Major Gifts Officer

Major Gifts Officer

State College, PA

Job Description

The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for developing and managing relationships with individual donors and prospects to support WPSU's philanthropic priorities and long-term sustainability. This position manages a portfolio of current and prospective major donors and develops personalized strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic support.

Working collaboratively with WPSU leadership, development staff, and colleagues across WPSU and WHYY, the Major Gifts Officer builds meaningful donor relationships, connects supporters with WPSU's mission and programs, and helps grow a strong culture of philanthropy.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors through all stages of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop and implement individualized strategies designed to deepen donor engagement and increase philanthropic support.
• Identify and qualify prospective major donors through research, referrals, donor activity, events, and other sources.
• Conduct regular donor meetings and maintain meaningful contact with prospects through in-person visits, phone calls, email, events, and other engagement opportunities.
• Prepare and present compelling major gift proposals and funding opportunities aligned with donor interests and WPSU priorities.
• Partner with WPSU leadership and other key staff to facilitate donor relationships, meetings, solicitations, and stewardship activities.
• Collaborate with development, membership, underwriting, communications, programming, and other teams to identify opportunities for donor engagement and support.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor records, contact reports, proposals, and portfolio activity within the organization's donor database.
• Monitor progress toward established fundraising and donor engagement goals and provide regular updates on portfolio activity and results.
• Participate in donor cultivation and stewardship events and represent WPSU at community and organizational events as appropriate.
• Stay informed about WPSU programming, services, initiatives, and community impact in order to effectively communicate the organization's case for support.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical fundraising practices and organizational policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in fundraising, nonprofit management, communications, business, marketing, or a related field preferred. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• This position requires a minimum of five to seven years' experience of successful individual giving focused fundraising (preferred) or comparable relationship-based sales or business development experience.
• Highly proficient use of Microsoft Office software and CRMs.