Senior Major Gifts Officer

Inside Higher Ed; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading higher education institution in Boston is seeking a Senior Major Gifts Officer to cultivate and solicit leadership-level gifts. You will manage a portfolio of high-net-worth prospects, develop solicitation strategies, and collaborate closely with university leadership. The ideal candidate has 7-10 years of experience in fundraising within higher education. This full-time role offers an opportunity to significantly impact the institution's fundraising efforts.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of successful experience in raising leadership gifts.
• Understanding of leadership gift planning and prospect development.
• Ability to travel locally and nationally.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 150+ prospects for leadership gifts.
• Create strategies for university-wide leadership gifts.
• Record activities and maintain donor database.

Skills

Discretion in donor interactions

Proven solicitation success

Effective advocacy

Collaborative teamwork

Strong communication skills

Customer service commitment

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree (preferred)

Job description

Join to apply for the Senior Major Gifts Officer role at Inside Higher Ed.

• Job no: 528924
• Position Type: Staff Full Time
• Campus: UMass Boston
• Department: VC-University Advancement
• Pay Grade: 35
• Date opened: 12 Nov 2025 Eastern Standard Time
• Applications close: 09 Jan 2026 Eastern Standard Time

General Summary

Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Principal & Leadership Gifts, and Campaign Director. The Senior Major Gift Officer will work closely with the Associate Vice Chancellor in cultivating and soliciting leadership level ($100,000+) commitments to the University. The incumbent will be involved in the planning and/or advancing a wide range of fundraising activities and high-level, prospect-focused events; will pursue leadership gifts for a range of priorities including current use, endowed chairs, scholarships, and capital improvements; and will identify and cultivate prospects and develop solicitation strategies and coordination with key administrators, faculty, alumni, and volunteers, which is critical to the success of this role. The incumbent also may oversee special projects as assigned by the Associate Vice Chancellor for Principal & Leadership Gifts and Campaign Director.

Duties

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 prospects who have the capacity to make a commitment of $100,000.00 or more; travel to assigned regions to conduct a significant number of face-to-face personal visits each year in order to cultivate and ultimately solicit gifts at the $100,000.00-plus level; solicitations are expected at the seven-figure-plus level as well;
• Work with the Associate Vice Chancellor, deans and other key Advancement colleagues to create a core of university-wide prospects for leadership gifts in support of University-wide priorities; monitor the progress of individuals, and when appropriate, corporate and foundation prospects as they are moved from initial contact through solicitation to gift closes;
• Coordinate with the Advancement colleagues to devise specific strategies and timetables for the successful solicitation of individuals, including the use of planned giving vehicles: gift annuities, trusts and bequests;
• Integrate Alumni Relations activities as an essential component of the overall development strategy, including the enlistment of current students and parents, as well as the identification and reengagement of “lost” or disaffected alumni;
• Coordinate and orchestrate prospect movement strategies with the appropriate deans, college senior leadership, and faculty, and work in tandem to assure the highest and best use of time, budget and personnel;
• Establish long-range goals and objectives for development programs and activities that reflect academic priorities for private support; prepare operating plan designed to facilitate achievement of these goals and objectives as a component of the University-wide leadership gifts plan;
• Record activities, contacts, proposals and strategy plans in the donor database; ensure constituent biographic and contact data maintained in the database is accurate and up-to-date;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of seven-ten (7-10) years of successful experience specifically raising leadership gifts, preferably in higher education, with an understanding of leadership gift planning and prospect development is required. Incumbent must be able to travel locally and nationally to meet with donors and prospective donors on behalf of the University.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree preferred.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Discretion and an ability to interact with high-level donors and the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality;
• Proven track record of successful solicitation and securing personal major gifts;
• Ability to be an effective advocate for the University;
• Ability to actively listen and work collaboratively with colleagues in a team environment;
• Ability to be proactive and to work independently;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• High level of sophistication and maturity in social and professional settings;
• Strong commitment to customer service.

Supervision Received

The position reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Principal & Leadership Gifts and Campaign Director.

Supervision Exercised

Number of non-student employees indirectly supervised: 1-3.

Application Instructions

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional references. Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.

Only Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.

Salary Ranges for the appropriate Pay Grade can be found at the following link.
Grade: 35
Salary Ranges
This is an exempt union position.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact [e-mail] or 617-287-5150.