Major Gifts Officer

Special Olympics Minnesota Inc; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

AD&D

Long-Term Disability

Flexible Spending Accounts

401(k) plan

Flexible Time Off

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Special Olympics Minnesota Inc in Minneapolis seeks a Major Gifts Officer to grow high-capacity donor support and pursue public funding opportunities. You will build and manage a strategic donor portfolio, craft tailored solicitations, and collaborate with leadership to advance the movement in Minnesota.

You will lead individualized cultivation, ensure timely donor stewardship, and align fundraising with program priorities, reporting to the VP of Development in a hybrid setting.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in major gifts, individual giving, fundraising, advancement, donor relations, or a closely related field.
• Experience identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-capacity donors, including five- and six-figure gift opportunities.
• Experience managing a donor or prospect portfolio and advancing relationships through a structured fundraising pipeline.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills with donors, prospects, volunteers, board members, public officials, and community partners.
• Strong writing ability, including experience developing persuasive proposals, cases for support, donor communications, or funding materials.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments while independently driving revenue-generating activity and follow-through.
• Familiarity with CRM or donor database systems and comfort using data to guide portfolio and prospect strategy.
• Strategic thinking, persistence, sound judgment, discretion, professionalism, and comfort making direct asks for significant financial support.
• Must successfully pass a background check as a condition of employment.
• Must have reliable transportation to attend donor meetings, events, and a community-facing activities as needed.

Responsibilities

• Build, qualify, and manage a prioritized portfolio of high-capacity individual donors and prospects with five- and six-figure giving potential.
• Develop individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies based on donor interests, capacity, engagement, and relationship history.
• Conduct meaningful donor outreach and meetings that move relationships through a structured fundraising pipeline.
• Prepare and make direct major gift solicitations independently and in partnership with organizational leadership, board members, volunteers, and other key stakeholders.
• Create compelling proposals, cases for support, briefing materials, donor communications, and other materials connected to major gift activity.
• Identify opportunities to retain, renew, and upgrade current donors to higher levels of support.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor records, contact reports, next steps, portfolio stages, and revenue projections in the organization’s CRM or donor database.
• Support donor-focused events, including gala-related engagement, small hosted gatherings, and other cultivation or stewardship opportunities.
• Partner with leadership to prepare for key donor meetings and ensure timely, personalized follow-up and stewardship.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor relations

Portfolio management

Fundraising strategy

Communication skills

CRM experience

Grant research

Job description

Major Gifts Officer

Special Olympics Minnesota Inc Minneapolis, Other / Non-US, United States

About this position

Department: Development

Location: Hybrid; Minneapolis

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Reports To: Vice President of Development

Direct Reports: Director of Individual Giving

Special Olympics Minnesota is part of a global movement creating a more inclusive world through year-round sports training, competition, health, leadership, and community programs for people with intellectual disabilities. Through these programs, athletes build confidence, strengthen community connections, and help advance a culture of acceptance, respect, and inclusion across Minnesota.

The Major Gifts Officer expands Special Olympics Minnesota’s capacity to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors while also researching and advancing aligned public funding opportunities. This position builds and manages a portfolio of current donors and prospective supporters capable of five- and six-figure gifts, strengthens donor relationships, supports leadership in strategic solicitations, and develops a disciplined approach to public-sector funding opportunities.

This role is designed to grow and diversify revenue, improve movement through the major gift pipeline, and create new funding pathways that support long-term sustainability, expanded reach, and mission impact. The position will balance major gifts and public funding responsibilities in a way that reflects organizational priorities, funding opportunities, and Development team needs.

Key Responsibilities

Major Gifts and Donor Portfolio Management

• Build, qualify, and manage a prioritized portfolio of high-capacity individual donors and prospects with five- and six-figure giving potential.
• Develop individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies based on donor interests, capacity, engagement, and relationship history.
• Conduct meaningful donor outreach and meetings that move relationships through a structured fundraising pipeline.
• Prepare and make direct major gift solicitations independently and in partnership with organizational leadership, board members, volunteers, and other key stakeholders.
• Create compelling proposals, cases for support, briefing materials, donor communications, and other materials connected to major gift activity.
• Identify opportunities to retain, renew, and upgrade current donors to higher levels of support.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor records, contact reports, next steps, portfolio stages, and revenue projections in the organization’s CRM or donor database.
• Support donor-focused events, including gala-related engagement, small hosted gatherings, and other cultivation or stewardship opportunities.
• Partner with leadership to prepare for key donor meetings and ensure timely, personalized follow-up and stewardship.

