Major Gift Officer

St Thomas University Inc; Norland (FL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Thomas University is seeking a Major Gift Officer to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major gift prospects. You will engage donors through face-to-face visits and virtual meetings, develop proposals, and advance leadership gifts aligned with university priorities.

Collaborate with leadership to drive campaign strategies, endowments, and capital projects. You will document activities in the CRM and provide regular reporting to optimize fundraising outcomes.

Qualifications

• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Proficiency with CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge/NXT preferred) and Microsoft Office.
• Professional, collaborative and donor-centered approach.

Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors with cultivation and stewardship strategies.
• Conducts face-to-face visits and virtual meetings to solicit gifts at the major gift level and above.
• Develops proposals, gift agreements, and funding priorities aligned with donor interests.
• Collaborates on donor engagement opportunities and campaign activities.
• Documents moves management and donor interactions in the CRM.
• Participates in planning and reporting for fundraising goals and initiatives.

Skills

Relationship-building

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Donor visits

CRM proficiency

Microsoft Office

Stewardship

Tools

Raiser’s Edge/NXT

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position OverviewThe Major Gift Officer, is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of major gift prospects in support of St. Thomas University’s fundraising priorities. This position manages a portfolio of individuals, families, foundations, and other constituents capable of making gifts at the major gift level, and is accountable for achieving defined annual fundraising goals.The Major Gifts Officer builds and maintains long-term relationships with donors through strategic engagement, personalized communication, and face-to-face visits, to secure significant outright, multi-year, and planned gifts. Working as part of the overall Philanthropy team in the Office of Philanthropy, this position plays a key role in advancing the university’s comprehensive campaign priorities, endowments, scholarships, academic programs, athletics, and capital initiatives.The Major Gifts Officer, collaborates closely with the Vice President of Philanthropy, Deans, faculty, and volunteer leadership in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of prospects, and provides regular reporting, strategy development, and stewardship to ensure continued donor engagement and growth in philanthropic investment.Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:Manages an assigned portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, developing and executing individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.Conducts face-to-face visits and virtual meetings to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, with a focus on securing gifts at the major gift level and above.Develops and presents written proposals, gift agreements, and funding priorities aligned with donor interests and institutional needs.Collaborates with the Vice President of Philanthropy solicitation strategies and donor engagement opportunities.Identifies and qualifies new major gift prospects through referrals, research, annual fund upgrades, and discovery visits.Ensures accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions, strategies, proposals, and moves management activity in Raiser’s Edge/NXT.Provides ongoing stewardship to donors, including impact reporting, recognition, and meaningful engagement opportunities.Participates in campaign planning, leadership gift strategies, and special initiatives, including endowments, capital projects, and named giving opportunities.Works closely with Annual Fund, Alumni Engagement, Events, and Advancement Operations to support pipeline development and donor progression.Assists in the development of major gift fundraising goals, forecasts, and performance reports.Seeks appropriate training opportunities to maintain and enhance professional fundraising skills, particularly in major gift solicitation, donor strategy, and relationship management.Performs other duties as assigned.Required Skills & CompetenciesStrong relationship-building and interpersonal skillsStrategic and results-oriented mindsetAbility to manage multiple prospects and priorities simultaneouslyExcellent verbal and written communication skillsDemonstrated ability to conduct effective donor visits and solicitationsProficiency with CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge/NXT preferred) and Microsoft OfficeProfessional, collaborative, and donor-centered approachAbility to create meaningful donor experiences, build trust, and advance long-term philanthropic partnerships