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Major Gifts Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

IndyHumane

Major Gifts Officer

Indianapolis, IN · On-site

$68K - $89K/yr

The Major Gifts Officer serves as a key member of the IndyHumane Development Team and is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, stewarding, and growing relationships with major donors and ...

COLORADO ACADEMY

Major Gifts Officer

Denver, CO

$71K - $93K/yr

The Major Gifts Officer will report to the Director of Advancement and will partner with the Advancement Team to deepen the school's donor relationships. A steward of Colorado Academy's mission and ...

Hubbard House

Major Gifts Officer

Jacksonville, FL · On-site

$85K/yr

The Major Gifts Officer will manage a portfolio of approximately 75-125 individual donors and prospects, building and advancing relationships through identification, qualification, cultivation ...

Santa Barbara Zoo

Major Gifts Officer

Santa Barbara, CA · On-site

$38.50/hr

The Santa Barbara Zoo is hiring a Major Gifts Officer to lead major gift fundraising efforts that support conservation, education, and the Zoo's strategic priorities. Position Status: Full-Time, ...

WHYY INC

Major Gifts Officer

Philadelphia, PA · On-site

$68K - $89K/yr

The Major Gifts Officer plays an important role in helping secure philanthropic support for WHYY by managing a portfolio of assigned, qualified, and prospective donors. The goal is to thoughtfully ...

Villa of Hope

Major Gifts Officer

Rochester, NY · On-site

$69K - $89K/yr

Major Gifts Officer Position Grade: 86 Department/Program: Agency Advancement Supervisor: Director of Agency Advancement FLSA Status: Exempt Salary Range: $90,000 - $105,000 (commensurate with ...

Driscoll

Major Gifts Officer

Corpus Christi, TX · On-site

$69K - $90K/yr

As the Major Gifts Officer, you will focus on cultivating relationships with donors, community leaders, businesses, and philanthropists capable of making significant financial contributions to the ...

KQED

Major Gifts Officer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Major Gifts Officer (Director of Individual Giving) Temporary Schedule Format - Location: Hybrid - San Francisco Pay Information: $121,600 - $152,000 At a time when philanthropic support has never ...

KQED

Major Gifts Officer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$121K - $152K/yr

Major Gifts Officer (Director of Individual Giving) Temporary Schedule Format - Location: Hybrid - San Francisco Pay Information: $121,600 - $152,000 At a time when philanthropic support has never ...

Lawrence Hall

Major Gifts Officer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$87K - $92K/yr

About the Role The Major Gifts Officer is a member of the Development Department and reports directly to the Vice President of Development. This position is responsible for building and managing a ...

Edgewood

Major Gifts Officer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

Description Major Gifts Officer - this is a full-time, hybrid, exempt position located at our Vicente campus in San Francisco. Mission Statement: We provide the people, place, and path for ...

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Major Gifts Officer information

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$46K

$83.5K

$115K

How much do major gifts officer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for major gifts officer in the United States is $83,546.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $72,000.00 and $93,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a major gifts officer?

A major gifts officer works with prospective donors to obtain funds for an organization. As a major gifts officer, you work with other team members to plan fundraising goals. You also arrange meetings with donor prospects, so travel is a part of the job. You may act as a media contact as well, and write press releases and communicate with the public through social media. Your duties revolve around raising funds in large sums from wealthy donors, as opposed to traditional fundraising methods. Outstanding interpersonal skills are imperative, as you are essentially trying to sell your organization to the donor prospect. You need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in communication, public relations, or a related field. Experience is essential, so look for an entry-level fundraising position before transitioning to more advanced roles in this career.

What is a major gifts officer?

A Major Gifts Officer is a fundraising professional responsible for securing large donations for a nonprofit organization, typically from individuals, foundations, or corporations. They develop and manage relationships with major donors, create tailored fundraising strategies, and ensure that donors are engaged and informed about the impact of their contributions. Major Gifts Officers often work closely with senior leadership to identify fundraising goals and coordinate donor stewardship activities. Their work is essential to supporting the financial sustainability and mission of their organizations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a major gifts officer?

To thrive as a Major Gifts Officer, you need strong fundraising experience, relationship management skills, and a bachelor's degree (often in communications, business, or a related field). Familiarity with donor management databases, prospect research tools, and CRM systems is typically required. Excellent interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and persuasive communication set top candidates apart in this role. These abilities are crucial for cultivating and stewarding high-value donor relationships that drive an organization's philanthropic success.

How does a major gifts officer typically collaborate with other fundraising team members?

