Major Gift Officer

Bushnell University · Eugene, OR · 2 mo ago

OTHRFull-time

Position Summary

The Major Gift Officer (MGO) advances the mission of the college by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors who are inspired to invest in Christ-centered education. This role manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and leads the institution's planned and estate giving efforts. The MGO plays a key role in the college's comprehensive capital campaign, partnering with campus leadership to secure transformational gifts that strengthen the institution's long-term impact and sustainability.

Position Duties & Responsibilities

Cultivate and Solicitate Major Gifts

Manage a portfolio of 100–150 major gift prospects including alumni, parents, friends, churches, and community partners who resonate with the college’s faith-based mission.
Develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies that integrate donors' philanthropic goals with the college's campaign priorities.
Conduct regular donor visits to advance relationships and secure major gifts at the $10,000+ level.
Serve as a frontline ambassador for the comprehensive campaign, communicating vision, progress, and opportunities for leadership-level investment.
Collaborate with the President, VP for Advancement, and campaign volunteers to support high-level solicitations and strategic donor engagement.

Lead Planned & Estate Giving

Lead the college’s planned giving program, including bequests, charitable gift annuities, beneficiary designations, and other deferred giving vehicles.
Identify planned giving prospects within the major gift portfolio and broader donor community, including church partners and legacy-minded supporters.
Provide donors with clear, mission-aligned information about planned giving options (without offering legal or financial advice).
Strengthen and grow the Legacy Society stewardship, events, and targeted communication.
Cook with legal and financial advisors, ensuring planned gifts are structured in alignment with donor intent and institutional policy.

Engage Faith-Driven Donors

Engage donors in ways that reflect the college’s Christian identity, including prayerful discernment, mission storytelling, and values-based relationship building.
Communicate how gifts advance Christ-centered education, student formation, and the college’s long-term ministry impact.
Support donor events, church-based engagement opportunities, and mission-focused gatherings that deepen community connection.

Stewardship & Advancement Operations

Ensure timely, meaningful stewardship for all major and planned gifts, including campaign-specific recognition.
Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, and projections in partnership with Donor Relations.
Provide regular updates on portfolio activity, campaign progress, and revenue forecasts.

Collaboration & Institutional Partnership

Work closely with academic leaders, faculty, and ministry partners to align donor interests with institutional priorities.
Participate in campaign planning, case development, and volunteer training.
Contribute to a collaborative, mission-centered Advancement team culture.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or CFRE preferred.
3–5 years of fundraising experience, preferably in higher education, ministry, or nonprofit development.
Demonstrated success in securing major gifts and managing donor relationships.
Familiarity with planned giving concepts and willingness to deepen expertise.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills grounded in Christian character and professionalism.
Deep alignment with the college’s Christian mission and values.
Able to communicate faith-driven impact with authenticity and clarity.
Strategic thinker comfortable working in a small-team environment and within a campaign structure.
High level of discretion, integrity, and donor-centered judgment.
Collaborative, adaptable, and energized by building long-term relationships.

Knowledge & Experience

Facility with fundraising CRMs (Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred).
Experience with Outlook, Microsoft Suite, and Basic AI Tools.

Working Conditions & Special Requirements

Bushnell employees must have a maturing Christian faith and live in compliance with the duties and expectations as detailed in the Employee Handbook.
The position requires a strong commitment to multiculturalism and diversity.
The position requires working in a non-smoking, drug-free environment.
The employee must adhere to FERPA guidelines and student confidentiality at all times.
All employees of Bushnell are “mandatory reporters” under Oregon law.
The employee must have knowledge of strong office management techniques; operations, procedures, specific rules and precedents of the office; research methods and report writing techniques; record-keeping techniques; operation of office machines including computer equipment and specified software; principles of training and providing work direction.
The position requires a strong ability to communicate effectively and succinctly, both verbally and in writing, utilizing tact, patience and courtesy.
Listening skills and the ability to speak and write clearly are essential to this position.
Must possess exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
The employee must have high personal motivation, with great attention to detail and accuracy.
This person must project a positive, vibrant and professional attitude in assisting people.
This person must have high ethics of honesty and confidentiality, with a genuine and gracious presence pertaining to the students, faculty, staff and business of the department and the University.
This position may require lifting up to 25 lbs, as well as bending, stooping, kneeling.
The position requires a strong ability to communicate effectively and succinctly, both verbally and in writing, utilizing tact, patience and courtesy.
The employee must have high personal motivation, with great attention to detail and accuracy.
This person must project a positive, vibrant and professional attitude in assisting people.
This person must have high ethics of honesty and confidentiality, with a genuine and gracious presence pertaining to the students, faculty, staff and business of the department and the University.
This position may require lifting up to 25 lbs, as well as bending, stoop, and kneel.
The position description is subject to change at any time.
Ability to travel regionally and work occasional evenings or weekends.

Application Instructions

To be considered for this position, please click “Apply” below. You will be asked to submit all of the following:

Bushnell Employment Application
Cover letter addressing skills, experience, and knowledge
CV/Resume
Personal Statement of Faith that clearly addresses all three of the sections below:

how a maturing Christian faith finds expression in the candidate’s personal life, family life, community life, and current church membership;
how the candidate integrates faith into his or her work life;
the candidate’s understanding of and ability to support Bushnell’s Theological Context for Community statement.

Contact Information for three references, one of which must be the applicant’s pastor or another appropriate church leader who is able to address the applicant’s faith background.

Please include all requested materials. Incomplete application packets may result in disqualification.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Mark Cameron at 541-684-7215 or mcameron@bushnell.edu.

In compliance with the Clery Act, Bushnell University provides our Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report. You may request a paper copy from the Office of Student Life by calling 541-684-7345. This report is required by federal law and contains policy statements and crime statistics for the university.

Creation Date: 4/2026