Major Gifts Officer

Dexter Southfield School; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading independent school is seeking a Major Gifts Officer to drive fundraising efforts, managing donor relationships and securing significant contributions for ongoing and future projects. This pivotal role involves engaging with diverse stakeholders, and contributing to the school's centennial celebrations through strategic fundraising initiatives. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in academic fundraising, exceptional communication skills, and a strong ability to build relationships with high-value donors.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of academic leadership experience in fundraising.
• Experience in building productive relationships.
• Strong motivation to succeed in a goal-oriented environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of at least 150 major gift prospects.
• Secure 6- and 7-figure major gifts for the school.
• Work with campus leaders to solicit and close gifts.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Relationship Building

Goal-Oriented

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Dexter Southfield is an independent school where boys and girls in Pre-K through Class 12 develop their individual talents and build an ethical foundation for life. Students learn to lead and serve with character, confidence, and compassion. Our 36-acre campus is located on the Brookline-Boston line, just minutes from the city’s best museums, libraries, hospitals, performing arts venues, colleges, and universities, all of which serve as an extension of our classrooms. At Dexter Southfield, we approach everything we do with enthusiasm and commitment, living by our School’s motto: “Our Best Today, Better Tomorrow.”

Position Description & Responsibilities:

The Major Gifts Officer, under the supervision of the Director of Development, will secure 6- and 7-figure major gifts and significant annual gifts for Dexter Southfield. The Major Gifts Officer will manage a portfolio of at least 150 major gift prospects and will be responsible for identifying and qualifying prospective major gift donors. The Major Gifts Officer must represent Dexter Southfield with a high level of professionalism and articulate the mission and strategic objectives of the School with confidence and enthusiasm. The Major Gifts Officer will play a critical role in the School’s centennial celebration in 2026 and the corresponding comprehensive campaign in support of the newly developed strategic plan.

• Manage a portfolio of 150 parents, grandparents, and alumni with the capacity of making 6- and 7-figure major gifts in support of Dexter Southfield, raising significant major gifts and annual gifts
• Move prospects through the giving pipeline, including setting strategy, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Help donors articulate their philanthropic goals and connect them with key funding priorities within the context of the campaign
• Meet or exceed goals for prospect visits, solicitations, gifts closed, and dollars raised
• Successfully leverage campus leaders to solicit and close 6- and 7-figure gifts
• Solicit entire portfolio for unrestricted leadership annual gifts
• Responsible for timely entry of contact reports and upkeep of accurate prospect stage, solicitation records, and biographical data in Raisers Edge
• Identify, qualify, and develop relationships with new major gift prospects
• Build a fluid target list of yet-to-be-engaged prospects based on high-capacity ratings or peer recommendations
• Secure discovery visits to qualify prospects for portfolio assignments
• Work closely with the annual giving team to identify prospects through demonstrated annual giving
• Assign a minimum of 10 new major gift prospects to your portfolio annually
• Perform other responsibilities as needed

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of academic leadership experience, including direct frontline fundraising and/or academic and engagement programming.
• Experience in building thoughtful, productive relationships is critical.
• Ability and willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to form and leverage relationships with major prospects, and effectively secure significant gifts through effective prospect management.
• Highly professional and able to productively collaborate with colleagues in External Relations as well as campus partners.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills to motivate, engage, and work with staff, donors, and campus leaders.
• Strong motivation to succeed in a goal-oriented environment. Self-starter as well as a team player.

Requirements:

This job requires one to lift, carry, push, and/or pull materials and equipment weighing up to 20 pounds as well as the ability to stand, sit, walk, and effective use extremities to reach, hold, touch, push, pull, lift, and carry. Incumbents must also effectively communicate (oral, written, non-verbal) with others. This job typically requires 60% sitting, 30% walking, and 10% standing and is performed under minimal temperature variations in a generally hazard-free environment. Depending on classroom assignment, this role may require one to relocate classrooms throughout the day and require ascending and descending stairs. Incumbents will occasionally be required to work extended hours, including after school, during evenings, and on weekends.

Dexter Southfield’s 36-acre campus is composed of several buildings, playing fields, and outdoor learning spaces, which are accessible via internal and external walkways, stairs, nature paths, hills, and uneven terrain. This position requires one to transfer between these areas in all weather conditions.

All employees of Dexter Southfield are required to verify employment eligibility and successfully complete CORI, SORI, and fingerprint-based background checks as a condition of employment.