Public Funding Development

• Research, monitor, and assess government and other public funding opportunities that align with the organization’s mission, strategic priorities, capacity, and program needs.
• Build and maintain relationships with public officials, agency contacts, community partners, and other stakeholders connected to potential public funding.
• Coordinate internal assessment of promising opportunities with program, finance, and leadership staff to confirm strategic fit, operational feasibility, compliance expectations, and reporting capacity.
• Coordinate public funding applications and partnership opportunities when appropriate, including required writing and supporting documentation.
• Manage relevant stewardship, reporting, and relationship follow-up connected to public funding secured or advanced through this role.
• Develop a repeatable internal process for tracking, evaluating, prioritizing, and pursuing public funding opportunities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Accountability

• Collaborate across departments to connect fundraising opportunities with program outcomes and organizational priorities.
• Maintain clear portfolio ownership, communication, and coordination so the role complements existing individual giving, grants, foundation, corporate partnership, and program responsibilities.
• Use data, portfolio analysis, and moves-management practices to guide strategy, prioritize activity, and evaluate progress.
• Represent Special Olympics Minnesota with professionalism, discretion, inclusion, and a strong commitment to constituent experience.
• Perform other related duties that support the Development team and organizational mission, as assigned.

Internal & External Relationships

• Internal: Vice President of Development, Development team members, Executive Leadership, Finance, Program staff, Marketing/Communications, and other SOMN staff as projects dictate.
• External: High-capacity donors, prospective donors, board members, volunteers, public officials, agency contacts, community partners, and other stakeholders connected to major gifts and public funding opportunities.
• Typical hours: Monday–Friday daytime; occasional evenings/weekends for donor meetings, fundraising events, cultivation events, stewardship activities, or public funding opportunities.
• Work settings: Hybrid office environment, donor meeting locations, community partner locations, event venues, and occasional statewide travel.
• Requires regular external relationship-building and participation in donor meetings, cultivation activities, relevant events, and community-facing opportunities.

Equipment & Physical Requirements

• Frequent use of computers, Microsoft 365 applications, CRM or donor database systems, phones, virtual meeting platforms, and standard office equipment.
• Must be able to remain stationary for periods of time, move within office and event spaces, communicate effectively, and participate in meetings, events, and donor-facing activities.
• May occasionally transport materials for donor meetings or events, with carts and team support available as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in major gifts, individual giving, fundraising, advancement, donor relations, or a closely related field.
• Experience identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-capacity donors, including five- and six-figure gift opportunities.
• Experience managing a donor or prospect portfolio and advancing relationships through a structured fundraising pipeline.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills with donors, prospects, volunteers, board members, public officials, and community partners.
• Strong writing ability, including experience developing persuasive proposals, cases for support, donor communications, or funding materials.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments while independently driving revenue-generating activity and follow-through.
• Familiarity with CRM or donor database systems and comfort using data to guide portfolio and prospect strategy.
• Strategic thinking, persistence, sound judgment, discretion, professionalism, and comfort making direct asks for significant financial support.
• Must successfully pass a background check as a condition of employment.
• Must have reliable transportation to attend donor meetings, events, and a community-facing activities as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of government grants or public funding processes, or demonstrated ability to quickly learn and manage these opportunities.
• Experience working in a mission-driven, nonprofit, community-based, or public-sector environment.
• Experience partnering with executive leaders, board members, or volunteers on donor cultivation and solicitation.
• Familiarity with donor-focused events, including gala engagement, small hosted donor events, or stewardship gatherings.
• Commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and the mission of Special Olympics Minnesota.

Core Competencies

• Relationship Building: Establishes trust, listens well, and sustains authentic relationships with diverse constituents.
• Fundraising Strategy: Translates donor interests and organizational priorities into thoughtful cultivation and solicitation plans.
• Results Orientation: Maintains momentum, follows through on commitments, and advances measurable revenue and pipeline outcomes.
• Collaboration: Coordinates effectively across programs, finance, leadership, and Development functions.
• Communication: Communicates clearly and persuasively in writing, presentations, meetings, and direct asks.
• Stewardship and Integrity: Handles relationships, information, funds, and commitments with care, accuracy, discretion, and accountability.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life, AD&D, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) plan
• Flexible Time Off
• paid holidays

Equal Opportunity and Inclusion
Special Olympics Minnesota is committed to building a respectful, inclusive workplace where people of all abilities and backgrounds are valued, respected, and able to contribute fully. We provide equal employment opportunity and make reasonable accommodations available to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process.