Senior Mission Advancement Officer

Diocese of Nashville; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Diocese of Nashville is seeking an experienced Senior Mission Advancement Officer to lead donor relations and major gifts in the Office of Stewardship and Development. You will inherit an established portfolio of 100–150 leadership donors, focusing on gifts of $10,000–$50,000+ and growth of the Move Mountains Society.

You will collaborate across diocesan ministries to communicate impact, plan donor-facing events, and advance annual giving, with travel across Middle Tennessee.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Practicing Catholic with a strong understanding of Catholic teaching and values preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in fundraising, major gifts, or relationship-based sales.
• Proven ability to build relationships and secure significant philanthropic commitments.
• Experience with donor databases (Raiser's Edge preferred).
• Strong understanding of stewardship principles and donor engagement strategies.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with clergy, staff, and volunteers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Donor Relations & Major Gifts: Represent the Diocese with professionalism and integrity.
• Manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 100-150 leadership-level donors and prospects.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts, with a focus on annual gifts of $10,000-$50,000+ through Move Mountains Society.
• Develop and execute individualized strategies to deepen engagement, increase retention, and grow giving.
• Conduct regular outreach, including in-person visits, calls, and personalized communications.
• Identify, qualify, and cultivate new prospects for leadership and major giving.
• Ensure timely, meaningful stewardship, including acknowledgments, follow-up, and ongoing engagement.

Skills

Relationship management

Strategic thinking

Donor engagement

Communication

Organization

Prioritization

Professionalism

Discretion

Integrity

Collaboration

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Raiser's Edge

Job description

The Diocese of Nashville seeks an experienced, mission-driven professional to serve as Senior Mission Advancement Officer within the Office of Stewardship and Development. This full-time role advances the mission of the Diocese through the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of leadership-level gifts, with particular emphasis on donors within the Move Mountains Society. The Senior Advancement Officer will inherit an established portfolio of the Diocese's most engaged and generous donors and will be responsible for deepening those relationships, increasing engagement, and growing philanthropic support for key priorities, including the Seminarian Education Fund, the Bishop's Annual Appeal for Ministries, and the Advancement of Catholic Education. The Mission Support Office is located at the Catholic Pastoral Center in the Donelson neighborhood of Nashville. This position is generally scheduled Monday through Friday during regular business hours, with required travel throughout Middle Tennessee and occasional evening and weekend commitments. This role reports to the Chief Administrative Officer.

Primary Responsibilities

Donor Relations & Major Gifts

• Represent the Diocese of Nashville with professionalism and integrity in all interactions
• Manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 100-150 leadership-level donors and prospects
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts, with a focus on annual giving of $10,000-$50,000+ through the Move Mountains Society
• Develop and execute individualized strategies to deepen engagement, increase retention, and grow giving
• Conduct regular outreach, including in-person visits, calls, and personalized communications
• Identify, qualify, and cultivate new prospects for leadership and major giving
• Ensure timely, meaningful stewardship, including acknowledgments, follow-up, and ongoing engagement

Strategic Development & Collaboration

• Partner with the Director of Annual Giving and development team to align major gift strategies with diocesan priorities
• Strengthen and expand the Move Mountains Society through intentional donor engagement and experience
• Collaborate with diocesan ministries (e.g., Vocations, Catholic Schools, Faith Formation) to communicate impact and funding needs
• Assist in planning and execution of donor-facing events, including Cor Iesu, ACE Dinner, Move Mountains Society gatherings, and other diocesan events
• Contribute to long-term funding strategies, including seminarian education, planned giving, and endowment growth

Data & Portfolio Management

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records in the diocesan database
• Track engagement activity and progress toward fundraising goals
• Provide regular reports on portfolio performance, donor activity, and giving trends
• Ensure thorough documentation of donor interactions, proposals, and stewardship plans

Administrative Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the development team on communications, campaigns, and donor engagement strategies
• Support preparation and execution of events and donor initiatives
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Diocese's mission

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required
• Practicing Catholic with a strong understanding of Catholic teaching and values preferred
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in fundraising, major gifts, or relationship-based sales
• Proven ability to build relationships and secure significant philanthropic commitments
• Experience with donor databases (Raiser's Edge preferred)
• Strong understanding of stewardship principles and donor engagement strategies
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with clergy, staff, and volunteers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Key Competencies

Relationship management, strategic thinking, donor engagement, communication, organization, prioritization, professionalism, discretion, integrity, collaboration, and confidentiality