Major Gifts Officer (MGO)
Purpose: The Major Gift Officer (MGO) reports to the Vice President for Development and is responsible for cultivating and securing major gifts in support of Holy Cross College’s mission. The MGO proactively manages relationships with high-capacity donors and prospects, develops strategic engagement and solicitation plans, and aligns donor interests with the College's funding priorities.
The Major Gift Officer plays a key role in achieving major gift targets, particularly in the areas of unrestricted gifts, scholarships, and endowments, with an emphasis on educating the heart and mind in the Catholic tradition. While this role does not involve leading a team, the MGO is expected to work collaboratively within the Office of Mission Advancement to advance the College’s philanthropic goals.
Essential Job Duties:
1. Donor Relationship Management & Solicitation
Manage a portfolio of 120-150 major donors and prospects, focusing on gifts of $50,000+.
Conduct 100-120 meaningful donor visits annually to cultivate relationships and solicit support.
Secure a minimum of 30 major gifts per year, generating $1.5M+ in funding.
Develop and implement individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies.
Assist the VP for Development in pipeline growth and donor qualification.
2. Collaboration & Institutional Engagement
Partner with College leadership, faculty, and staff to identify funding opportunities.
Facilitate donor engagement with leadership to deepen commitment.
Collaborate with advancement colleagues to maximize donor impact.
3. Stewardship & Donor Engagement
Provide personalized stewardship and impact updates to donors.
Plan and execute recognition events and engagement experiences.
Foster meaningful connections between donors and the College’s mission.
4. Prospect Research & Data Management
Identify and qualify new major gift prospects to expand the pipeline.
Maintain detailed donor records in Raiser’s Edge or a similar CRM.
Review prospect progress with the Director of Major Gifts and refine strategies.
5. Professional Representation & Institutional Advocacy
Advocate for Holy Cross College’s Catholic mission and values to donors.
Represent the College at advancement events and donor engagements.
Stay engaged in College initiatives to align with donor interests.
