Major Gift Officer, Leadership Individuals

Strongward; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Strongward is seeking a seasoned Major Gifts Officer, Leadership Individuals, to lead a donor portfolio and drive revenue growth within our mid-level giving program. You will cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership-level donors ($1,000–$99,000) and help move annual giving toward major gifts.

Reporting to the Director of Individual Giving, you’ll collaborate across teams to build pipelines and strengthen engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, public administration, or a related field required.
• Equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant development experience may be considered.
• Five to eight years of experience in annual giving, donor stewardship, major gift fundraising, or related development work preferred.
• Demonstrated success meeting fundraising goals and managing donor relationships through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Experience using donor data, prospect research, fundraising systems, and project management practices to strengthen pipelines and engagement.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of leadership-level donors ($1,000–$99,000), leading all aspects of qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to meet annual revenue goals.
• Execute strategies to acquire, retain, and upgrade donors, with a focus on moving supporters from annual giving into leadership and major gift levels.
• Identify and qualify new prospects through research, referrals, and engagement, building a strong donor pipeline.
• Partner with the Director of Individual Giving and the Individual Giving Associate to support pipeline development and identify major gift prospects for qualification and handoff.
• Represent Strongward at local and national events, building relationships and increasing visibility among prospective and current donors.
• Design and implement multi-channel engagement and solicitation strategies, including mail, email, direct mail, phone, virtual outreach, and in-person meetings.
• Collaborate on the execution of annual fund, digital, and rapid-response disaster fundraising campaigns.

Skills

Donor engagement

Portfolio management

Relationship building

Communication

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management or related field

Tools

Salesforce

Raiser's Edge

Funraise

Foundation Directory

DonorSearch

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

Strongward is a long-term disaster recovery organization. We exist to transform disaster from tragedy to strength, equipping hardest-hit homeowners and communities with the capacity to emerge stronger than before. Our services are currently offered across eight states in the South, with active rebuilding sites in New Orleans and communities across Florida.

• Safe Homes: We partner with disaster-impacted homeowners to rebuild homes, restore stability, and create a path forward through our Recovery Services. We help families return home faster, and we strengthen their homes against the next storm. We provide hands‑on support in navigating and appealing disaster funding decisions that shape the recovery of hardest-hit homeowners with the fewest resources.
• Stronger Communities: Through our Advisory Services, we help under-resourced, high-risk communities build local capacity before and after disaster. Our team of subject‑matter experts and Resilience Fellows provides training, consulting, and hands‑on support so local leaders can build knowledge and recovery systems that stay in place long after outside support ends.

Joining Strongward is more than just joining a workforce. Many organizations focus on the immediate aftermath, when attention and funding peak. Strongward is one of the few disaster recovery organizations built specifically for the long aftermath. We work in the silence after the cameras leave, and we stay until the work is done.

Position Summary:

The MGO, Leadership Individuals is a key member of Strongward’s Individual Giving team, responsible for managing a portfolio of leadership-level donors ($1,000–$99,000) and driving revenue growth across the mid-level giving program. This role focuses on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors while strengthening the pipeline from annual giving into major and principal gifts.

Reporting to the Director of Individual Giving, the MGO, Leadership Individuals will execute donor engagement strategies, build meaningful relationships with supporters, and contribute to the overall growth and performance of Strongward’s individual giving program.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Portfolio Management & Donor Engagement

• Manage a portfolio of leadership-level donors ($1,000–$99,000), leading all aspects of qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to meet annual revenue goals.
• Execute strategies to acquire, retain, and upgrade donors, with a focus on moving supporters from annual giving into leadership and major gift levels.
• Identify and qualify new prospects through research, referrals, and engagement, building a strong and sustainable donor pipeline.
• Partner closely with the Director of Individual Giving and the Individual Giving Associate to support pipeline development and identify major gift prospects for qualification and handoff.
• Represent Strongward at local and national events, building relationships and increasing visibility among prospective and current donors

Strategy & Campaign Execution

• In collaboration with Marketing and Communications, design and implement multi-channel engagement and solicitation strategies, including mail, email, direct mail, phone, virtual outreach, and in-person meetings.
• Collaborate on the execution of annual fund, digital, and rapid-response disaster fundraising campaigns in partnership with the Individual Giving Associate, ensuring alignment with strategy and revenue goals.

Data Management & Reporting

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records in Salesforce, tracking activity, managing moves, and ensuring data integrity.
• Monitor portfolio and campaign performance, contributing to forecasting and reporting by tracking progress toward goals and maintaining a healthy pipeline.

Professional Performance & Operational Excellence

• Demonstrate strong organizational and project management skills, effectively managing multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, and driving work forward independently.
• Exhibit a high level of personal accountability, initiative, and ownership over outcomes.
• Align work and decision-making with Strongward’s core values and mission.
• Communicate effectively and professionally, with strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to navigate challenges and improve processes.
• Maintain accuracy and attention to detail across all aspects of work, including donor records and communications.
• Collaborate effectively as part of a team while contributing ideas and taking initiative.
• Represent Strongward with professionalism and integrity in all donor and external interactions.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
• Adapt to a dynamic, fast-paced environment with flexibility and a solutions-oriented mindset.

Requirements and Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, public administration, or a related field required.
• Equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant development experience may be considered.

Work Experience

• Five to eight years of experience in annual giving, individual donor stewardship, major gift fundraising, or related development work preferred.
• Demonstrated success meeting fundraising goals and managing donor relationships through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Experience using donor data, prospect research, fundraising systems, and project management practices to strengthen pipelines and engagement.

Technical Skills and Proficiency

• Proficiency with Salesforce, Raisers Edge, Funraise, Foundation Directory, DonorSearch, Microsoft Office, databases, email, and digital communication tools preferred.
• Strong written, verbal, analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze donor data, track activity, prepare reports, and maintain accurate records that inform fundraising strategy.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends to support donor engagement, fundraising campaigns, and time-sensitive disaster response efforts.

Core Competencies (Soft Skills)

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage donors, colleagues, partners, and community stakeholders with professionalism, warmth, and discretion.
• Self‑motivated, curious, detail‑oriented, and able to manage competing priorities with initiative, flexibility, and follow‑through.
• Demonstrates sound judgment, ethical fundraising practices, donor discretion, teamwork, and accountability.
• Conveys a positive, mission‑aligned image of Strongward and maintains a commitment to growth and learning.
• Sound judgment and a high level of discretion in handling donor information and relationships.

Special Requirements

• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Successful completion of required background checks and applicable organizational, funder, partner, health, safety, or documentation requirements.
• Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends when donor engagement, stewardship, events, or organizational deadlines require.
• Ability to travel occasionally for donor meetings, site visits, events, or organizational needs.

Salary range: $90,000 - $100,000

Strongward is building a team from a broad range of backgrounds.

We love fresh perspectives and we know our teams grow stronger when they include different experiences. We adhere to all relevant employment laws and never discriminate in our hiring. By welcoming people from varied backgrounds, we spark new ideas and are better prepared to support the communities we serve.

Strongward is an equal opportunity employer.

All applicants will be considered without discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, religion, age, national origin, genetic information, disability, military status, familial status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law.