Major Gift Officer - West Coast

National Outdoor Leadership School; California City (CA); Remote; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is seeking a seasoned Major Gift Officer to lead fundraising strategy on the West Coast. You will manage a 110+ donor portfolio, develop engagement plans, and secure major and principal gifts while aligning donor interests with NOLS priorities.

You'll collaborate across teams, travel up to 50% within the U.S., and serve as a compelling advocate for wilderness education and leadership development.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of progressive experience in a development/fundraising role.
• Proven success securing major gifts and managing donor portfolios.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time within the U.S.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office and Google Suite; CRM software experience.

Responsibilities

• Major Gift Officer leads strategy and relationship management for a West Coast donor portfolio.
• Develop personalized engagement and solicitation plans to secure major and principal gifts.
• Coordinate with Finance, Expedition, and other teams to design donor experiences.
• Track progress and steward relationships, ensuring donor needs align with NOLS priorities.
• Travel regionally to cultivate donors and represent NOLS at events.

Skills

Fundraising

Relationship building

Donor stewardship

Communication

Travel 50%

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Mission CRM

Job description

The Advancement Team supports NOLS’ mission and goals that inspire meaningful and enduring engagement of our alumni and friends worldwide. We build lifelong relationships that engage the time, loyalty, and intellectual and financial resources in support of NOLS’ aspirations, goals, and organizational priorities. We’re seeking a seasoned fundraiser who’s passionate about the outdoors and skilled at building authentic, lasting relationships. You’ll engage our West Coast alumni and supporters in their impact of giving back to NOLS. You’ll enjoy working with a large and engaged alumni base, with a shared passion for NOLS and our 60-year history.

The Major Gift Officer (MGO) will serve as the lead strategist and relationship manager for a dynamic portfolio of major and principal gift donors across the West Coast. You will develop personalized engagement and solicitation plans, steward long-term donor relationships, and work collaboratively with colleagues to align donor interests with the school’s priorities. This position plays a central role in elevating philanthropic partnerships and opening new pathways.

In this role, you'll also coordinate closely with other teams across the organization—including finance, expedition, wilderness medicine and other staff, trustees, and volunteers—to design high-impact donor experiences and create opportunities for deeper engagement. You will represent NOLS with confidence and authenticity, speaking passionately about our leadership, the outdoors as the greatest teacher, and wilderness medicine programs. You will be a compelling advocate for giving at all levels, including planned gifts and other non-cash contributions.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong track record of securing major and principal gifts, an instinct for building relationships, and a genuine passion for the outdoors. You’ll be a strategic thinker, a natural collaborator, and an articulate spokesperson for NOLS’ mission and impact. This is more than a fundraising role, it’s a leadership opportunity to bring others into a shared vision and help fuel the next chapter of NOLS.

Key Information

Application Deadline

18 November 2026

Target Start Date

January 2027

Location

Remote - CA or WA preferred, other intermountain western states considered

Wage

USD $85,000-$100,000

Reports To

Vice President of Advancement

Department

Advancement

Position Type

Full Time, Exempt

Benefits Eligible

Yes

What does a Major Gift Officer do?

Primary Responsibilities:

Major Giving (60-70%)

• Effectively researches, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards a large 110+ donor portfolio of prospective donors with the ability to secure major and principal gift commitments.

• Cultivates major and principal gift prospects, building relationships and understanding the donors’/prospects’ goals with the expressed purpose of building comprehensive donor strategies to align donor interests and organizational goals.
• Meets outreach, personal visit, and revenue metrics as established by the Vice President of Advancement.
• Employs high-volume email, phone, social media messaging, and personalized mail outreach to secure first‑time personal visits with major gifts prospects and increased leadership annual gifts.
• Ensures necessary tracking and regular communication with prospects. Tracks fundraising progress and manages relationships to increase donor gift amounts.
• Designs highly customized donor engagement plans for assigned donors.
• Works in concert with Donor Relations/Stewardship Coordinator to produce and deliver stewardship materials for donors.

Leadership Annual Giving (20%)

• Works with the Director of Annual Giving to present a coordinated fundraising effort to all donors in portfolio.
• Solicits annual fund gifts, especially at $10,000 and above, from portfolio donors and prospects to help reach annual goals for unrestricted support.
• Stewards NOLS Fund donors through personal communication and adheres to thank you protocols.

