ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Principal Gift Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Covenant House of NJ

Principal Gift Officer

Newark, NJ · On-site

$75K - $97K/yr

The Principal Gift Officer will also contribute to this pipeline, by building relationships with current donors, seeking donor referrals, and interacting with attendees at events, volunteer ...

New

Covenant House of NJ

Principal Gift Officer

Newark, NJ · On-site

$75K - $97K/yr

The Principal Gift Officer will also contribute to this pipeline, by building relationships with current donors, seeking donor referrals, and interacting with attendees at events, volunteer ...

New

Asuep

Principal Gift Officer, Athletics

Tempe, AZ · On-site

Principal Gift Officer Sun Devil Athletics, in partnership with the ASU Foundation (ASUF), advances Arizona State University's mission by building transformational partnerships with alumni, fans, and ...

Covenant House of NJ

Principal Gift Officer

Newark, NJ · On-site

$75K - $97K/yr

The Principal Gift Officer will also contribute to this pipeline, by building relationships with current donors, seeking donor referrals, and interacting with attendees at events, volunteer ...

New

Benedictine University

Gift Officer

Lisle, IL · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

Job Title: Gift Officer Department: Advancement Reports to: Vice President of University ... Collaborate with senior advancement staff to develop strategies for major and principal gift ...

Benedictine University

Gift Officer

Lisle, IL · On-site

Job Title: Gift Officer Department: Advancement Reports to: Vice President of University ... Collaborate with senior advancement staff to develop strategies for major and principal gift ...

Benedictine University

Gift Officer

Lisle, IL · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

Job Title: Gift Officer Department: Advancement Reports to: Vice President of University ... Collaborate with senior advancement staff to develop strategies for major and principal gift ...

The Hotchkiss School

Senior Advisor, Principal Gifts Travel : Off-campus events and donor meetings SUMMARY The Associate ... Working closely with the Head of School and gift officers, the Associate Director acts as the on ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsNon Profit JobsCharity JobsDirector Of Donor Relations JobsPrincipal Gift Officer Jobs

Principal Gift Officer information

See salary details

$20K

$84.6K

$129.5K

How much do principal gift officer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal gift officer in the United States is $84,586.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,000.00 and $98,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal gift officer?

A Principal Gift Officer is a senior fundraising professional responsible for securing large, transformational donations, often referred to as principal or major gifts, for a nonprofit organization or educational institution. They build and maintain relationships with high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and foundations, guiding them through the giving process. Their work involves strategic planning, personalized donor engagement, and collaboration with organizational leadership to align donor interests with institutional priorities. Principal Gift Officers play a key role in advancing an organization’s mission by generating significant philanthropic support.

What are the main challenges a principal gift officer faces when cultivating relationships with major donors?

A Principal Gift Officer often navigates the complexities of building long-term, trust-based relationships with high-net-worth individuals. One key challenge is balancing personalized engagement with a diverse portfolio of donors, each with unique interests and philanthropic goals. Additionally, securing significant gifts often requires collaboration with organizational leadership, program staff, and sometimes board members to align donor interests with institutional priorities. Continuous stewardship and effective communication are essential to maintain donor commitment and ensure ongoing support.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal gift officer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Gift Officer, you need expertise in fundraising strategy, relationship management, and a strong track record of securing major philanthropic gifts, often supported by a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with donor management systems like Raiser's Edge and certifications such as CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) are commonly valued. Exceptional interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and persuasive communication set top performers apart in engaging and stewarding high-net-worth donors. These skills and qualities are crucial for building lasting donor relationships and achieving ambitious fundraising goals that sustain an organization’s mission.

What is the difference between Principal Gift Officer vs Major Gift Officer?

AspectPrincipal Gift OfficerMajor Gift Officer
Required CredentialsBachelor’s degree; often advanced degrees or certifications in fundraising or nonprofit managementBachelor’s degree; experience in fundraising or sales
Work EnvironmentHigh-level donor engagement, strategic planning, and major gift cultivationDonor outreach, relationship building, and solicitation of major gifts
Employer & Industry UsageNonprofits, universities, healthcare organizations focusing on large-scale fundraisingSimilar organizations, often with a broader focus on fundraising across gift sizes

The Principal Gift Officer typically handles the highest-value donors and strategic fundraising initiatives, while the Major Gift Officer manages a broader portfolio of donors with significant but smaller gifts. Both roles require strong relationship-building skills, but the Principal Gift Officer often works on more complex, high-stakes solicitations and strategic planning.

