Major Gifts Officer

Evansville Regional Economic Partnership; Evansville (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Evansville invites applications for the position of Senior Major Gift Officer within the Office of University Advancement. The role focuses on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumni and donors to secure transformative philanthropic support.

Responsibilities include managing a portfolio of 150–200 prospects, pursuing $50,000+ gifts, and conducting 15–20 donor visits monthly to advance gifts. Collaboration with academic and campus partners is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field.
• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, development, sales, relationship management, or related role requiring strategic cultivation and solicitation.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to engage and influence a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to travel extensively and maintain a flexible schedule for fundraising activities.
• Familiarity with fundraising databases, CRM systems, and prospect management processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 to 200 major gift prospects and donors.
• Focus fundraising on individuals with philanthropic capacity of $50,000 and above.
• Develop and execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for assigned prospects.
• Conduct 15 to 20 strategic face-to-face donor visits monthly.
• Complete 2 to 4 major gift solicitations per month.
• Develop individualized engagement strategies based on donor interests and capacity.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with alumni, parents, friends, and other stakeholders.
• Articulate the University's mission, priorities, and funding opportunities to prospective donors.
• Ensure donors receive stewardship, recognition, and ongoing engagement after gifts.
• Collaborate with campus leaders to identify fundraising priorities and opportunities.
• Coordinate fundraising volunteers, advisory groups, and campaign committees as appropriate.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Relationship management

Fundraising strategy

Donor stewardship

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, business, liberal arts, or related field

Tools

CRM systems

Prospect management databases

Job description

The University of Evansville invites applications for the position of Senior Major Gift Officer within the Office of University Advancement. The University seeks an accomplished, responsive, collaborative, and results-oriented fundraising professional to join its Advancement team and help advance the institution's mission through meaningful philanthropic partnerships.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Development, the Senior Major Gift Officer will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward alumni, friends, parents, and other university stakeholders capable of making transformative philanthropic investments. The successful candidate will possess a strategic approach to relationship management and fundraising, with a demonstrated ability to secure significant charitable support and build lasting donor relationships.

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Major Gift Officer serves as a key member of the University's fundraising team and is responsible for managing a comprehensive major gifts portfolio while supporting the overall goals of University Advancement.

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 to 200 major gift prospects and donors.
• Focus fundraising efforts on individuals with philanthropic capacity of $50,000 and above.
• Develop and execute comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for assigned prospects.
• Conduct an average of 15 to 20 strategic face-to-face donor visits monthly that result in meaningful advancement toward philanthropic commitments.
• Complete an average of 2 to 4 major gift solicitations per month.
• Develop individualized engagement strategies designed to maximize philanthropic support based on donor interests and capacity.

Relationship Management & Stewardship

• Build and maintain strong relationships with alumni, parents, friends, and other university stakeholders.
• Articulate the University's mission, vision, strategic priorities, and funding opportunities to prospective donors and supporters.
• Ensure donors receive appropriate stewardship, recognition, and ongoing engagement following gifts and commitments.
• Serve as a trusted representative of the University in interactions with internal and external constituents.

Strategic Development & Collaboration

• Work closely with academic and administrative leaders to identify fundraising priorities and opportunities.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and campus partners to advance fundraising initiatives and strengthen donor engagement.
• Assist in coordinating and supporting fundraising volunteers, advisory groups, and campaign committees when appropriate.
• Partner with Advancement colleagues to align donor interests with institutional priorities.

Advancement Operations

Work with the Assistant Vice President for Development to support the full range of University Advancement functions, including:

• Major gifts
• Corporate and foundation relations
• Prospect research and management
• Donor stewardship
• Advancement services
• Advancement technology and systems
• Utilize advancement reporting systems and performance metrics to monitor fundraising activity and results.
• Maintain accurate records of donor interactions, strategies, and outcomes within the University's donor management systems.
• Manage the portfolio solicitation process, including:
  • Developing cultivation and solicitation strategies
  • Recommending proposal and ask amounts
  • Monitoring volunteer and committee assignments
  • Tracking prospect movement through the donor pipeline
• Evaluate portfolio performance and adjust strategies to maximize fundraising outcomes.
• Identify and qualify new major gift prospects through proactive relationship development.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, business, liberal arts, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, development, sales, relationship management, or a related profession requiring strategic cultivation and solicitation.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to effectively engage and influence a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to travel extensively and maintain a flexible schedule as fundraising activities require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing a major gift portfolio in higher education or a nonprofit environment.
• Demonstrated success securing five- and six-figure philanthropic commitments.
• Familiarity with fundraising databases, constituent relationship management (CRM) systems, and prospect management processes.
• Experience working with volunteers, boards, campaign committees, or donor advisory groups.
• Knowledge of planned giving, campaign fundraising, and donor stewardship best practices.

Regular travel is required to meet with prospects, donors, alumni, and other stakeholders. Position requires significant face-to-face engagement and relationship management activities. Evening and occasional weekend activities may be required to support donor cultivation and University events.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with colleagues across the University to advance institutional fundraising priorities.

Why Join the University of Evansville

The University of Evansville is committed to providing transformative educational experiences and fostering meaningful connections with alumni, donors, and community partners. As a Senior Major Gift Officer, you will play a vital role in securing philanthropic support that advances student success, academic excellence, and institutional growth. This position offers the opportunity to develop impactful donor relationships while contributing directly to the future of the University.

Legal Statement

The University of Evansville expects all members of its community to treat each other with respect and civility. Harassing behaviors directed towards any member of our community will not be tolerated. As part of its commitment to non-discrimination, the University specifically prohibits harassment based on any other characteristics set forth in its nondiscrimination statement as follows: including race, color, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, creed or religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status and all federally protected groups/classes. Any form of harassment undermines the mission of the University and negatively impacts the University community as a whole.

The University of Evansville participates in the E-Verify program.

Office Location

Room 118, Olmsted Administration Hall