Major Gifts Officer

Association of Fundraising Professionals; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Major Gifts Officer at Museum of Science & History (MOSH) in Jacksonville reports to the Chief Development Officer and leads efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects up to $1 million.

They will manage a portfolio of 75–125 donors, develop proposals and donor communications, and collaborate with leadership, volunteers, and programs to advance MOSH’s fundraising priorities through compelling proposals and personalized stewardship.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in major gifts fundraising, nonprofit development, philanthropy, and relationship management.
• Experience managing donor portfolios and advancing high-value relationships.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including proposal writing and presentation development.
• Experience using Salesforce or another CRM to manage relationships and fundraising activity.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 75–125 major gift prospects and donors.
• Develop cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for donors with the capacity to make gifts up to $1 million.
• Conduct donor visits, discovery meetings, solicitations, and stewardship activities.
• Identify, qualify, and engage new prospects through research, referrals, events, and community networks.
• Partner with the Chief Development Officer, Executive Director/CEO, board members, and campaign volunteers on donor strategies and solicitations.
• Utilize Salesforce or a comparable CRM to manage relationships, track activity, and monitor fundraising progress.
• Document donor interactions, proposals, commitments, and stewardship activities.
• Develop customized proposals, concept papers, presentations, solicitation materials, and donor correspondence.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Portfolio management

Communication skills

Salesforce CRM

Discretion and professionalism

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce CRM

Job description

Major Gifts Officer

Museum of Science & History (MOSH) – Jacksonville, Florida
Position Type: Full-Time (Hybrid)
Reports To: Chief Development Officer

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer and working closely with Development, Leadership, and Program teams, the Major Gifts Officer serves as a key partner in advancing the Museum's fundraising strategy and philanthropic priorities. The successful candidate will be a trusted and collaborative relationship manager who operates with integrity, discretion, transparency, and a commitment to shared success. They will possess exceptional communication skills and the ability to translate the Museum's vision, programs, and community impact into compelling philanthropic opportunities while building meaningful relationships with donors, board members, volunteers, community leaders, and internal stakeholders.

The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors in support of the Museum's annual, campaign, and strategic fundraising priorities. This position manages a portfolio of approximately 75–125 prospects and donors and is responsible for securing gifts up to $1 million through strategic relationship management, proposal development, donor communications, and personalized stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

Major Gifts & Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of 75–125 major gift prospects and donors.


• Develop and implement cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for donors with the capacity to make gifts up to $1 million.


• Conduct donor visits, discovery meetings, solicitations, and stewardship activities.


• Identify, qualify, and engage new prospects through research, referrals, events, and community networks.


• Partner with the Chief Development Officer, Executive Director/CEO, board members, and campaign volunteers on donor strategies and solicitations.

Moves Management & CRM

• Utilize Salesforce or a comparable CRM to manage relationships, track activity, and monitor fundraising progress.


• Maintain prospect strategies, timelines, next steps, and revenue forecasts.


• Document donor interactions, proposals, commitments, and stewardship activities.


• Leverage CRM data to support forecasting, pipeline development, donor retention, and reporting.

Proposal Development & Donor Communications

• Develop customized proposals, concept papers, presentations, solicitation materials, and donor correspondence.


• Translate Museum priorities, programs, exhibitions, educational initiatives, and community impact into compelling philanthropic opportunities.


• Support donor-facing campaign materials, funding opportunities, and impact narratives.


• Ensure communications are personalized, timely, and aligned with organizational priorities.

Stewardship & Relationship Management

• Create and implement donor stewardship plans that strengthen engagement and retention.


• Coordinate donor recognition, impact reporting, special events, tours, and leadership engagement opportunities.


• Ensure donors remain informed, valued, and connected to the impact of their philanthropy.


• Uphold the highest standards of confidentiality, ethics, and donor service.

Internal & External Collaboration

• Partner with education, exhibits, collections, community engagement, marketing, finance, operations, and leadership teams to understand funding priorities and opportunities.


• Gather program outcomes, stories, budgets, and impact data for proposals and donor reports.


• Serve as a liaison between donors and Museum staff through tours, briefings, and engagement opportunities.


• Support board members, volunteers, and campaign leaders in donor cultivation and stewardship.


• Prepare donor briefings, prospect profiles, talking points, and meeting materials.


• Represent the Museum professionally with donors, civic leaders, corporate partners, foundations, and community stakeholders.

Team Culture

• Contribute to a culture of philanthropy, collaboration, transparency, stewardship, and accountability.


• Support organizational fundraising goals and participate as an active member of the Advancement team.


• Demonstrate professionalism, sound judgment, inclusiveness, and a solutions-oriented approach.

Goals & Performance Expectations

The Major Gifts Officer will be expected to:

• Maintain and actively manage a portfolio of 75–125 qualified prospects and donors.


• Conduct regular donor meetings, cultivation activities, solicitations, and stewardship engagements.


• Develop and execute proactive moves management strategies.


• Secure major gifts and commitments, including gifts up to $1 million.


• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified donors and prospects.


• Develop customized proposals aligned with organizational priorities.


• Maintain accurate CRM records, forecasting, and reporting.


• Contribute to the overall success of the Advancement department and the Museum by supporting shared goals, team priorities, and organizational outcomes.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.


• Minimum of 5 years of experience in major gifts fundraising, nonprofit development, philanthropy, and relationship management, with demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donor relationships.


• Demonstrated experience managing donor portfolios and advancing high-value relationships.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including proposal writing and presentation development.


• Experience using Salesforce or another CRM to manage relationships and fundraising activity.


• High degree of professionalism, discretion, emotional intelligence, and sound judgment.

Preferred

• Experience securing five-, six-, or seven-figure gifts.


• Experience supporting a capital campaign or comprehensive fundraising initiative.


• Knowledge of Jacksonville's philanthropic, civic, corporate, or nonprofit community.


• Experience within museums, education, arts and culture, science, or other mission-driven organizations.

Core Competencies

• Major gift fundraising and portfolio management


• Moves management and donor strategy


• Proposal development and donor communications


• Stewardship and donor retention


• Salesforce/CRM proficiency


• Relationship building and stakeholder engagement


• Board and volunteer partnership


• Strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and accountability


• Commitment to the Museum's mission and community impact

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. MOSH offers a comprehensive benefits package, a collaborative and mission-driven work environment, and the opportunity to play a meaningful role in shaping one of Jacksonville's most transformative cultural projects.