Major Gifts Officer

Praxis, Inc.; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Paid time off

403b retirement plan

Soul care days

Job summary

Dream Centers in Colorado Springs is seeking a mission-driven leader to guide the Big Dream Early Learning capital campaign. You will craft strategy, build donor relationships, and coordinate executives, board, and committees to advance a bold vision for trauma-responsive early learning.

The role requires deep local philanthropy connections, exceptional storytelling, and a collaborative approach to align fundraising with Dream Centers’ mission to support women, children, and families.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in fundraising, advancement, major gifts, capital campaigns, nonprofit leadership, or closely related field.
• Demonstrated success cultivating and soliciting major gifts.
• Deep relationships and credibility within the Colorado Springs philanthropic community.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to tell a compelling story.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, coordination, execution, and management of the Big Dream Early Learning capital campaign as part of the Executive Leadership team.
• Develop a comprehensive campaign plan with goals, timelines, donor segmentation, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and committee rhythms.
• Collaborate with Dream Centers leadership to refine priorities, messaging, and donor engagement opportunities.
• Provide regular progress updates to executives, the board, campaign committees, and stakeholders; identify risks and opportunities and adjust as needed.
• Support committee chairs and liaison between staff, volunteers, and leadership; foster momentum and accountability across the campaign.

Job description

The Organization:

Since 2011, Dream Centers, a faith-based nonprofit in Colorado Springs, has provided health and hope to those rebuilding their dreams. Guided by our Christian faith, we partner with the greater Pikes Peak community to fill the most critical gaps in care for women and children experiencing poverty, trauma, and homelessness. Our work is holistic by design: we believe lasting change happens from the inside out, and every program we offer reflects that conviction. Dream Centers operates three interconnected programs:

• Women’s Clinic – Free GYN, behavioral health, and wraparound services for uninsured women in Colorado. We average 45-minute appointments, foster deep provider-patient relationships, and maintain a net promoter score of 99%.
• Mary’s Home – A multi-year, trauma-informed residential program offering life-skills training, education, job development, and stable housing for single-mother families experiencing homelessness.
• Big Dream Early Learning – An innovative emerging early learning center helping children from birth to age six bridge the gap between early childhood trauma and a hopeful future.

The Position:

Dream Centers is seeking a gifted, relational, and mission-driven leader to guide the Big Dream Early Learning capital campaign. This person will help carry a bold and beautiful vision for an emerging Dream Centers initiative designed to meet children and families at a critical moment with trauma-healing, relationship-centered early learning and support.

The right person for this role will know how to tell the story, build trust, follow through with excellence, and help donors see that their generosity can change the trajectory of a child’s life and strengthen a family’s ability to carry forward with stability, skill, and connection.

The ideal candidate will be deeply connected in the Colorado Springs philanthropic community and will bring established relationships, credibility, and trust with local donors, foundations, business leaders, churches, civic partners, and community champions.

Responsibilities:

Campaign Leadership and Strategy

• As part of the Dream Center’s Executive Leadership team, lead the planning, coordination, execution, and management of the Big Dream Early Learning capital campaign.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive campaign plan, including goals, timelines, donor segments, cultivation strategies, solicitation plans, stewardship practices, and committee engagement rhythms.
• Work closely with Dream Centers leadership to clarify campaign priorities, funding needs, messaging, and donor engagement opportunities.
• Track campaign progress against goals and provide regular updates to executive leadership, the board, campaign committees and subcommittees, and other key stakeholders.
• Identify potential risks, gaps, or opportunities in the campaign and recommend adjustments as needed.

Steering Committee and Subcommittee Management

• Manage and support the existing campaign committees and subcommittees.
• Ensure committee members are clear on goals, roles, timelines, assignments, and next steps.
• Coordinate committee meetings, agendas, materials, follow-up items, donor assignments, and accountability rhythms.
• Help keep campaign leaders engaged, informed, encouraged, and moving together toward shared goals.
• Serve as a central point of coordination between Dream Centers staff, committee members, subcommittee chairs, and organizational leadership.
• Create a culture of momentum, clarity, ownership, and relational trust across the campaign structure.

Colorado Springs Philanthropic Engagement

• Bring deep knowledge of and connection to the Colorado Springs philanthropic community.
• Identify, cultivate, and engage local donors, foundations, businesses, churches, civic leaders, and community partners who may be aligned with the vision of Big Dream Early Learning.
• Open doors, build bridges, and strengthen relationships between Dream Centers and key philanthropic networks in the region.
• Represent Dream Centers with warmth, credibility, professionalism, and deep alignment with the mission.
• Understand the local giving landscape and help shape strategies that are relationally wise, community-centered, and effective.

Major Donor Cultivation and Solicitation

• Build and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, including individuals, families, foundations, churches, businesses, and community partners.
• Create personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for key donors.
• Prepare donor briefings, proposals, campaign materials, pledge requests, and follow-up communications.
• Support the CEO, executive leadership, board members, committee members, and subcommittee leaders in donor meetings and asks.
• Ensure every donor interaction is thoughtful, timely, relational, and aligned with the heart of Dream Centers.

Storytelling and Campaign Communication

• Tell the story of Big Dream Early Learning in a way that connects the innovative science of this groundbreaking program with the lived experience and currently unmet needs of children and families.
• Translate complex needs into simple, compelling opportunities for generosity.
• Protect the dignity of children and families in all storytelling.

Donor Stewardship and Campaign Operations

• Develop and manage a strong stewardship plan for campaign donors, including gift acknowledgments, impact updates, recognition opportunities, and personal follow-up.
• Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, pledge documentation, committee assignments, and campaign tracking systems.
• Coordinate with finance and operations teams to ensure gifts, pledges, restrictions, and reports are handled with excellence.
• Prepare regular campaign dashboards and progress reports.
• Ensure campaign activity is organized, confidential, and donor-centered.

Qualifications:

Character and Calling

• Strong alignment with Dream Centers’ Christian mission and a desire to serve children, families, and vulnerable communities.
• Ability to lead with both clarity and care in a mission-driven environment
• Passion for children, families, healing, prevention, and community transformation.
• A deep belief that children deserve safety, belonging, and the freedom to dream.

Competency and Experience

• 7+ years of experience in fundraising, advancement, major gifts, capital campaigns, nonprofit leadership, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated success cultivating and soliciting major gifts.
• Deep relationships and credibility within the Colorado Springs philanthropic community.
• Strong understanding of local donor networks, foundations, civic leadership, business philanthropy, churches, and community partnerships.
• Experience managing committees, volunteer leaders, campaign cabinets, or similar leadership groups.
• Excellent relational instincts and the ability to build trust with donors, board members, volunteers, staff, and community partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tell a compelling story and make a clear invitation.
• High emotional intelligence, discretion, and follow-through.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to move many pieces forward without losing sight of people.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting or leading a capital campaign.
• Established relationships with local donors, foundations, churches, business leaders, civic partners, and community champions.
• Experience in nonprofit, ministry, or mission-driven environments.

Salary & Benefits:

• $100-110k, based upon education and experience
• Health + dental insurance
• Paid time off
• 403b retirement plan + employer contribution
• Monthly soul care days