Major Gift Officer, Athletics Advancement

Merrimack College; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Merrimack College seeks a dynamic Major Gift Officer to join the Athletics Advancement team. This on-campus role will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects to advance Merrimack Athletics’ priorities.

The officer will manage a portfolio of ~100 prospects capable of $25,000+ gifts, collaborating with athletics leadership and the Office of Development to secure support for capital projects, revenue-sharing initiatives, and student-athlete development programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• Minimum of three years of fundraising, athletics development, or related relationship-driven experience.
• Proven success securing major gifts or comparable commitments.
• Willingness to travel frequently and to work evenings/weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 major gift prospects and donors; secure gifts of $25,000+.
• Develop cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to move prospects through the donor pipeline.
• Meet goals for donor visits, solicitations, and dollars raised.
• Lead fundraising efforts supporting capital projects, revenue-sharing initiatives, and annual fund growth.
• Conduct many in-person and virtual meetings with alumni, parents, friends, and supporters.
• Use prospect research and donor insights to align giving opportunities with institutional priorities.
• Identify new prospects through research, networking, and events; engage with coaches and athletics leadership.
• Collaborate with Development and Alumni Relations on prospect management and donor communications.

Skills

Relationship building

Donor stewardship

Communication

Time management

Team collaboration

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Slate CRM

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Position Overview & Responsibilities

Merrimack College seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven Major Gift Officer to join the Athletics Advancement team. Reporting directly to the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development, this position will play a critical role in advancing the mission and strategic priorities of Merrimack Athletics through the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift donors and prospects.

PCN 2061

Position Overview & Responsibilities

Merrimack College seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven Major Gift Officer to join the Athletics Advancement team. Reporting directly to the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development, this position will play a critical role in advancing the mission and strategic priorities of Merrimack Athletics through the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift donors and prospects.

The Major Gift Officer will manage a portfolio of approximately 100 prospects and donors capable of making gifts of $25,000 and above, with a focus on securing leadership-level philanthropic investments that support student‑athlete success and the long‑term growth of Merrimack Athletics. This individual will work collaboratively with athletics leadership, coaches, and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations colleagues to secure support for capital projects, revenue‑sharing opportunities, student‑athlete development initiatives, annual fund growth, and sport‑specific priorities.

The ideal candidate is an energetic fundraiser who thrives in a fast‑paced Division I athletics environment, possesses exceptional relationship‑building skills, and is passionate about connecting alumni, parents, friends, and supporters to the mission of Merrimack College and Merrimack Athletics.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 major gift prospects and donors, developing meaningful relationships and securing philanthropic investments of $25,000 and above.
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that successfully move prospects through the donor pipeline.
• Meet established goals for donor visits, solicitations, proposals submitted, and dollars raised.
• Lead fundraising efforts supporting key athletics priorities, including capital projects, revenue‑sharing initiatives, student‑athlete development programs, facility enhancements, and annual fund growth.
• Conduct a high volume of in‑person and virtual meetings with alumni, parents, friends, and supporters of Merrimack Athletics.
• Utilize prospect research, data analysis, and donor insights to identify philanthropic interests and align giving opportunities with institutional priorities.
• Identify and qualify new prospects through research, networking, events, referrals, and engagement activities.
• Partner closely with coaches, athletics administrators, and senior campus leadership to develop and execute fundraising strategies.
• Collaborate with colleagues in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations on prospect management, donor communications, campaign initiatives, and stewardship efforts.
• Prepare donor briefings, gift proposals, stewardship reports, correspondence, and fundraising updates.
• Represent Merrimack Athletics and the College at athletic contests, alumni events, donor functions, and community engagement opportunities.
• Travel locally, regionally, and nationally to cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects and donors.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, proposals, and fundraising activity within the College's CRM system (Slate).
• Follow all institutional policies and best practices related to fundraising, donor stewardship, and gift documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, athletics development, sales, business development, or another relationship-driven field.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts, philanthropic investments, or comparable revenue‑generating commitments.
• Strong understanding of moves management, prospect strategy development, and donor stewardship.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Ability to build trust and credibility with alumni, parents, volunteers, coaches, senior administrators, and campus partners.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Self‑motivated, goal‑oriented, and capable of working independently while contributing to a collaborative team culture.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, solve problems creatively, and adapt to evolving priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and donor database/CRM systems; experience with Slate preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently and work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Valid driver's license and insurable driving record required.
• Prior experience in higher education fundraising and/or Division I athletics fundraising strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of the changing collegiate athletics landscape, including revenue sharing, NIL, and modern fundraising strategies, is preferred.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for Merrimack College's mission and commitment to student‑athlete success.

Application Materials Should Include

• Resume or CV
• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.

Work Location

This is an on‑campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on‑campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more than 160 career‑focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling and social work. The College’s suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts.

Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the Regional Universities North category in 2026.

Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.