Major Gift Officer - West Coast

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

Job summary

National Outdoor Leadership School is seeking a Major Gift Officer to manage a 110+ donor portfolio, cultivate relationships, and secure major gifts. Remote work is possible with preference for CA or WA; travel within the Intermountain West may be required.

The role emphasizes donor engagement, advancing fundraising strategies, and meeting revenue targets while collaborating with Donor Relations and leadership staff. A strong track record in major gift asks is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 3–5 years of proven major gifts fundraising success.
• 3+ years frontline fundraising experience.
• Ability to travel ~50% within the U.S.
• Experience building donor relationships and soliciting gifts.

Responsibilities

• Manage a 110+ donor portfolio, researching, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts.
• Cultivate and solicit major and principal gifts to meet annual goals.
• Coordinate donor engagement plans with stewardship materials.
• Maintain tracking and regular communication with prospects to grow gift amounts.
• Collaborate with Donor Relations/Stewardship on donor materials.
• Support leadership giving and provide reporting on progress.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Portfolio management

Donor relations

Cultivation strategy

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CRM software (Mission CRM)

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

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,

• 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?

• 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

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 — including 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.