A Major Gifts Officer works closely with colleagues such as annual giving staff, prospect researchers, and advancement leadership to coordinate donor cultivation and stewardship strategies. Regular team meetings and joint planning sessions ensure that fundraising efforts are aligned and that donor engagement is seamless across various campaigns. This collaborative environment helps the Major Gifts Officer identify potential major donors from existing supporters and ensures consistent communication with donors. Effective teamwork also allows for sharing insights, leveraging different expertise, and maximizing fundraising success.

What is the difference between Major Gifts Officer vs Fundraising Coordinator?

AspectMajor Gifts OfficerFundraising Coordinator
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree, experience in donor relationsBachelor's degree, basic fundraising knowledge
Work EnvironmentDevelopment offices, donor meetingsEvent planning, outreach activities
Employer & Industry UsageNonprofits, educational institutionsNonprofits, charities
Search & Comparison IntentHigh-value donor engagementSupporting fundraising efforts

The Major Gifts Officer focuses on cultivating relationships with high-net-worth donors to secure large donations, while the Fundraising Coordinator manages broader fundraising activities and events. Both roles are essential in nonprofit development but differ in scope and target donor engagement.

What does a Major Gifts Officer make?

A Major Gifts Officer typically earns a salary ranging from $60,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience, organization size, and location. They often receive additional compensation through bonuses or commissions based on fundraising success and may require skills in relationship management and fundraising tools.
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Major Gifts Officer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Major Gifts Officer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $83,546 per year, or $40.2 per hour.

Major Gifts Officer

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, VA • On-site

$99K - $118K/yr

Full-time

This job post has expired 3 days ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Washington and Lee University rating

9.0

Company rating: 9.0 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

25th of 627 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Major Gifts Officers (MGO) report to the Director of Leadership Giving and are responsible for being knowledgeable of all donors, alumni, parents, and friends in a defined geographic region, making sure a defined broad-based group of prospects based on giving or capability are personally covered by the University or its representatives. The Major Gifts Officer will design, develop, and manage a comprehensive program of focused solicitation strategies to persuasively present the priorities and case for university support and successfully close major gifts of five to seven figures.
To achieve our mission as a liberal arts college, we continually strive to foster a welcoming campus community, which recognizes the value of all persons. University Advancement is committed to contributing to an educational environment that is rich with a wide range of intellectual perspectives and backgrounds.
Essential Functions:
  • Develops and manages a portfolio of 150-200 potential donors capable of gifts of at least $100,000.
  • Travels extensively to visit with donors and highly rated prospects with defined moves management plans for each prospect after an initial visit.
  • Participates in donor prospect strategy sessions.
  • Successfully solicits and closes five to seven figure gifts.
  • Persuasively presents the University's mission and goals.
  • Works collaboratively with colleagues, faculty, and senior administration.
  • Other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • A Bachelor's degree is required.
  • Consistently demonstrates strong character and leadership abilities and excellent human relations skills to represent the University effectively with its alumni, parents and other external constituents.
  • Must be a passionate, high-energy individual with outstanding skills in management, communication, and team building with a history of success in previous work experience and a desire to work in higher education.
  • Two or more years of successful fundraising and/or development experience preferably in a higher education setting. A record of achieving ambitious targets and goals is expected.
  • Sophisticated interpersonal skills, the ability to listen effectively, and outstanding written and oral communication skills. Candidates should be organized, able to work collaboratively and strategically, and be a talented motivator of volunteers.

Candidates with the below preferred qualifications may be considered for a Senior Major Gifts Officer title with the corresponding compensation range.
  • Five or more years of fundraising experience with demonstrated ability to close six-figure gifts.
  • Experience in higher education
  • Knowledge of Moves Management principles and donor database systems is a plus.

Application Instructions:
Review of applications will begin on May 11 and continue until the positions are filled. Required materials include:
  • Cover letter
  • Resume
  • Names and contact information for three professional references

Application instructions for internal and external candidates can be found at https://www.wlu.edu/employment-opportunities/jobs-at-w-l.
Compensation:
The expected annual salary for this position is between $99,000 - $118,000 for Major Gifts Officer and $110,000 - $133,000 for Senior Major Gifts Officer. Offers are based on factors such as qualifications, relevant experience, skills, internal equity, and market and organizational considerations.
Washington and Lee University also offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of employees and their families. To learn more about working at W&L, benefits, and life in the Shenandoah Valley, visit jobs.wlu.edu.
Physical Requirements:
  • Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
  • Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
  • Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

Working Conditions: The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
Types of Work: Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Position Type:
Exempt, Full Time, Benefit EligibleWashington and Lee is an Equal Opportunity Employer seeking candidates committed to high standards of scholarship, performance, professionalism, and to a welcoming campus community. Job description requirements are representative, but not all-inclusive of the knowledge, skill, and abilities needed to successfully perform this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

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