Senior Major Gifts Officer

GBH in; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a dynamic Senior Major Gifts Officer to enhance its fundraising efforts. This role involves managing a portfolio of high-potential donors, developing tailored solicitation strategies, and collaborating with key stakeholders to drive significant funding for impactful media projects. The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, leveraging exceptional communication skills and emotional intelligence to foster meaningful relationships. Join a passionate team committed to enriching lives through public media, and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of a renowned organization as it celebrates its legacy and embarks on new endeavors.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of development experience with a focus on major gifts.
• Proven track record of soliciting five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 150 local and national donors for major gifts.
• Develop and implement donor cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Collaborate with executives on fundraising strategies for content areas.

Skills

Written Communication

Oral Communication

Relationship Management

Multitasking

Fundraising Strategy

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

CRM Software

Job description

GBH enriches people's lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives.

At GBH, we believe in the advantages of coming together to build community, mentor and learn from colleagues, and connect more deeply with our mission. As a result, the majority of our staff are hybrid and work both from home and onsite. Our current hybrid approach requires staff to work onsite a minimum of two days each week, every Tuesday and one other day, to be determined by their business unit. Hybrid staff are also welcome to come in additional days each week or may be asked to come in on other days by their manager.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

GBH is a vibrant public media powerhouse that enriches people's lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain–fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives.

GBH is more than a station or a channel—it is a leader in independent public media, telling the stories that matter to our audiences and producing programs that can change the world.

For the past 75 years we have grown to become the largest producer of content for PBS, making award winning series such as FRONTLINE, NOVA, MASTERPIECE,American Experience, and ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. PBS is the most trusted source of media in the United States carrying the local, national and international news that audiences rely on.

The Development Division is responsible for raising funds from individuals and institutions.It plays a vital role in helping to finance broadcast, video, digital, and audio programs, including celebrated dramas, investigative journalism, documentaries, children's media, podcasts, and other local and national programming in the public media system.

JOB OVERVIEW

GBH seeks an experienced major gifts officer to join the development team. Reporting to the Senior Associate Director of Major Gifts, and working closely with the Senior Director of Development, Major Gifts, the Senior Major Gifts Officer (SMGO) will work in a fast-paced, highly complex development environment and will manage a portfolio of approximately 150 local and national donors and prospects who have the potential for making five -, six-, and seven-figure gifts to support GBH's institutional priorities. These priorities include thematic funds (climate and environment, arts and culture, kids and education, etc.), as well as support for the national production program trusts.

This is a transformative period for GBH, as it navigates profound changes in its business model, driven by the changing media landscape and evolving sources of revenue. GBH will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2026, and we expect to mark the milestone by launching a comprehensive campaign that will position us solidly for the next chapter of our storied history as a local and national leader in public media. The SMGO will play a key role in this effort, ensuring the active identification of new prospects, and the effective movement of current prospects and donors through the moves management process.

Thispositionis located in Boston, MA, and requires on-site presence.

What you get to do:

• Manage the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individuals and family foundations who can make gifts of $25,000 and higher, with a focus on those with the potential to make gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Develop and implement a cultivation and solicitation strategy for each assigned current and prospective major donor.
• Cultivate and solicit donors through high-touch personal communications and exceptional customer service.
• Become a content expert for one or more of GBH's productions, and function as the lead fundraiser of the associated funds, staying abreast of existing, new, and developing funding opportunities.
• Collaborate with the executive producers, Chief Development Officer, CEO, and other development and program staff on designing and implementing fundraising strategy for associated content areas.
• Establish and meet dollar and visit goals for each major donor and for the major gifts program, while also growing donors' annual fund giving in collaboration with membership and patron society teams.
• Prepare solicitation strategies, meeting briefings, written proposals, letters of gratitude, and impact reports for use during donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Record and track all activity using GBH's CRM.
• Attend development department, unit, and foundation-wide meetings to establish a deep understanding of organizational programs, priorities, and goals to accurately present them to donors.
• Work with events team, production team, unit leadership, and volunteer hosts to envision, plan, and execute donor stewardship and cultivation events.
• Collaborate with other team members to foster a positive, productive, and inclusive culture, and contribute toward the overall growth of GBH.

What skills you need:

• Must possess exceptional skills of written and oral expression and be able to adapt their writing style for all manner of communications including email, formal letters, informal notes, extensive funding proposals, briefings, donor meetings and presentations. This also includes the ability to write on behalf of others.
• The ability to multitask with extreme proficiency, respond nimbly to evolving priorities, and work both independently and as part of a team to achieve goals are all essential, as is a sense of humor and flexibility.
• The successful SMGO will be a relational leader with a high degree of emotional intelligence and the ability to strategically and thoughtfully guide relationships—both internal and external—with nuance and maturity.
• A commitment to the values and ideals of GBH and its public media mission is imperative.
• A high degree of energy, creativity and initiative is also paramount.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• A bachelor degree or equivalent work experience is required.
• Candidates should have 7-10 years of development experience with progressively increasing responsibility, with at least 5 of those years demonstrating effectiveness and success in a major gift officer role.
• Candidates must have a proven track record of solicitingand closing five -, six-, and (ideally) seven-figure gifts.

JOB SPECIFICS

Staff position

Hybrid position

LOCATION

Thispositionis located in Boston, MA, and requires on-site presence.

GBH is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve are diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, GBH does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment, or promotion based on race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Application Process Assistance

GBH will reasonably accommodate applicants with disabilities who need adjustments to participate in the application or interview process. To initiate an accommodation request, contact the Human Resource department by sending an email to [e-mail] or by calling 617-300-2000.