Mission Advancement Officer - West Coast

Augustine Institute; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Augustine Institute is seeking a Mission Advancement Officer – West Coast to lead donor engagement and gift cultivation across Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington. You will manage a major gifts portfolio and collaborate with the Senior Director of Major Gifts to advance fundraising goals.

The role requires strategic thinking, exceptional communication, and a track record of securing philanthropic support. Remote work is offered with travel to donor meetings and events as needed.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in fundraising and donor engagement.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills are essential.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities with donors.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a major gifts portfolio for the West Coast.
• Cultivate donor relationships through meetings and events.
• Set and pursue annual fundraising goals with senior leadership support.
• Coordinate with marketing and program staff on case for support.
• Track donor activity and report progress to leadership.
• Travel as required; work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Collaborate with volunteers and leadership for high-level asks.

Skills

Fundraising

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Team collaboration

Entrepreneurial mindset

Discretion

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree required

Advanced degree or professional certification preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Raiser’s Edge NXT

Job description

Mission Advancement Officer – West Coast

Mission Advancement Officer (Advancement Team)Full TimeRemoteFLSA: Exempt (not eligible for overtime in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations)Reporting to: Senior Director of Major Gifts

About the Augustine InstituteThe mission of the Augustine Institute is to help others understand, live and share their faith. We accomplish this through our graduate school, media production, and parish programs. We equip Catholics intellectually, spiritually, and pastorally to renew the Church and transform the world for Christ.

Position SummaryThe organization’s Mission Advancement bridges the strategic goals of the Institute with the organization’s most generous and engaged donors and cultivates the engagement and support of the Augustine Institute’s key constituencies in order to secure the philanthropic resources required to fulfill organization’s spiritual and educational mission.The Mission Advancement Officer will exercise a high degree of strategic thinking, creativity, and independence and will play a pivotal role in securing philanthropic support for the organization through work with individuals in the West Coast region (Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington). This position will be responsible for developing and managing a gift portfolio that aligns with the Augustine Institute’s fundraising goals, strategic priorities and Catholic theological mindset.The Mission Advancement Officer will build and manage a portfolio of gift prospects and donors, cultivate relationships with alumni and friends of organization, and act as an ambassador and representative of the Augustine Institute in the West region.

Key Responsibilities

• 1. Donor Portfolio ManagementResearch and qualify new prospects with capacity and inclination to giveDevelop individualized engagement and solicitation strategies for each donorTrack interactions and moves in a CRM systemManage a portfolio of major donors and prospects (often 75–150 individuals)
• 2. Relationship BuildingCultivate long-term relationships with donors through regular, personalized outreachSchedule and conduct donor meetings (in-person, virtual, events)Understand donor motivations, interests, and giving prioritiesServe as a primary point of contact between the donor and organization
• 3. Solicitation & Revenue GenerationActively solicit gifts of $10,000+Create and present tailored gift proposals aligned with donor interestsMeet or exceed annual fundraising goals and revenue targetsPartner with leadership or board members on high-level asks when needed
• 4. Stewardship & Donor RetentionEnsure donors receive timely acknowledgments and impact reportingMaintain ongoing communication about how their gifts are usedDesign stewardship plans to deepen engagement and increase giving over timeIdentify opportunities for upgrades, renewals, and planned gifts
• 5. Strategy & PlanningContribute to annual fundraising plans and campaign strategiesDevelop “moves management” plans for each donor within the portfolioAnalyze donor data and giving trends to refine approachCollaborate with Advancement Marketing and Communications team on case for support and messaging
• 6. Internal CollaborationWork closely with marketing/communications to align messagingPartner with program staff to understand funding needs and impactCoordinate with leadership, board members, and volunteers on donor engagementCollaborate with advancement or development teams on campaigns and events
• 7. Reporting & AccountabilityTrack progress toward goals (visits, solicitations, dollars raised)Maintain accurate donor records and activity reportsProvide regular updates to leadership on pipeline and performancePerform additional duties and responsibilities, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, with advanced degree or professional certification preferred
• Demonstrated success in fundraisingStrong strategic thinking and analytical skillsExcellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with donorsCandidates must also demonstrate an ability to: establish and maintain good working relationships with colleagues; facilitate multiple projects, make decisions, and meet deadlines; manage and motivate volunteers effectively and efficiently; identify problems and develop creative, timely, and efficient solutions; adopt an entrepreneurial approach to developing and executing personal donor engagement strategies; and exercise a high level of discretion in dealing with confidential donor and prospect information.
• Advanced Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint skills, as well as experience with Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge NXT, or similar customer relationship management (CRM) systemsPosition involves travel as well as ability to work evenings and weekends

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional ability to write and speak in a compelling way about the New Evangelization.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Collaborative interpersonal skills and ability to work as a productive and effective team member.
• Deep commitment to the Augustine Institute’s mission and core values of innovation, collaboration, humility, and excellence.
• Ability to inspire and engender a passion for the Augustine Institute.
• Persistence, resilience, and grit, especially in a fast-paced environment of constant change.
• Experience and comfort with working towards stated metrics and goals.
• Optimistic and empowered attitude.
• Creative and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Solid and comprehensive knowledge of the Catholic faith and Catholic Church practices.
• Passion for fostering relationships that advance the Augustine Institute’s mission.