Major Gifts Officer

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is seeking a Major Gifts Officer to grow individual philanthropic support. You will manage a portfolio of 50–75 donors, devise engagement strategies, and build a robust major gifts pipeline through meetings, tours, events, and personalized solicitations.

Working closely with Co-Directors, the Development Manager, and Board + Partnerships Manager, you will cultivate renewals and new gifts, and document donor activity for regular pipeline updates.

Qualifications

• At least three years of experience in fundraising, individual giving, donor relations, advancement, development, or comparable relationship-based work.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with donors, clients, community leaders, or external stakeholders.
• Experience soliciting philanthropic gifts is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing a donor or prospect portfolio is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills and confidence engaging with donors, Board members, artists, collectors, and community leaders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organization, follow-through, discretion, and attention to relationship management.
• Ability to manage multiple relationships and priorities independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues.
• Experience with donor databases, CRM systems, or other relationship-management tools is preferred.
• Knowledge of Detroit’s philanthropic, cultural, business, and civic communities is strongly preferred.
• Experience in arts and culture or the nonprofit sector is preferred but not required.
• Interest in contemporary art and commitment to MOCAD’s mission and role in Detroit.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend events and local travel.

Responsibilities

• Identify and qualify prospective major donors through research, referrals, Board relationships, events, and community connections.
• Develop and manage strategies for donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Conduct donor meetings, calls, tours, Museum visits, and other engagement activities.
• Prepare and make direct gift solicitations independently and with the Co-Directors and Board members.
• Develop personalized proposals, correspondence, and giving opportunities.
• Identify opportunities for renewed, increased, unrestricted, and multi-year gifts.
• Re-engage lapsed donors and deepen relationships with existing supporters.
• Prepare donor profiles, briefing materials, talking points, and follow-up recommendations.
• Support major donor strategies related to MOCAD’s annual gala, exhibitions, special projects, and capital priorities.
• Maintain accurate donor activity and provide regular updates on the major gifts pipeline.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Relationship management

Portfolio management

Communication

Networking

Job description

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) presents exhibitions and programs that connect Detroit with the global art world. Through the work of artists, musicians, makers, cultural producers, and scholars, MOCAD uses contemporary art to encourage experimentation, foster understanding, and create space for challenge, acceptance, hope, and beauty.

Founded in 2006, MOCAD operates from its main building and Mike Kelley’s Mobile Homestead in Midtown Detroit. MOCAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The Major Gifts Officer will grow individual philanthropic support for MOCAD by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding current and prospective major donors.

This position will manage a portfolio of approximately 50–75 donors and prospects, develop individualized engagement strategies, and build a consistent pipeline of major gift opportunities. The Major Gifts Officer will spend significant time building relationships through meetings, Museum visits, events, calls, and other engagement opportunities.

Working closely with the Co-Directors, Development Manager, and Board + Partnerships Manager, this role will:

• Identify and qualify prospective major donors through research, referrals, Board relationships, events, and community connections.
• Develop and manage strategies for donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Conduct donor meetings, calls, tours, Museum visits, and other engagement activities.
• Prepare and make direct gift solicitations independently and with the Co-Directors and Board members.
• Develop personalized proposals, correspondence, and giving opportunities.
• Identify opportunities for renewed, increased, unrestricted, and multi-year gifts.
• Re-engage lapsed donors and deepen relationships with existing supporters.
• Prepare donor profiles, briefing materials, talking points, and follow-up recommendations.
• Support major donor strategies related to MOCAD’s annual gala, exhibitions, special projects, and capital priorities.
• Maintain accurate donor activity and provide regular updates on the major gifts pipeline.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least three years of experience in fundraising, individual giving, donor relations, advancement, development, or comparable relationship-based work.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with donors, clients, community leaders, or external stakeholders.
• Experience soliciting philanthropic gifts is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing a donor or prospect portfolio is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills and confidence engaging with donors, Board members, artists, collectors, and community leaders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organization, follow-through, discretion, and attention to relationship management.
• Ability to manage multiple relationships and priorities independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues.
• Experience with donor databases, CRM systems, or other relationship-management tools is preferred.
• Knowledge of Detroit’s philanthropic, cultural, business, and civic communities is strongly preferred.
• Experience in arts and culture or the nonprofit sector is preferred but not required.
• Interest in contemporary art and commitment to MOCAD’s mission and role in Detroit.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend events and local travel.