Major Gifts Officer

ST ANDREWS SCHOOL; Middletown (DE); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking educational institution as a Major Gifts Officer, where you will play a pivotal role in maximizing financial contributions through relationship building with donors. This role involves cultivating a diverse portfolio of prospective major gift donors, conducting personal visits, and collaborating with a dedicated team to align fundraising strategies with the school's mission. If you are passionate about education and have the skills to connect authentically with stakeholders, this position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the lives of students and the community. Embrace the chance to contribute to a mission-driven environment that values character, independence, and service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 2 years of front-line fundraising experience required.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills needed.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate and solicit a portfolio of 120 prospective major gift donors.
• Conduct personal donor visits and maintain accurate records.
• Collaborate with the advancement team on fundraising efforts.

Skills

Relationship Building

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Organizational Skills

Time Management

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Raiser's Edge

Job description

Job Title: Major Gifts Officer
Report to: Director of Capital and Planned Giving
Status: 12-month staff position
FLSA Status: Exempt
Posted: April 8, 2025

Founded in 1929, St. Andrew’s School develops its students' independence, character, mind, and spirit to prepare them for lives of citizenship, service, and purpose. Be at the center of this mission by joining the school as a major gifts officer. All our students live, learn, and play in the natural beauty of our 2,200-acre campus. At the center of our community are curious, motivated, and diverse students who are accepted without regard to their families’ means. Each young person is challenged and valued, and students are truly known by the life-long mentors who teach, coach, and advise them. Human connection, face-to-face, is the foundation of our program. Friendship and joy define our spirit; “faith and learning” is our motto. To learn more about St. Andrew’s, visit our website at www.standrews-de.org.

The major gifts officer role maximizes giving to the school by establishing long-term relationships and qualifying as well as cultivating prospective major gifts donors. This position collaborates with these donors to match their interests and philanthropic goals to the strategic goals and priorities of St. Andrew's, thereby ensuring that the school and students have the resources necessary for success. The ideal candidate will possess the confidence and skill to ask prospective donors for significant financial contributions during in-person meetings. The applicant must have excellent judgment and strong communication and interpersonal skills that enable them to connect authentically with diverse stakeholders while managing competing priorities under pressure. They must also have the flexibility to work when required, including overnight travel 30-40% of the time, as well as attending weekend and evening events as needed.

Job Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the director of capital and planned giving and major gift team members to identify, qualify, cultivate, and solicit a portfolio of approximately 120 prospective major gift donors, including alumni, parents, alumni parents, and other supporters of St. Andrew’s School within a specific geographic region.
• Conduct at least 120 personal prospective donor visits a year.
• Develop a deep understanding of donor interests, motivations, and giving capacity to tailor personalized cultivation strategies.
• Achieve major and planned gift fundraising goals as determined by the director of capital and planned giving and the chief advancement officer while also contributing to the department’s established fundraising goals.
• Utilize a moves management approach to strategically guide prospective donors through the giving process with the director of advancement operations.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records of donor interactions in the school’s database.
• Prepare regular progress reports on major gift fundraising activities, including pipeline updates and donor engagement metrics.
• Plan and prepare for effective joint visits with the head of school, chief advancement officer, director of capital and planned giving, administrators, trustees, faculty, and volunteers.
• Collaborate closely with the advancement team, including the directors of the Saints Fund, alumni relations, donor relations, and communications, to align fundraising efforts and ensure consistent messaging.
• Support the coordination of fundraising events and initiatives, providing expertise on major gift prospect involvement.
• Work with the director of stewardship and donor relations to develop individualized stewardship plans to maintain ongoing engagement and foster long-term relationships.
• Secure project and organization information, create and write effective proposals and requests, and work closely with the associate director of communications to create focused and compelling funding proposals.
• Build relationships with coaches, residential life staff, and faculty to enlist their expertise in understanding programming and potential opportunities for support.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required, along with two years of experience in front-line fundraising focused on major gift solicitations, preferably in an educational environment. Experience with independent school fundraising is an advantage.
• Candidates should possess strong relationship-building skills.
• Superior interpersonal and communications skills, especially the ability to listen effectively, write clearly, and speak to groups.
• Proficiency in technology and software programs like Raiser's Edge is essential.
• The ideal candidate also needs to manage multiple priorities effectively, have strong organizational and time management abilities, and possess a deep appreciation for education and a commitment to the mission of St. Andrew’s School.

Physical Demands

• Business travel.
• Some sedentary work on a computer is performed in an office setting.
• Intermittent physical activity, including standing, kneeling, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting to 25 lbs.
• Environment subject to frequent interruptions, varying and unpredictable situations; some pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries.

This job description is intended to describe the basic, critical elements of the job and should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. A thorough background check, inclusive of fingerprinting, is required as a condition of employment.

Conditions of Hire

A thorough background check, inclusive of fingerprinting and Child Protection Registry Check, is required as a condition of employment. Applicant must complete satisfactory reference checks, confirmation of compliance with federal and state employment laws, and any other required condition of employment.

To Apply

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an auxiliary aid or service, please call [phone]. TDD users should call the Delaware Relay Service Number 1-800-232-5460 for assistance. St. Andrew’s School is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diverse candidates of all backgrounds, faiths, and persuasions and seek to foster an inclusive, welcoming community environment. Interested candidates should send a letter of interest and resume to: