Major Gift Officer

Holocaust Center; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer match

Generous holiday schedule

Work-life balance

Job summary

The Zekelman Holocaust Center in Detroit is seeking a Major Gifts Officer to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, driving four- and five-figure gifts. You will work with the Chief Development Officer on prospecting, campaigns, and donor communications to advance the center's mission.

The role emphasizes donor-centric storytelling, portfolio management, proposals, and coordination with marketing, events, and leadership to maximize impact.

Qualifications

• A strategic, goal oriented and innovative development professional with outstanding interpersonal skills who can relate in a sincere manner to a diverse donor and prospect base.
• 5 to 10 years of direct frontline major gift experience with a track record of closing four and five figure level gifts and increasing giving levels from current donors.
• A creative and flexible self-starter who thrives in a team environment, bringing both strong collaboration skills and independent initiative in working with professional and volunteer leadership.
• Experience with fundraising management CRMs and related prospect research software coupled with an understanding of fundraising analytics to enhance and innovate fundraising strategies.
• Exceptional writing, editing and verbal skills, including the ability to actively listen, develop and target messages to a variety of audiences.
• An ability to set priorities, manage projects and meet deadlines.
• Experience with multi-year pledges and planned giving approaches.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Chief Development Officer to solicit mid-level to major gifts and expand and steward a portfolio of 100 current and prospective donors.
• Works closely with other MGO’s when portfolios overlap and while working on large scale fundraising initiatives.
• Manages a defined portfolio of donors and prospects, with clear segmentation between the three MGOs to ensure focus and relationship continuity.
• Review current donor engagement and research to develop opportunities to engage existing donors with the capacity to increase to a major gift and current major gift donors who can increase their giving.
• Oversee pledge tracking, fulfillment processes, and donor agreements for the Major Gift Officer's assigned donor portfolio, ensuring accurate data management and exceptional donor stewardship.
• Conduct face-to-face meetings with donors and prospects.
• Draft proposals and impact reports for donors as needed.
• Work with Marketing to develop and update supportive fundraising and stewardship materials.
• Act a key internal point of contact between the donor and The HC to ensure that projects are fulfilled.
• Actively engage with prospects and donors at HC fundraising events and programs.
• Steward lay leader relationships to further donor relations and expand reach within the community.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor relations

Proposal writing

Storytelling

CRM experience

Donor research

Event coordination

Job description

Description

Summary of Responsibilities: The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) will cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donors and prospects to foster increased support of four and five-figure gifts. Additionally, the Major Gifts Officer will work with the Chief Development Officer to identify prospects, support the annual benefit and major campaigns, as needed. This role is designed for a strategic, donor-centric professional who thrives on relationship building, meaningful storytelling, and measurable results.

Who We Are: The Zekelman Holocaust Center (The HC) was founded by Michigan survivors in 1984 as a lasting memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Our mission is to engage, educate, and empower through remembrance so that individuals and society will recognize, combat, and prevent antisemitism, discrimination, and hate-based violence. The Center teaches history’s darkest period to 100,000 visitors each year, including students and adults of all backgrounds. Our new permanent exhibit places Holocaust victim and survivor stories at the center, making extensive use of archival footage, images and video testimony. Artifacts include an authentic WWII-era boxcar and a sapling from the tree located outside Anne Frank’s hiding place window. The Center also invites the public to make use of its 20,000 volume Library Archive. Museum Educators and Docents provide customized tours, workshops and programs, empowering visitors to apply the lessons of the Holocaust to create a more compassionate world where people take responsible action.

We value candidates who are community-oriented and civic-minded, and who demonstrate a commitment to serving others.

Why Join Us: You will play a role in meaningful, mission-driven work. We offer strong work/life balance, a generous holiday schedule, 401(k) with employer match, and more.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Chief Development Officer to solicit mid-level to major gifts and expand and steward a portfolio of 100 current and prospective donors.
• Works closely with other MGO’s when portfolios overlap and while working on large scale fundraising initiatives.
• Manages a defined portfolio of donors and prospects, with clear segmentation between the three MGOs to ensure focus and relationship continuity.
• Review current donor engagement and research to develop opportunities to engage existing donors with the capacity to increase to a major gift and current major gift donors who can increase their giving.
• Oversee pledge tracking, fulfillment processes, and donor agreements for the Major Gift Officer's assigned donor portfolio, ensuring accurate data management and exceptional donor stewardship.
• Conduct face-to-face meetings with donors and prospects.
• Draft proposals and impact reports for donors as needed.
• Work with Marketing to develop and update supportive fundraising and stewardship materials.
• Act a key internal point of contact between the donor and The HC to ensure that projects are fulfilled.
• Actively engage with prospects and donors at HC fundraising events and programs.
• Steward lay leader relationships to further donor relations and expand reach within the community.

Requirements

• A strategic, goal oriented and innovative development professional with outstanding interpersonal skills who can relate in a sincere manner to a diverse donor and prospect base.
• 5 to 10 years of direct frontline major gift experience with a track record of closing four and five figure level gifts and increasing giving levels from current donors.
• A creative and flexible self-starter who thrives in a team environment, bringing both strong collaboration skills and independent initiative in working with professional and volunteer leadership.
• Experience with fundraising management CRMs and related prospect research software coupled with an understanding of fundraising analytics to enhance and innovate fundraising strategies.
• Exceptional writing, editing and verbal skills, including the ability to actively listen, develop and target messages to a variety of audiences.
• An ability to set priorities, manage projects and meet deadlines.
• Experience with multi-year pledges and planned giving approaches.

The HC has a fully onsite work environment, with flexibility for personal matters as needed.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties.

The HC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.