Major Gifts Officer

UATX • Austin, TX

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Major Gifts Officer advances University of Austin’s fundraising effort by cultivating and managing a portfolio of mission-aligned current and prospective donors. The role uses sophisticated moves-management strategies to secure gifts of five or more figures and supports the university’s model of full-tuition financial aid, no government funding, and merit-based admissions. The position is suited to a dynamic fundraiser who enjoys building relationships, collaborating, and helping develop a best-in-class fundraising program at a growing institution.

This is a full-time role based in Austin, Texas, with approximately 30% travel. The Major Gifts Officer reports to the Senior Director of Development. The role includes frequent donor meetings by phone, video, and in person, as well as travel to engage donors and prospects.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of fundraising experience, with demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts in higher education, nonprofit, startup, or mission-driven environments.
• Exceptional intellectual and social curiosity and the ability to engage thoughtfully across disciplines, ideas, and perspectives.
• Strong interpersonal agility and emotional intelligence, with the ability to adapt communication style, tone, and approach to a wide range of donors, trustees, founders, faculty, and prospects.
• Ability to build relationships, ask insightful questions, listen deeply, and uncover donor motivations and philanthropic interests.
• Strategic, confident fundraising skills, including moving prospects toward solicitation with clarity, transparency, and persistence.
• Ability to synthesize complex institutional priorities and communicate them clearly and compellingly to external audiences.
• Comfort engaging sophisticated, entrepreneurial, and intellectually independent donors.
• Experience using data, research, and analytics to prioritize prospects, manage portfolios, and drive fundraising outcomes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including donor correspondence, proposals, briefing materials, and presentations.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across leadership, academic, and development teams while maintaining strong independent execution.
• Commitment to the mission and vision of University of Austin and enthusiasm for advancing innovative higher education.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of major donor supporters and prospects using regional and Texas-focused strategies; develop and execute fundraising strategies for each.
• Conduct 100 donor visits and 25 solicitations annually, with 50% of solicitations exceeding $100,000.
• Consistently close $2–4 million per year, excluding transformational gifts.
• Conduct prospect research, manage the portfolio, and provide stewardship to maintain a well-tended portfolio.
• Match donor interests with institutional priorities and pursue unrestricted funding for UATX.
• Plan and execute donor dinners and receptions in key cities and with key constituency groups.
• Coordinate with UATX team members on university programs, donor messaging materials, online fundraising, and related work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed