Major Gifts Officer

Wycliffe Bible Translators USA

About The Position

The Major Gifts Officer builds and manages meaningful relationships with donors to support SIL’s mission of making God’s Word accessible in the languages people understand best. The role focuses on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors through relational and purpose-driven engagement. Within a Christian ministry context, the Major Gifts Officer helps grow a sustainable donor pipeline and advance global impact through generosity and partnership. The role is grounded in SIL’s Christian identity and global mission. SIL views generosity as an expression of discipleship and participation in making Scripture accessible to every language community. The Major Gifts Officer engages donors through a relational, values-based approach, communicating authentically about faith, ministry impact, and the outcomes of generosity while respecting each donor’s individual journey. The position may include travel for donor meetings and events. Success is built over time through consistent relationship development and stewardship. The role is ideally located in the Central or Eastern Time Zones and is listed at 40 weekly hours.

Requirements

Experience in fundraising, relationship management, sales, or a related field.
Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities with attention to detail.
Confidence in donor engagement and funding conversations.
Ability to translate organizational impact into compelling narratives.
Self-motivated and able to work independently.
Collaborative and team-oriented.
Patient, relational, and long-term oriented.
Alignment with SIL’s mission and Christian values.

Responsibilities

Build and manage a portfolio of major donor prospects through research, referrals, and networking.
Develop and implement individualized engagement strategies for each donor.
Guide donors through the full giving journey, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Maintain accurate and timely donor records using CRM systems.
Maintain consistent and meaningful donor communication through meetings, calls, written communication, and events.
Provide timely acknowledgment and appreciation for gifts.
Share impact updates and stories connecting donors to the global and spiritual outcomes of SIL’s work.
Identify and qualify new donor prospects through internal and external networks.
Build relationships with individuals, churches, foundations, and other aligned partners.
Collaborate with colleagues to expand and strengthen the donor pipeline.
Partner with program and development staff to develop compelling funding opportunities.
Prepare and present donor proposals and funding requests.
Work collaboratively across teams to ensure clarity and consistency in donor engagement.