Major Gifts Officer
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
Please Note: A criminal background check will be conducted on candidate finalist prior to the offer of employment.
If no applicants apply who meet the required competency and T&E requirements, then management may consider other applicants. Salary would be determined based on competencies, equity, budget, and market considerations.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing an electronic application. The application must be competed in full detail (including work history) for your qualifications to be considered.
Failure to complete the application completely may result in you not being considered for the vacant position.
Your application for the position will not be complete until you receive an online confirmation number at the end of the process of applying for a position.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at
OHR@wssu.edu. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodation in the application and interview process, please call 336-750-2834
Position Details
Classification Information
| Position Classification Title |
Major Gifts Officer |
| FLSA |
Exempt |
| Position Class |
80465 |
Position Overview
| Position Summary |
Job Summary
The Major Gifts Officer, will manage a portfolio of approximately 125+ major gift donors and planned giving prospects. The Major Gifts Officer, will be responsible for identifying strategic opportunities, developing and implementing initiatives to identify, cultivate and solicit high-net worth donors and planned giving prospects to ensure a strong base of perpetual financial support.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Designs and implements innovative strategies to identify, cultivate and solicit high-net worth donors and planned giving prospects for major gifts ($25K and above).
- Identifies and rates individual major gift and planned giving prospects.
- Obtains information concerning financial capability, special interests, giving history.
- Effectively prepares meeting materials, and major gift solicitations including, but not limited to high-quality solicitation materials, proposals.
- Manages communication and donor interactions with programmatic leadership
- Make direct, face-to-face solicitations (local and national), provide portfolio development support, strategic counsel, and help with donor communications.
- Analyzes prospect research with a keen understanding of moves management to steward donors towards major gifts.
- Utilize Raiser's Edge to track and manage donor/prospect portfolio and monitor individual results toward fundraising goal; adhere to timely reporting of results to ensure accuracy of the fundraising pipeline and year-end projection forecasts.
- Provides stewardship over existing and future individual major gift and planned giving donors.
- Assists in identifying major gift prospect pool for proposed capital campaign.
- Identifies, recruits and services volunteers.
- Maintains current and accurate files on all individual donors.
- Ensures compliance with WSSU policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Ability to travel locally and nationally. May be occasionally required to work nights and weekends to meet fundraising goals.
- A Bachelor's degree from four-year College or university.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in fundraising, with 3-5 years of specific experience in cultivating individual gifts.
- Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
- Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills.
- Volunteer management skills.
- Strong planning skills and the ability to multi-task.
- Outstanding human relations and managerial skills.
- Demonstrative initiative.
- The ability to work with minimal supervision.
- A working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Raiser's Edge.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position will report to Senior Director of Development. |
Position Information
| Position Number |
117009 |
| Working Position Title |
Major Gifts Officer |
| Building and Room No. |
Blair Hall, Suite 311 |
| Appointment Type |
Permanent Full-Time |
| If Time Limited. |
No |
| Appointment Length. |
12 |
Requirements and Preferences
| Position required to work during periods of adverse weather or other emergencies |
Not Mandatory |
| Normal Work Schedule |
8:00 am to 5:00 pm work schedule, to included some evenings and weekends |
| Department Required Skills |
- A Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year College or university.
- 3-5 years of progressive experience in fund development not limited to higher education, corporate sector, and sales
- Demonstrated success in a major gift solicitations and higher education fundraising
- Ability to write proposals, reports, and business correspondence
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public
- Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills
- Volunteer management skills
- Strong planning skills and demonstrated ability to coordinate and manage many projects simultaneously
- Outstanding human relations and managerial skills
- Demonstrative initiative
- The ability to work with minimal supervision
- Ability and willingness to travel and to work evenings and weekends, as needed
- A working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Raiser's Edge
|
| Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education |
- Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree preferred.
- At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, knowledge of gift planning or in a field providing comparable knowledge of tax law and financial and estate planning principles.
- Prior fundraising experience, preferably in higher education preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to manage successful personal solicitations for major gift fundraising.
- Ability to interact successfully with a wide range of individuals and positions.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate and manage many projects simultaneously.
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal skills and strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Skilled at collaborating with a variety of stakeholders.
- Ability to coordinate and manage many projects simultaneously; attention to detail.
- Ability and willingness to travel and to work evenings and weekends, as needed.
- Appreciation for and support of the mission, tradition and culture of the University.
|
| Required License or Certification |
|
| Valid US Driver's License |
Yes |
| Commercial Driver's License Required |
No |
| Physical Required |
No |
| List any other medical/drug tests required |
|
Posting Details
Posting Details
| Internal Posting Only |
No |
| Time Limited Position |
No |
| Appointment Length |
12 months |
| Salary |
Salary commensurate with education and experience |
| Open Date |
07/24/2025 |
| Close Date |
09/04/2025 |
| Open Until Filled |
No |
| Special Instructions Summary |
Please Note: A criminal background check will be conducted on candidate finalist prior to the offer of employment.
If no applicants apply who meet the required competency and T&E requirements, then management may consider other applicants. Salary would be determined based on competencies, equity, budget, and market considerations.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing an electronic application. The application must be competed in full detail (including work history) for your qualifications to be considered.
Failure to complete the application completely may result in you not being considered for the vacant position.
Your application for the position will not be complete until you receive an online confirmation number at the end of the process of applying for a position.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at
OHR@wssu.edu. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodation in the application and interview process, please call 336-750-2834 |
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
- Public Job Posting
- Internal Job Posting
- Agency Referral
- Advertisement/Publication
- Personal Referral
- Website
- Other
Required Documents
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Optional Documents
- Letter of Recommendation 1
- Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214)
- Unofficial Transcript
|
Winston Salem State University
Salary commensurate with education and experience
Jul 25, 2025