Major Gift Officer

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States, +21 more locations.

📋 Description

• Act as the primary strategist and relationship manager for a portfolio consisting of over 110 major and principal gift donors across the West Coast.

• Research, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and nurture major and principal gift prospects.

• Create tailored engagement, solicitation, and donor strategies that align with both donor interests and the organization’s goals.

• Achieve outreach, personal visit, and revenue targets set by the Vice President of Advancement.

• Utilize email, phone, social media messaging, and personalized mail outreach to arrange personal visits and enhance annual contributions.

• Monitor fundraising progress and ensure consistent communication with prospects.

• Develop customized donor engagement strategies.

• Collaborate with the Donor Relations/Stewardship Coordinator to produce and distribute stewardship materials.

• Work alongside the Director of Annual Giving on fundraising initiatives.

• Request annual fund donations, particularly those of $10,000 and higher.

• Foster relationships with NOLS Fund donors through personal communication.

• Maintain professional affiliations and keep abreast of trends in major gift fundraising, deferred giving, estate planning, and tax laws.

• Cultivate donor relationships through both in-person and virtual visits.

• Familiarize yourself with NOLS programs, projects, donor database, and fundraising procedures.

• Engage in funding proposals, donor materials, and donor events.

• Collaborate with finance, expedition, wilderness medicine personnel, staff, trustees, and volunteers to design donor experiences.

• Represent NOLS and promote its mission, programs, and philanthropic opportunities.

⛳️ Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in a development department as a frontline fundraiser.

• Proven ability to establish long-term relationships, manage an individual portfolio, and secure major gifts with a minimum of five figures.

• Basic understanding of major, principal, and planned giving options within a nonprofit framework.

• Experience with capital and endowment campaigns is preferred.

• Capability to represent NOLS to alumni, donors, board members, staff, parents, and other stakeholders.

• Experience in building and sustaining long-term relationships with fundraising stakeholders.

• Willingness and ability to work outside regular business hours frequently, including fundraising dinners, community events, conferences, and after-hours or weekend meetings.

• Strong project management abilities, initiative, adaptability, discretion, and sound decision-making.

• Authentic enthusiasm for the outdoors, leadership development, and wilderness medicine programs.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Proficiency in crafting customized giving proposals and delivering pitches confidently.

• Competence in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and advancement CRM software such as Mission CRM.

• Willingness to travel approximately 50% of the time within the assigned U.S. geographic region.

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• Demonstrated fundraising success and a proven track record in securing major gifts.

• Consideration will be given to related experience in customer-facing sales, nonprofit programming, financial and estate planning, or marketing.

• A criminal background check is required.

• Legal right to work in an eligible employment location.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

• Flexible time off policy.

• Employee Assistance Program providing confidential, 24/7 counseling and support services.

• Special pricing on NOLS courses for employees and their families.

• Benefits eligibility for full-time employees.