Development Officer, Individual Giving - Major Gifts

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center•New York, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The people of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) are united by a singular mission: ending cancer for life. Our specialized care teams provide personalized, compassionate, expert care to patients of all ages. Informed by basic research done at our Sloan Kettering Institute, scientists across MSK collaborate to conduct innovative translational and clinical research that is driving a revolution in our understanding of cancer as a disease and improving the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. MSK is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, who go on to pursue our mission at MSK and around the globe. Exciting Opportunity at MSK: Development Officer, Individual Giving, Major Gifts MSK’s Development team is seeking a Development Officer, Individual Giving, Major Gifts to join our Individual Giving team. In this role, you will partner with highly committed philanthropists making gifts in the $100,000–$500,000 range and play a critical role in advancing MSK’s mission through meaningful donor engagement and philanthropy. You will manage a portfolio of 75–100 major gift donors, building strong, trust-based relationships through personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. The Development Officer is expected to solicit gifts at the $100,000+ level, with a strong emphasis on unrestricted or semi‑restricted giving, while also identifying and qualifying new high-capacity prospects and re-engaging lapsed donors. This position works closely with colleagues across Development, faculty, and researchers, navigating complex gift intentions and serving as a subject-matter expert for gifts at this level. Success in this role requires strategic thinking, excellent communication skills, and a collaborative mindset.

Requirements

4+ years of fundraising experience, preferably in major gifts or healthcare philanthropy
Experience working with a CRM and/or events software
Exceptional writing and editing skills
Outstanding verbal communication and presentation abilities
Conversational dexterity and situational mindfulness
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including basic Excel skills

Nice To Haves

Self-motivated and results-driven
Highly collaborative and relationship-oriented
Persuasive, confident, and donor-centered
Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
Eager to learn and interested in ongoing professional development
Motivated to be part of a driven, supportive team
Passionate about and interested in healthcare philanthropy

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of 75–100 major gift donors with giving capacity of $100,000–$500,000
Proactively qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects through personalized outreach, including phone calls, meetings (in-person and virtual), emails, mailings, and events
Solicit gifts at the $100,000+ level, with a focus on unrestricted and semi‑restricted funding
Write and edit sophisticated solicitation and stewardship materials (email and print)
Develop and contribute to high-level strategies for major gift prospects, including navigating complex gift intentions
Serve as a key liaison to colleagues across Development and the hospital, including faculty and researchers, to support donor engagement and impact
Lead donor meetings and facilitate donor–faculty interactions as appropriate
Collaborate with colleagues in Principal Gifts, the Office of Gift Planning, Donor Engagement, and other teams to deliver a highly personalized donor experience
Support select initiatives for the Leadership Annual Giving team as needed
Respond directly to donor inquiries and grateful patient referrals received via phone, web, or written correspondence, including gift processing once gifts are accepted
Maintain accurate and timely donor records, including demographics, engagement activity, and interaction notes, ensuring database integrity
Utilize CRM tools and Tableau reporting, including the Metrics dashboard, to track performance, inform outreach strategies, and support meetings with management
Participate in special projects and perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Director or Director