Development Officer Major Gifts

United Way; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan participation

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Employee assistance resources

Job summary

United Way of the Bluegrass is seeking a relationship-driven Major Gifts & Donor Engagement Officer to cultivate and solicit major donors, manage a portfolio, and grow long-term philanthropic support in Central Kentucky.

You will work with the Vice President of Resource Development, meet donors, develop personalized engagement plans, and partner with leaders on significant donor relationships, with regular travel throughout UWBG’s service area.

Qualifications

• At least three years of successful experience in fundraising, major gifts, development, or related fields.
• Experience cultivating high-value relationships and securing financial commitments.
• Strong interpersonal, writing, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
• Willingness to travel regularly within UWBG’s service area.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of current and prospective major donors with clear strategies and next steps for each relationship.
• Build year-round relationships through donor meetings, program visits, impact updates, events, volunteer opportunities, and personalized engagement.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and secure major gifts, including opportunities for increased and multi-year commitments.
• Develop donor-specific proposals and giving opportunities that connect individual interests with UWBG’s community impact.
• Partner with the Vice President of Resource Development on major-gift strategy and significant solicitations.
• Identify and qualify new prospects in partnership with our CRM and development research function.
• Create meaningful stewardship strategies that strengthen donor retention and encourage increased investment.
• Maintain accurate donor, pipeline, solicitation, and next-action information in the CRM.
• Collaborate across Resource Development, Community Impact, Communications, and organizational leadership to advance donor relationships.

Skills

Relationship management

Donor cultivation

Solicitation skills

Communication

Proposal development

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Andar CRM

Job description

Description

At United Way of the Bluegrass, we bring people, resources, and partnerships together to create meaningful change across Central Kentucky. We are looking for a relationship-driven fundraiser who can help deepen the connection between people who want to make a difference and the communities their generosity supports.

The Major Gifts & Donor Engagement Officer is a frontline fundraiser responsible for building relationships with current and prospective major donors and turning those relationships into meaningful philanthropic investment.

You will manage your own portfolio, develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies, meet directly with donors, make asks, and steward relationships for long-term engagement. You will work closely with the Vice President of Resource Development and have opportunities to partner with the President & CEO, Board members, and other organizational leaders on significant donor relationships.

This is a strong opportunity for someone who enjoys connecting with people, is comfortable asking for financial support, and wants to grow as a major-gifts professional.

Requirements

Essential Functions

• Manage a portfolio of current and prospective major donors, with clear strategies and next steps for each relationship.
• Build authentic year-round relationships through donor meetings, program visits, impact updates, events, volunteer opportunities, and personalized engagement.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and secure major gifts, including opportunities for increased and multi-year commitments.
• Develop donor-specific proposals and giving opportunities that connect individual interests with UWBG’s community impact.
• Partner with the Vice President of Resource Development on major-gift strategy and significant solicitations.
• Identify and qualify new prospects in partnership with our CRM and development research function.
• Create meaningful stewardship strategies that strengthen donor retention and encourage increased investment.
• Maintain accurate donor, pipeline, solicitation, and next-action information in the CRM.
• Collaborate across Resource Development, Community Impact, Communications, and organizational leadership to advance donor relationships.

Requirements

• You do not need to come from one specific career path. We are looking for someone who knows how to build trust, manage important relationships, and confidently ask people to invest in something meaningful.
• At least three years of successful experience in fundraising, major gifts, development, sales, business development, relationship management, or a comparable field.
• Experience cultivating and managing high-value relationships and securing financial commitments.
• Strong interpersonal, presentation, writing, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
• Excellent organization and the ability to independently manage multiple relationships and priorities.
• Comfort working with CRM systems; Andar experience is a plus.
• Knowledge of Central Kentucky’s philanthropic, civic, or business community is helpful, but not required.
• A bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience.
• This role requires regular travel throughout UWBG’s service area and occasional evening and weekend participation in donor and community events.

Grow With Us

This role is designed for someone who wants to grow as a fundraising leader. You will gain direct exposure to major-gift strategy, complex solicitations, executive-level donor relationships, and CEO and Board engagement. UWBG also supports continuing education, professional development, certification, and relevant fundraising conferences.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

BENEFITS

United Way of the Bluegrass offers eligible fulltime employees a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Employer-paid and voluntary life insurance options.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Health reimbursement and flexible spending account options.
• Retirement plan participation.
• Paid time off and paid organizational holidays.
• Employee assistance and wellness resources.
• Professional development opportunities.