Major Gifts Officer
Forest Home, Inc.
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Forest Home is a Christ-centered nonprofit camp seeking a passionate Major Gift Officer to grow our mission through donor relationships and transformational giving. The MGO will manage high-capacity donors and coordinate with the Annual Fund Coordinator to advance mid-level gifts toward major and planned giving.
Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the MGO builds a portfolio of donors, leads the cycle from identification to stewardship, and secures multi-year pledges while expanding the
Qualifications
- Minimum 5 years of major gift fundraising experience.
- Demonstrated success securing individual gifts of $70,000+ and growing a donor portfolio year over year.
- Committed follower of Jesus Christ with a heart for ministry and alignment with Forest Home's Statement of Faith.
- Strong presentation skills for individuals and groups, plus excellent written communication.
- Poise and professionalism with donors, board members, and executive leadership.
- Self-motivated, with the discipline to manage a full calendar of donor visits independently.
- Strong attention to detail, discernment, and high emotional intelligence.
- Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel regularly.
Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 250 major donors and prospects, building authentic, long‑term relationships.
- Lead every stage of the donor cycle: identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, follow‑up, stewardship, and recognition.
- Develop an individual cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plan for each donor in the portfolio.
- Conduct weekly face‑to‑face visits, virtual meetings, and calls with current and prospective donors.
- Open new relationships through targeted prospect lists, referrals, and networking.
- Host on‑site camp tours for donors and prospects.
- Partner with the Chief Development Officer to set annual major gift goals and strategy.
- Secure major gifts for the annual fund, capital campaigns, scholarships, and special projects.
- Cultivate and secure multi‑year (3–5 year) pledges and grow the 15:1 Partnership program at the $25,000+ level.
- Prepare compelling proposals, cases for support, impact reports, and donor presentations.
- Use DonorSearch screening and giving data to identify new prospects, upgrade existing donors, and qualify out unresponsive ones.
- Connect each donor's philanthropic passions with Forest Home's mission through a gospel‑centered approach.
- Work with the Annual Fund Coordinator on a regular cadence to identify and qualify mid‑level donors with major gift potential.
- Ensure alignment across the full giving pipeline, from mid‑level to major and planned gifts.
- Contribute to a collaborative, goal‑oriented culture within the development team.
- Keep donor records, contact reports, and activity current in Bloomerang.
- Provide regular progress reports to the Chief Development Officer.
- Collaborate with the marketing team on donor communications.
- Ensure acknowledgments and recognition reflect excellence and Christian values.
- Uphold the highest ethical and confidentiality standards in all fundraising activity.
- Steward ministry resources wisely, managing travel expenses and submitting them on time.
- Pray for and offer spiritual support to donors and internal staff.
- Represent Forest Home at camp events, retreats, and ministry gatherings.
- Model Christlike character and uphold Forest Home's vision, mission, and core values.
Skills
Education
Job description
Forest Home is a Christ-centered nonprofit camp dedicated to providing life-changing experiences for children, youth, and families. Through outdoor adventures, biblical teaching, and authentic community, we seek to cultivate spiritual growth and lifelong faith in Jesus Christ. We are seeking a passionate and strategic Major Gift Officer to help grow our mission through meaningful donor relationships and impactful giving opportunities.
Forest Home is a Christ-centered nonprofit camp dedicated to providing life-changing experiences for children, youth, and families. Through outdoor adventures, biblical teaching, and authentic community, we cultivate spiritual growth and lifelong faith in Jesus Christ. We are seeking a passionate, strategic Major Gift Officer (MGO) to grow Forest Home's mission through meaningful donor relationships and transformational giving.
Forest Home is a Christ-centered nonprofit camp dedicated to providing life-changing experiences for children, youth, and families. Through outdoor adventure, biblical teaching, and authentic community, we cultivate spiritual growth and lifelong faith in Jesus Christ.
We are seeking a passionate, strategic Major Gift Officer (MGO) to grow Forest Home's mission through meaningful donor relationships and transformational giving. The MGO identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals capable of giving $15,000 or more annually in support of Forest Home's programs, scholarships, and capital needs.
Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the MGO manages a portfolio of high‑capacity donors and partners closely with the Annual Fund Coordinator to build a coordinated pipeline that moves donors from mid‑level to major and planned giving.
The ideal candidate is a committed follower of Jesus Christ with a heart for ministry, high emotional intelligence, and a proven record of inspiring donors toward generous, joyful giving.
Success in this role is measured against the following annual targets, set in partnership with the Chief Development Officer.
Major gift revenue
$3,750,000
Active portfolio
250 major donors and prospects
Donor retention
85–90%
Multi-year pledge conversations (3–5 year commitments)
20–30
15:1 Partnership program growth
New partners at $25,000+
Donor engagement
Weekly face‑to‑face, virtual, and phone meetings
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 250 major donors and prospects, building authentic, long‑term relationships through personalized engagement.
