Major Gift Officer

Description

Outreach is hiring a full-time Major Gift Officer to develop meaningful relationships with major donors and high-capacity prospects who can significantly advance Outreach's mission. This position manages a portfolio of approximately 75–100 donors and prospects, developing and executing personalized strategies for cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, donor upgrades, and multi-year commitments. The Major Gift Officer serves as a frontline fundraiser and works closely with Resource Development and executive leadership to deepen donor engagement and drive sustainable revenue growth.

Benefits & Compensation

• $80,000–$85,000 annually, based on education, experience, and qualifications.
• Paid vacation, agency holidays, sick days, Illinois Paid Leave, and wellness days.
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan.
• Employee Assistance Program and Employee Discount.
• A mission-driven environment that fosters professional growth and development.

Responsibilities

• Manage and strategically engage a portfolio of approximately 75–100 major donors and high-capacity prospects.
• Develop and execute individualized strategies for donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Work toward annual major-gift revenue goals of $1.25M–$1.75M+ through significant gifts and multi-year commitments.
• Build authentic, long-term donor relationships that deepen engagement with Outreach's mission and increase giving.
• Lead face-to-face donor meetings, personalized proposals, and gift solicitations.
• Identify opportunities to upgrade donors and secure increased annual and multi-year commitments.
• Partner with the CEO, CGO, and Resource Development leadership on strategies and solicitations involving key donors and prospects.
• Develop high-touch stewardship strategies that provide donors with meaningful communication, recognition, and opportunities to experience the impact of their giving.
• Identify and qualify new major-gift prospects while building a sustainable pipeline of future major donors.
• Collaborate with donor engagement, events, and program teams to connect donor interests with Outreach's programs and funding priorities.
• Maintain accurate donor activity, moves, pipeline information, and revenue forecasting within the organization's CRM.
• Use donor and fundraising data to evaluate progress, strengthen strategies, and maintain accountability for portfolio and revenue goals.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5+ years of experience in major gifts, individual giving, nonprofit development, or a related fundraising role.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and closing significant charitable gifts.
• Experience managing a portfolio of major donors and prospects and achieving defined fundraising goals.
• Strong donor relationship-building, solicitation, and stewardship skills.
• Ability to develop individualized donor strategies and move relationships from cultivation through solicitation and stewardship.
• Strong communication, presentation, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience working collaboratively with executive leadership and internal teams.
• Experience with donor database/CRM systems and maintaining accurate donor activity and pipeline information.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, discretion, and ability to manage multiple donor relationships and priorities.
• A demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Outreach Community Ministries.

Outreach complies with all applicable state and federal laws pertaining to nondiscrimination in employment, including nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and disability. As a religious organization, Outreach reserves the right to make employment decisions based on its religious identity, as permitted by state and federal law.