Major Gifts Officer

Major Gifts Officer

Number of Openings - 1

EOE Statement - WXXI is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. This policy expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic predisposition, gender identity or expression, carrier status, domestic violence victim status, veteran status or status as a member of any other protected group or activity.

Position Summary

WXXI Public Media is advancing a WXXI Studios strategy that brings together trusted journalism, arts and culture, independent film, music, education, live experiences, and community storytelling across WXXI, The Little Theatre, and CITY Magazine. The Major Gifts Officer is a frontline fundraiser responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors capable of making leadership and major gifts. This position connects donors to mission-driven opportunities across the organization, including unrestricted annual support, restricted project funding, campaign priorities, planned giving conversations, and special initiatives that advance WXXI Studios.

The role works closely with the President & CEO, Vice President of Development, Director of Leadership Giving, content leaders, board members, volunteers, and community stakeholders to build a stronger culture of philanthropy and deepen donor investment in WXXI's future.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Management and Fundraising

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 125-175 leadership and major gift prospects
• Develop individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for assigned donors and prospects
• Conduct regular meaningful donor contacts, including in-person meetings, virtual meetings, phone calls, events, and strategic touchpoints
• Solicit and close annual, multi-year, restricted, campaign, and project-based gifts
• Maintain a strong pipeline of qualified prospects and move donors through the giving cycle
• Meet or exceed annual goals for donor visits, solicitations, commitments, revenue, and pipeline development
• Document all activity, next steps, proposals, and donor interests in REV CRM

WXXI Studios Philanthropic Strategy

• Translate WXXI Studios priorities into compelling donor opportunities
• Partner with leaders across WXXI News, Classical 91.5, The Route, Education, Video, Podcasts, The Little Theatre, and CITY Magazine to understand funding needs and impact stories
• Develop donor offers, case statements, proposal language, budgets, and impact reports
• Identify opportunities for naming gifts, challenge gifts, matching gifts, and transformational investments
• Help build donor pathways from membership to mid-level, leadership, major, and principal giving

Donor Discovery and Prospect Development

• Use wealth screening, donor analytics, research, and board referrals to identify prospective major donors
• Collaborate with Membership, Development Operations, and CDP/MSB analytics resources to identify donors with capacity and affinity
• Qualify new prospects through discovery calls, meetings, events, and donor engagement activity
• Develop strategies to move loyal members and audience supporters into deeper philanthropic relationships

Stewardship and Donor Engagement

• Ensure donors receive timely, personal, and meaningful stewardship
• Coordinate donor briefings, studio tours, newsroom visits, screenings, live event experiences, and leadership conversations
• Partner with the stewardship lane to produce personalized impact reports and donor communications
• Represent WXXI, The Little Theatre, and CITY Magazine at donor and community events

Campaigns, Board, and Volunteer

• Support annual Campaign, capital endowment, and special fundraising initiatives
• Prepare briefing materials and donor strategies for executive leadership, trustees, and volunteers
• Work with board members and advisory leaders to identify and cultivate prospective donors
• Participate in prospect review meetings and campaign strategy sessions

Position Requirements - Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience

Five or more years of successful fundraising, sales, business development, relationship management, or comparable experience

Demonstrated ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership-level or major gifts

Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills

Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities

Ability to work independently and collaboratively across departments

Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

Performance Expectations

Annual fundraising revenue and commitments secured

Number and quality of donor visits, solicitations, and meaningful contacts

Donor retention, upgrades, and movement through the pipeline

Accuracy and timeliness of moves management documentation

Collaboration with leadership, content teams, board members, and stewardship staff

This position is currently accepting applications.