Description
Summary
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.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Donor Relations & Major Gifts- Represent the Diocese of Nashville with professionalism and integrity in all interactionsÂ
- Manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 100-150 leadership-level donors and prospectsÂ
- Cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts, with a focus on annual giving of $10,000-$50,000+ through the Move Mountains SocietyÂ
- Develop and execute individualized strategies to deepen engagement, increase retention, and grow givingÂ
- Conduct regular outreach, including in-person visits, calls, and personalized communicationsÂ
- Identify, qualify, and cultivate new prospects for leadership and major givingÂ
- Ensure timely, meaningful stewardship, including acknowledgments, follow-up, and ongoing engagementÂ
Strategic Development & Collaboration- Partner with the Director of Annual Giving and development team to align major gift strategies with diocesan prioritiesÂ
- Strengthen and expand the Move Mountains Society through intentional donor engagement and experienceÂ
- Collaborate with diocesan ministries (e.g., Vocations, Catholic Schools, Faith Formation) to communicate impact and funding needsÂ
- Assist in planning and execution of donor-facing events, including Cor Iesu, ACE Dinner, Move Mountains Society gatherings, and other diocesan eventsÂ
- Contribute to long-term funding strategies, including seminarian education, planned giving, and endowment growthÂ
Data & Portfolio Management- Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records in the diocesan databaseÂ
- Track engagement activity and progress toward fundraising goalsÂ
- Provide regular reports on portfolio performance, donor activity, and giving trendsÂ
- Ensure thorough documentation of donor interactions, proposals, and stewardship plansÂ
Administrative Responsibilities- Collaborate with the development team on communications, campaigns, and donor engagement strategiesÂ
- Support preparation and execution of events and donor initiativesÂ
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Diocese's mission.
Requirements
Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree requiredÂ
- Practicing Catholic with a strong understanding of Catholic teaching and values preferredÂ
- Minimum of 5 years' experience in fundraising, major gifts, or relationship-based salesÂ
- Proven ability to build relationships and secure significant philanthropic commitmentsÂ
- Experience with donor databases (Raiser's Edge preferred)Â
- Strong understanding of stewardship principles and donor engagement strategiesÂ
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with clergy, staff, and volunteersÂ
- Excellent written and verbal communication skillsÂ
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office SuiteÂ
Key Competencies
- Relationship management
- Strategic thinking
- Donor engagement
- Communication
- Organization
- Prioritization
- Professionalism
- Discretion
- Integrity
- Collaboration
- Confidentiality