Major Gifts Officer

The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for raising philanthropic dollars for The Lovett School. The primary responsibilities are to identify and evaluate prospects, cultivate donors and prospects for upcoming capital campaigns, solicit and steward major gifts. Helping ensure successful implementation of the School’s strategy for identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and prospects. This role reports to the Senior Director of Development and will involve some work with the Head of School and other fundraising staff across campus, trustees and other lead volunteers. Responsibilities Follow strategic direction and annual operating plan for achievement of all major and planned giving goals as laid out by the Senior Director of Development. Manage a personal portfolio of 90-100 major donors and prospects capable of making cash and/or planned gifts of $100,000 and above. Conduct no fewer than 150 individual cultivation and stewardship meetings per year. Submit no fewer than 25 major gift proposals per year. Document all work with prospects accurately and quickly for the advancement database. Collaborate with Advancement staff colleagues to ensure the effective development of strong relationships between constituents and the School, education of constituents about why philanthropic support is necessary and warranted, and communication of Lovett’s appreciation for and impact of contributions made by donors. Maintain stewardship contacts with donors; adhere to the highest ethical standards; demonstrate empathetic disposition, perseverance, optimism, positive attitude, and sensitivity to donors’ needs. Partner effectively with the School’s Admissions, Communications & Marketing, Finance, and Facilities teams to achieve Advancement and institutional success. Understand and embrace the school mission, philosophy, and values, and, in partnership with the Director of Major Gifts and the Chief Advancement Officer, contribute to a culture of teamwork, trust, collegiality, and accountability within the Advancement team. Attend special events as needed. Minimum Qualifications Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Experience: At least 6-8 years of progressive experience in major gifts fundraising or advancement. Skills and Competencies Superior client service skills, internally and externally. Strong attention to detail and follow‑through required. Knowledge of Raiser's Edge or similar databases. Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Strong organizational skills, exceptional writing, and communication skills. Ability to multi‑task and handle multiple projects with similar deadlines. Ability to work quickly and accurately. Ability to work as a team member and display positive behaviors. High emotional intelligence. Resourcefulness; ability to think ahead. Outstanding presentation skills to audiences of all sizes. Excellent listening skills. At various times throughout the year, the employee may be required to work outside regular business hours for job‑related functions. The employee will receive ample advance notification for these events and is required to attend them as part of essential duties. Travel Required None. Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Lovett School