Strategy, Leadership and Support (10-20%)

• Maintain professional affiliations and expand skills by keeping abreast of the latest information and trends in major gift fundraising, including deferred giving techniques, estate planning, and tax laws.

The above duties should not be considered an exhaustive list; other responsibilities may be required.

In your first 6 months, you will:

• Begin to connect with donors in your portfolio, requiring individual visits (in-person and virtually) to cultivate, steward, and solicit support
• Develop and implement strategies for cultivation, solicitations, and stewardship of donors
• Establish cooperative working relationships with development and other staff members to increase understanding and support of development efforts
• Learn about NOLS programs and projects across the world
• Learn how to use the NOLS donor database
• Participate in the development of funding proposals and other donor collateral
• Lead or assist in donor events

What makes a great Major Gift Officer at NOLS?

We are looking for people who share our values and are keen to learn and develop their expertise. We are looking for candidates with the skills listed below. We expect to provide training and development support in some of the areas.

• 3+ years of progressive experience in a development department as a frontline fundraiser.
• Proven success building long-term relationships, managing an individual portfolio, and actively asking for and closing major gifts (5-figure minimums).
• Foundational understanding of major, principal, and planned giving vehicles within a non-profit structure. Capital and endowment campaign experience preferred.
• Ability to energetically and accurately represent NOLS to a variety of constituents including alumni, major and leadership annual donors, board, staff, parents, and other friends of the school. NOLS program experience preferred.
• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents to help our donors accomplish their philanthropic goals and ambitions.
• Ability and willingness to work outside of normal business hours frequently, participating regularly in fundraising dinners, community events, conferences, and after-hours or weekend meetings with high-net-worth individuals.
• Expert project management skills, initiative, flexibility, discretion, and thoughtful decision-making to achieve ambitious performance objectives for outreach to constituents, including personal and virtual visits, gift solicitations, gift closures, and stewardship.
• A genuine passion for the outdoors, leadership development, and wilderness medicine programs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to write customized giving proposals and deliver pitches confidently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and advancement CRM software (such as Mission CRM).
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 50% of the time within the assigned geographic region in the U.S.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree along with a proven fundraising track record, ideally with 3-5 years of experience and demonstrated success securing major gifts. Consideration may be given for related experience in customer-facing sales, nonprofit programming, financial and estate planning, or marketing.

Who is NOLS?

NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that strives to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment. Our community—staff, students, trustees, and alumni—shares a commitment to wilderness, education, leadership, safety, community, and excellence.

We believe that anyone can be a leader; it is our role to provide the environment and training to help people discover their full potential. We do that in classrooms close to home and in remote wilderness areas around the world. We are an organization with heart, expertise, and wildness, and these qualities help us support powerful, authentic experiences.

Why is NOLS a great place to work?

• Global Reach: With locations across the U.S. operations in six countries, and courses running in all 50 states and more than 10 countries, you’ll be part of an organization with a truly worldwide impact.
• Course Discounts: Receive special pricing on NOLS courses for yourself and your family.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Full-time employees are eligible for a robust benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Flexible Time Off: We offer a flexible time off policy that empowers employees to take the time they need for rest, adventure, and personal priorities without the constraints of traditional accrual systems.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access confidential, 24/7 counseling and support services to help you maintain balance and well-being.
  

Additional Information

To support pay transparency and equity, the posted salary range is fixed. We encourage you to explore our opportunities that fit your pay expectations.

NOLS currently can support remote employees with legal working rights in the following locations: Canada; India; Mexico; New Zealand; the US, states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Pre-Employment Check

• A criminal background check is required from all NOLS employees.
• NOLS participates in e-verify for U.S. employees, Certificado de Antecedentes for Chilean or Mexican employees, and other relevant employment verification systems based on location.
• Current NOLS employees please note it is NOLS policy to conduct an internal reference check with People Team and/or your current supervisor as part of the reference check process. If you have any questions or concerns about this process please contact .

Equal Employment Opportunity

NOLS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. All employment decisions — include hiring, promotions, compensation, benefits, transfers, training, layoffs, and terminations — are made without regard to any protected status and are based on legitimate business needs, qualifications, and merit. The school’s nondiscrimination policy applies to all phases of its employment process, its admission and financial aid programs, and to all other aspects of its educational programs and activities. Retaliation directed to any person who pursues a discrimination complaint or grievance, participates in a discrimination investigation, or otherwise opposes unlawful discrimination is prohibited.

Reasonable Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations may be requested for disability; limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; religion; and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment by emailing with your request.