Major Gift Officer

The Trustees of Reservations•Boston, MA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts’ premier conservation and preservation organization, founded in 1891. The Trustees preserves properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value for public use and enjoyment. As a non-profit organization, it is funded by its visitors, supporters, volunteers, and 85,000 Member households. The organization aims to protect special places for future generations and has helped protect over 50,000 acres, including more than 120 reservations open to the public. The Major Gift Officer will be instrumental in building donor relationships to support the organization's strategic plan, 'For Everyone, Forever,' and its $325M+ comprehensive campaign. This role involves connecting individuals and families to the mission, growing the major gift pipeline, and fostering a culture of philanthropy through storytelling and long-term donor engagement.

Requirements

8-10+ years of fundraising experience with demonstrated success in major gifts, annual fund, and/or planned giving solicitations
Proven front-line fundraiser with experience building and managing a donor portfolio and a track record of securing five- and six-figure gifts
Articulate, strategic, solution-oriented and entrepreneurial with a strong ability to listen, write, and speak effectively
Highly motivated self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment and takes pride in exceptional preparation for every donor interaction
Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work seamlessly across teams and communicate effectively at multiple levels of an organization
Excellent strategic thinking and analytical skills
Proficiency with Salesforce or a comparable CRM system
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Current authorization to work in the United States
A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check

Nice To Haves

Experience in conservation, land stewardship, environmental, or cultural preservation organizations
Familiarity with planned giving and legacy gift solicitation
An understanding of philanthropic communities in specific regions of Massachusetts
Strong creative event planning skills and experience building host committees or donor engagement programming

Responsibilities

Manage a personal portfolio of approximately 150 donors and prospects, with a focus on gifts of $25,000 and above.
Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors with creativity, preparation, and care.
Develop tailored strategies for each donor relationship, working toward a goal of securing more than $1M in gifts annually.
Advance The Trustees’ $325M+ comprehensive campaign by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors whose interests align with campaign priorities, strategic initiatives, and long-term organizational needs.
Develop individualized donor strategies that actively move prospects through the campaign pipeline, including qualification, cultivation, solicitation, proposal development, gift closure, and stewardship.
Prepare donors for campaign solicitations by connecting their interests in specific properties, programs, communities, or regions to broader Trustees priorities and statewide impact.
Identify new opportunities and aim to secure campaign commitments, unrestricted support, legacy gifts, and other flexible philanthropic investments that advance For Everyone, Forever.
Partner with the Senior Director of Philanthropy to set campaign-related portfolio priorities, review solicitation timing, assess donor readiness, and ensure consistent progress toward campaign and annual fundraising goals.
Prepare compelling campaign proposals, donor briefings, stewardship updates, and impact narratives in partnership with Development colleagues, Marketing and Communications, and program/property staff.
Participate actively in campaign pipeline review, portfolio review, and moves management conversations, bringing forward donor insights, strategy questions, next-step recommendations, and solicitation opportunities.
Use Salesforce actively and consistently to track donor activity, next steps, proposals, campaign opportunities, gift conversations, solicitation timelines, and pipeline progress.
Maintain and deepen relationships with existing donors through personalized outreach, including meetings, property visits, project updates, campaign briefings, event invitations, written communications, and stewardship touchpoints.
Conduct prospect research and collaborate with Development Operations and research colleagues, when available, to identify new campaign prospects and prepare for donor meetings.
Serve as a Development partner to regional property committees and volunteer groups, identifying campaign prospects and deepening donor engagement through meaningful involvement.
Partner with Events, Membership, Annual Giving, Planned Giving, and Development Operations to ensure a coordinated and donor-centered experience that supports both campaign and annual fundraising goals.
Support fundraising galas, campaign events, property gatherings, and donor engagement opportunities by helping identify prospects, build and steward host committees, and conduct timely follow-up.
Work collaboratively across the Development team and the broader organization to advance campaign priorities and fundraising goals with creativity, preparation, and a strong commitment to The Trustees’ mission.
Travel to donor meetings, property events, campaign events, and cultivation opportunities across the Commonwealth; some evening and weekend availability required.

Benefits

Sick time: 120 hours per year
Vacation time: 20 days per year (prorated)
12 set holidays, 3 floating
Health insurance via Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) with additional benefits like fitness reimbursement and rewards for healthy habits
Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave
Life Insurance
401k with 5% match after 1 year of employment
Employee Assistance Program: Free access to a confidential service for personal and work-related issues, including mental health support, counseling, and financial advice.
Reciprocity: Free and discounted admission and membership to over 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions.
Discounts: Free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise.
Day of Wonder: One workday per year to explore a Trustees property.
Day of Service: One workday per year to help with a project at a Trustees property.