Major Gifts Officer

Buffkin / Baker•Charlotte, NC

About The Position

The Major Gift Officer (MGO) serves as a frontline fundraising professional responsible for securing significant philanthropic investments that advance Central Piedmont's mission and strategic priorities. Through strategic relationship management, donor-centered engagement, and coordinated partnership with institutional leaders, the MGO develops and manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, guiding them through a comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship process that results in meaningful philanthropic support for the college.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional fundraising experience, including significant experience in major gift fundraising and proven track record of successful major gift fundraising.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Experience in higher education fundraising, campaign fundraising, or a comparable donor/client portfolio environment.
Experience managing a portfolio of planned giving and major gift prospects.
Experience with fundraising databases, preferably Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge.
CFRE certification.
Knowledge of major gift fundraising strategy, donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and moves management.
Knowledge of donor communications, proposal development, and prospect strategy.
Knowledge of ethical fundraising standards, including the Association of Fundraising Professionals code of ethical conduct and the Donor Bill of Rights.
Skill in building strong, credible, and lasting relationships with donors, volunteers, faculty, staff, and community partners.
Skill in written and verbal communication, including donor correspondence, proposals, meeting briefs, and related materials.
Skill in using standard software applications, fundraising databases, and reports to manage activity, track outcomes, and support decision-making.
Ability to manage multiple prospects and projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and work successfully in a deadline-driven environment.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a coordinated fundraising team.
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
Ability to work effectively with internal and external constituents from diverse communities with respect and professionalism.

Responsibilities

Manages a portfolio of current and prospective donors with the capacity to make leadership-level and major gifts, and develops individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to increase engagement and philanthropic support.
Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards major gift prospects in support of institutional priorities, campaign initiatives, scholarships, programs, capital needs, and other strategic funding opportunities.
Conducts substantive donor activity through in-person visits, virtual meetings, calls, written correspondence, and event engagement; establishes measurable performance goals for donor qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship; and monitors progress toward annual fundraising goals.
Achieve annual fundraising, donor engagement, and portfolio performance goals, including metrics related to donor visits, solicitations, proposals, commitments secured, and stewardship activities.
Articulates the case for support with clarity and effectiveness, communicating the college’s mission, priorities, student impact, and funding opportunities in ways that inspire philanthropic investment.
Identify and qualify new major gift prospects through referrals, events, volunteer networks, and stakeholder collaboration, working closely with the Advancement Operations (which includes a prospect researcher) team to obtain and apply research that supports effective prospect strategy and pipeline development.
Develops donor strategies, proposals, briefing materials, gift illustrations, correspondence, and other materials needed to advance donor relationships and secure commitments.
Works closely with the Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Chief Philanthropy Officer, President, board members, deans, faculty, and staff to prepare for donor meetings and solicitations, including defining objectives, preparing materials, and coordinating follow-up actions.
Partners with the Annual Giving function to identify and transition leadership annual giving prospects into major gift portfolios and to ensure a coordinated donor pipeline across giving levels.
Collaborates with college departments to document donor impact and communicate outcomes that demonstrate the value and effectiveness of philanthropic investments.
Collaborates with Advancement Operations to ensure accurate prospect management, timely contact reporting, proposal tracking, gift documentation, stewardship activity, and performance reporting.
Maintains accurate, timely, and complete donor records in the fundraising database and uses donor data, contact history, and performance reporting to inform strategy, evaluate progress, and improve results.
Supports campaign activity and special fundraising initiatives as assigned, including donor strategy, engagement planning, volunteer support, and preparation of fundraising materials aligned with institutional priorities.
Collaborates with colleagues on stewardship and recognition opportunities that reflect donor intent, reinforce donor impact, and strengthen long-term institutional relationships.
Participates in Foundation and college events designed to engage donors, alumni, volunteers, and prospects, and serves as an active and collaborative member of the Institutional Advancement team.
Performs all duties in an ethical manner and with integrity; maintains confidentiality of sensitive information; exercises sound judgment and discretion in all interactions; and promotes a positive image of the college and Foundation.
Represents the college at external engagement activities and events as directed by the AVP of Institutional Advancement or CPO with the goal of engaging potential donors and cultivating relationships in the community.
Performs other duties as assigned.