What cities are hiring for Principal Gift Officer jobs?

Cities with the most Principal Gift Officer job openings:

What states have the most Principal Gift Officer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Principal Gift Officer jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Principal Gift Officer jobs?

For Principal Gift Officer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Principal Gift Officer

Newark, NJ • On-site

Covenant House New Jersey
See more jobs at Covenant House New Jerseyexternal

$110K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

New

Job description

Principal Gift Officer

Job Description:
Covenant House New Jersey seeks an experienced disciplined, relationship-driven, entrepreneurial fundraiser to serve as a Principal Gifts Officer. This frontline fundraising role is responsible for soliciting five- and six-figure gifts from a qualified pipeline of donors. The Principal Gift Officer will also contribute to this pipeline, by building relationships with current donors, seeking donor referrals, and interacting with attendees at events, volunteer activities and board meetings. The role will also use the Asbury Park program, Program Board, and Sleep Out as strategic assets for donor recruitment, relationship-building, and visibility.
Duties and responsibilities

New Donor Acquisition and Pipeline Development:
  • Actively and consistently reach out to prospective donors, seeking visits and calls to build relationships with new donors.
  • Identify and pursue prospective donors with the capacity and inclination to make gifts of $25,000+, and specifically solicit gifts at this level.
  • Use available tools, databases, events and community to add to our prospective donor pipeline.

Cultivation, and Solicitation:
  • Manage the full donor lifecycle for assigned prospects, through cultivation, solicitation, and early stewardship. The Principal Gift Officer will be responsible for making personal solicitations from this prospect group.
  • Conduct introductory meetings, donor visits, tours, event follow-up, and other substantive engagement designed to assess fit, deepen interest, and advance prospects toward giving
  • Qualify prospects based on research including CHNJ information, Covenant House International wealth screening, current donor feedback, etc.
  • Maintain a disciplined approach to record keeping in Salesforce.

Portfolio Management:
  • Manage a small portfolio of existing individual donors using those relationships as a base for community visibility, introductions, and broader donor acquisition.
  • Steward donors thoughtfully and consistently, ensuring a strong donor experience and a clear pathway to deeper engagement.

Collaboration and Internal Partnership:
  • Work closely with the Development Leadership Team to align donor acquisition efforts with CHNJ’s overall fundraising strategy.
  • Partner with program staff, particularly at the Asbury Park ROP program when needed to deepen understanding of CHNJ’s work and help translate program impact into compelling donor conversations.
  • Contribute to pipeline review, portfolio planning, and donor strategy conversations across the development team.
  • Required to check company e-mail daily.
  • All other duties assigned by management staff.

What Success Looks Like:
  • Creation of a $1M+ portfolio over an 18-month period.
  • Number of discovery visits, cultivation meetings, and substantive donor moves completed, as the Principal Gift Officer is building toward the $1M portfolio.
  • Number of new individual donors secured at the five-figure level.
  • Longer term, retention of current donors and rate of growth of giving among current donors.
  • Upgrade and retention of assigned donors.

Salary: $110,000

Experience and Skills:
  • Demonstrated passion for the mission of Covenant House New Jersey and experience in being able to enroll new donors and community leaders in a non-profit organization’s mission.
  • Successful and repeated solicitation of five-figure gifts.
  • High level of initiative, persistence, and accountability; this role requires someone who can create momentum, not just manage assigned relationships.
  • At least 5 years of fundraising, sales, business development, or related frontline relationship-building experience, with a strong preference for experience in major gifts.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and comfort engaging new people in person, by phone, and through written outreach.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present CHNJ’s work persuasively to individual donors and prospects.
  • Experience using Salesforce or another CRM for moves management, donor tracking, and pipeline discipline.
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
  • Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel regularly within New Jersey

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 403B Retirement Plan, Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, Personal, Ten Holidays).