follow-up, and stewardship.
• Retaining and growing donor relationships.
• Maintaining accurate records, reliable forecasts, and effective collaboration.

WORK EXPECTATIONS

This position requires regular donor and community meetings throughout the Fargo-Moorhead area, occasional regional travel, and some evening or weekend commitments for events and donor engagement. The employee must be able to travel to required meetings and perform the essential functions of the position, with reasonable accommodations as needed.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Friends of the Children Fargo-Moorhead is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices and providing fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants. We hire and promote individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the position.

LEARN MORE

One Friend. One Child. 12+ years. No matter what.

Learn more about Friends of the Children Fargo-Moorhead: