Major Gifts Officer

Valid8 Financial, Inc.; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Arizona Science Center seeks a Major Gifts Officer to drive fundraising for education programs and a capital campaign. The role focuses on identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects while supporting annual operating goals.

The MGO will collaborate with the CEO and SVP, Development to tailor strategies, conduct donor meetings, and prepare proposals. Strong written and verbal communication, plus travel for donor engagements, are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in major gifts fundraising, preferably within a capital campaign.
• Proven track record of securing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Strong understanding of planned giving vehicles and complex gift structures, with the ability to navigate sophisticated philanthropic conversations.
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational and analytical abilities.
• Ability to travel locally and occasionally work evenings/weekends.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 50–100 major gift prospects with capacity to give $25,000+.
• Collaborate with CEO and SVP, Development to tailor cultivation strategies and solicitation plans.
• Conduct face-to-face meetings, donor events, and campaign briefings to deepen engagement.
• Coordinate with leadership, board members, and campaign committees to leverage additional prospects.
• Partner with external consultants to align donor outreach with campaign phases and priorities.
• Contribute to development of campaign materials, proposals, and impact reports.
• Track and report donor activity, pipeline progress, and revenue forecasts.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Donor relations

Strategic thinking

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Reports To: Senior Vice President, Development

FLSA Status: Full Time - Exempt
Salary: $85,000 + DOE

SUMMARY

The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) plays a pivotal role in the success of Arizona Science Center (ASC). The primary focus of this position is to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donor prospects for both ASC education programs and the ongoing capital campaign. This individual serves as a key member of the ASC’s development team and is accountable for an assigned share of the Arizona Science Center’s general operating and capital campaign goals.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Arizona Science Center maintains a strong policy of equal employment opportunity for all Employees and applicants. We recruit, hire, train, promote, compensate and dismiss Employees on the basis of such factors as experience, character, ability and skill, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or heritage, age, marital or veteran status, disability, citizenship, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following and other duties as assigned:

• Manage a portfolio of 50 - 100 major gift prospects with capacity to give $25,000+
• Work with CEO and SVP, Development, to tailor cultivation strategies and solicitation plans for each prospect
• Conduct face-to-face meetings, donor events, and campaign briefings to deepen engagement
• Collaborate with leadership, board members, and campaign committee members to leverage additional prospects
• Partner with external consultants to align donor outreach with campaign phases and priorities
• Contribute to the development of campaign materials, proposals, and impact reports
• Track and report on donor activity, pipeline progress, and revenue forecasts
• S tewardship & Relationship Management
  • Ensure timely and meaningful stewardship of all major gifts
  • Coordinate recognition opportunities, naming rights, and donor impact communications
  • Maintain accurate records in the CRM/database and uphold donor confidentiality
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with CEO, SVP, Development, communications, finance, and program teams to align messaging and impact
• Support campaign events, site visits, and donor engagement experiences
• Participate in regular strategy sessions and campaign progress reviews

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Required
  • Minimum 5 years of experience in major gifts fundraising, preferably within a capital campaign
  • Proven track record of securing gifts of six and seven figure gifts
  • Possess a strong understanding of planned giving vehicles and complex gift structures, with the ability to navigate sophisticated philanthropic conversations involving estates, trusts, securities, and other charitable assets
  • Strategic thinker with strong organizational and analytical abilities
• Familiarity with fundraising standards and campaign best practices
• Ability to travel locally and occasionally work evenings/weekends

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university. Tessitura or related database knowledge and experience highly preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Required
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytic, written, computer and verbal communication skills a must.
• Stellar written and communication skills are a must, as the individual who fills this position must compose original narratives quickly and accurately and make solicitation presentations to donors.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and interact with staff, trustees, donors, visitors and the general public both in person and by phone.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractionsand decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram,or schedule form. Ability to develop strategies of mutual benefit to both the Science Center and donors.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made toenable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to handle orfeel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. Theemployee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this jobinclude close vision.

This job also requires the use of a computer which will be placed somewhere in the employee's workspace. The employee must have the necessary keyboard and computer mouse skills as well as the ability to reada color monitor.

Physical demands include proofing of written materials.

BENEFITS include, but are not limited to:

• 21 paid days off annually including holidays, birthdays, and vacation days
• 10 days of accrued sick time
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Life and Long-Term Disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Family membership to Arizona Science Center and 600+ Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)
• Admission Exchange Program - Year-round complimentary admission for the employee and one guest to visit the Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Art Museum, Heard Museum, Arizona Museum of Natural History, and more.