- Lead every stage of the donor cycle: identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, follow‑up, stewardship, and recognition.
- Develop an individual cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plan for each donor in the portfolio.
- Conduct weekly face‑to‑face visits, virtual meetings, and calls with current and prospective donors.
- Open new relationships through targeted prospect lists, referrals, and networking.
- Host on‑site camp tours for donors and prospects.
- Partner with the Chief Development Officer to set annual major gift goals and strategy.
- Secure major gifts for the annual fund, capital campaigns, scholarships, and special projects.
- Cultivate and secure multi‑year (3–5 year) pledges and grow the 15:1 Partnership program at the $25,000+ level.
- Prepare compelling proposals, cases for support, impact reports, and donor presentations.
- Use DonorSearch screening and giving data to identify new prospects, upgrade existing donors, and qualify out unresponsive ones.
- Connect each donor's philanthropic passions with Forest Home's mission through a gospel‑centered approach.
- Work with the Annual Fund Coordinator on a regular cadence to identify and qualify mid‑level donors with major gift potential.
- Ensure alignment across the full giving pipeline, from mid‑level to major and planned gifts.
- Contribute to a collaborative, goal‑oriented culture within the development team.
- Keep donor records, contact reports, and activity current in Bloomerang.
- Provide regular progress reports to the Chief Development Officer.
- Collaborate with the marketing team on donor communications.
- Ensure acknowledgments and recognition reflect excellence and Christian values.
- Uphold the highest ethical and confidentiality standards in all fundraising activity.
- Steward ministry resources wisely, managing travel expenses and submitting them on time.
- Pray for and offer spiritual support to donors and internal staff.
- Represent Forest Home at camp events, retreats, and ministry gatherings.
- Model Christlike character and uphold Forest Home's vision, mission, and core values.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Minimum 5 years of major gift fundraising experience.
- Demonstrated success securing individual gifts of $70,000+ and growing a donor portfolio year over year.
- Committed follower of Jesus Christ with a heart for ministry and alignment with Forest Home's Statement of Faith.
- Strong presentation skills for individuals and groups, plus excellent written communication (proposals, emails, handwritten notes).
- Poise and professionalism with donors, board members, and executive leadership.
- Self‑motivated, with the discipline to manage a full calendar of donor visits independently.
- Strong attention to detail, discernment, and high emotional intelligence.
- Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel regularly.
- Bachelor's degree.
- Experience with Bloomerang or a similar CRM, and with DonorSearch or other wealth‑screening tools.
- Experience with capital campaigns, multi‑year pledges, and planned giving.
- Established network in Southern California, Arizona, or Nevada.
- CFRE certification.
This is a remote position based in a home office. Regular travel is required throughout Southern California (including Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties), Arizona, and Nevada for donor meetings. Seasonal travel to the Forest Home campus in Forest Falls, CA is required during the summer and as needed for donor engagement and events.
The salary range for this position is $100,000–$120,000 per year, commensurate with experience and demonstrated fundraising results. Benefits include medical coverage, disability and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan with company match, PTO holidays and a complimentary week at Forest Home Family Camp for your family. Travel expenses are reimbursed.
Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. All terms and conditions of Forest Home’s at‑will employment, duties, and responsibilities are subject to the Forest Home Employee Handbook.
- Abide with the Lord daily through study of His Word and prayer
- Surrender to the Lord daily through obedience to His Word
- Worship the Lord with the Forest Home Community
- Commit to grow in your faith through regular attendance at a local church
- Prioritize God, Family, and Work appropriately
- Be prepared to share your testimony with staff or guests
- Walk in Biblical purity (1 Timothy 4:12) by rejecting one’s sinful nature
- Display the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self‑control (Galatians 5:22)
- Be respectful to others
- Demonstrate compassion
- Give generously to God and others through time, talent and treasure
- Seek to put others’ needs above your own
- Demonstrate humility in both spirit and deed
- Actively look for ways to serve
- Show loyalty to others, even when they are not present
- Do the right thing, even when others are not present
- Extend trust and seek to believe the best in others
- Ask for forgiveness quickly when necessary
- Be truthful and transparent with others
- Demonstrate accountability with time and resources
- Request and receive training
- Desire to improve, and challenge others to do the same
- Commit to exceeding guest expectations
- Refuse mediocrity
- Seek first to understand before being understood
- Communicate clearly, empathetically and respectfully
- Work through conflict Biblically (Matthew 18-15-17)
- Participate in intentional and purposeful community activities
- Partner with teammates for the goal of unity and team effectiveness
- Play and appreciate campy fun
- Faithfully pray for one another
- Dream Big
- Proactively seek solutions
- Think outside the box
- Dream, plan and execute new ideas
- Acknowledge and trust that all things are possible through Jesus Christ our Lord (Matthew 19:26)
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