Senior Major Gifts Officer

College of the Holy Cross • Worcester, MA

4d • $115,000 - $135,000

About The Position

The Senior Major Gifts Officer leads fundraising efforts that support and advance the mission of the College of the Holy Cross. Working with alumni, parents, and friends in assigned geographic regions, the officer partners with Major Gifts colleagues, the Gift Planning team, the Holy Cross Fund team, and other campus partners to encourage annual and multi-year leadership-level support ranging from $100,000 to $3,000,000 or more. The role integrates gift planning, reunions, annual giving, and other College financial priorities into high-level fundraising strategies. The Senior Major Gifts Officer reports to the Director of Major Gifts.

The officer manages a portfolio of approximately 125 or more prospects, conducts at least 110 annual prospect visits and 15 discovery visits, and works toward at least $3 million in new gifts and commitments annually, including at least 20 major gift proposals. The role also targets at least $500,000 in annual cash received through pledge fulfillments, current-use gifts, and annual fund gifts. The officer develops donor-centered strategies, engages campus leaders and faculty in fundraising, supports prospect discovery, and maintains accurate donor activity records and reporting.

The position requires a demonstrated record of major-gift fundraising success, strong communication and interpersonal abilities, discretion, organizational skills, collaboration, and an understanding of complex academic institutions. A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred, as is at least seven years of major-gifts fundraising experience, preferably in education. The salary range is $115,000–$135,000, commensurate with education and experience. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred.
• At least seven years of major-gifts fundraising experience is preferred, ideally at an educational institution and soliciting comprehensive major, principal, and planned gifts.
• Commitment to the mission of the College of the Holy Cross and to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, as well as an intellectual and social community marked by freedom, mutual respect, and civility.
• Demonstrated successful track record as a major-gifts fundraiser.
• Appreciation of Jesuit Catholic educational traditions and methodology.
• Understanding of, and ability to succeed within, a complex academic institution.
• Experience staffing academic leaders in their development work.
• Ability to uncover interests, motivations, and objectives of prospective donors, clients, and others.
• Excellent communication skills, including persuasive and efficient writing.
• Experience qualifying prospects during initial visits to assess inclination and capacity to make significant gifts and identify new major-gift donors.
• Ability to make solicitations comfortably.
• Ability to persuasively communicate the case for unrestricted and current-use support.
• Excellent active-listening and interpersonal skills, and ability to relate to donors, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Tact, diplomacy, discretion, patience, sound judgment, and commitment to maintaining confidentiality inside and outside the College.
• Highly developed organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize and balance multiple tasks in a fast-paced, complex environment.
• Collaborative approach and ability to serve as an influential leader, mentor, and team player, with a high level of emotional intelligence.
• Personal commitment to excellence and ability to admit mistakes and forgive others' faults.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, Advance, or similar fundraising software.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in major-gifts fundraising at an educational institution.
• Experience soliciting comprehensive major, principal, and planned gifts.
• A bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of approximately 125 or more prospects, with at least 110 annual prospect visits.
• Develop thoughtful prospect strategies and prioritize the portfolio to secure at least $3 million in new gifts and commitments annually, deliver at least 20 major gift proposals each year, and solicit high annual fund gifts from other portfolio prospects.
• Drive at least $500,000 in annual cash received from the portfolio through pledge fulfillments, current-use gifts, and annual fund gifts.
• Engage donors in strategic conversations to understand their charitable goals and align their support with Holy Cross's ambitions.
• Conduct at least 15 discovery visits annually, as part of and in addition to portfolio management.
• Follow prospect-management processes and policies, including contact reports, proposals, briefing materials, documenting intentions, and statements of understanding.
• Partner with the Holy Cross Fund team, Gift Planning team, and Major Gifts colleagues to identify prospects and volunteers and support unrestricted and flexibly restricted giving.
• Develop professional skills and knowledge of Holy Cross through campus relationships, events, activities, and training.
• Develop and execute multi-step, donor-centered prospect strategies in partnership with the Director of Major Gifts and the AVP for Individual Giving.
• Communicate meeting strategies through written briefings and pre-visit briefings or calls.
• Leverage academic leadership, faculty, and other members of the Holy Cross community to support successful solicitation and closure of six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Foster relationships between prospective donors and academic leaders, faculty, and other members of the College community.
• Secure anchor visits for leadership and plan meetings that use leaders' time effectively to advance prospect strategies.
• Serve as a liaison between Advancement and at least one other campus department or group with fundraising needs.
• Assume additional and elevated responsibilities related to strategic initiatives and campaign-priority fundraising.
• Maintain timely and accurate donor activity details and statistics for reporting.

Benefits

• The College states that it offers generous benefits and provides access to detailed benefits information and a benefits overview.
• Convenient reverse commute from the Boston metropolitan area, with access to Worcester and surrounding communities.

What This Job Offers

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