Director of Major Gifts

GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE • Milledgeville, GA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Major Gifts serves as an experienced frontline gift officer responsible for developing and executing strategies that secure significant philanthropic support for Georgia Military College. The position identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards a portfolio of up to 175 prospects, with annual fundraising accountability of $750,000 and gifts typically ranging from $25,000 to $250,000. This role independently manages complex donor relationships and partners with institutional leaders to advance fundraising priorities. This position operates in a hybrid work environment, with a combination of on-campus responsibilities, travel, and remote work as appropriate to support donor engagement and institutional advancement activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and/or 5-10 years of higher education experience with relationship management roles.
• 3-5 years of progressive fundraising, development, or related relationship-management experience, including direct donor solicitation.
• Excellent writing, public speaking, negotiation, relationship-management, and proposal-development skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a major-gift portfolio and close significant gifts.
• Proficiency with CRM/database, prospect research, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Criminal background check and drug screen must be cleared before any candidate may begin working.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree
• 5-7 years of successful major-gift fundraising experience with a documented record of closing five- and six-figure gifts.
• Strong knowledge of higher education advancement, moves management, gift planning concepts, donor stewardship, and campaign fundraising.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a comprehensive major-gift portfolio and moves-management strategy.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major-gift prospects and donors; design individualized engagement plans; conduct substantive donor visits; prepare compelling proposals; and close gifts typically ranging from $25,000 to $250,000.
• Maintain a robust pipeline and achieve annual revenue accountability of $750,000.
• Partner with campus and Advancement leadership to match donor interests with institutional priorities and develop effective solicitation teams.
• Travel throughout the state and country to meet with donors and prospects.
• Support volunteer boards and key stakeholders in stewardship, cultivation, and solicitation initiatives.
• Represent Georgia Military College at institutional and community events, including speaking engagements, and provide fundraising guidance to colleagues and volunteers as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior