Major Gift Officer

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 major gift prospects and donors ($1,000+), including alumnae, parents, grandparents, foundations, and friends of Mercy
• Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies designed to increase donor engagement and philanthropic investment
• Conduct 75 meaningful donor visits annually, including qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship meetings
• Prepare proposals, gift agreements, impact reports, and other donor communications in partnership with the Institutional Advancement team
• Secure leadership annual, major, planned, and campaign gifts in support of institutional priorities

Prospect Identification and Pipeline Development

• Identify and qualify 25–40 new major gift prospects annually through research, discovery visits, volunteer referrals, and constituent engagement
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of campaign prospects capable of supporting Mercy's Centennial Campaign goals
• Develop strategies to increase giving levels among current donors and move constituents through the donor pipeline
• Partner with the Director of Alumnae Engagement & Giving and other advancement staff to identify emerging philanthropic leaders and campaign volunteers

Campaign Preparation and Volunteer Engagement

• Support planning and execution of Mercy's Centennial Campaign by managing assigned campaign prospects and volunteers
• Collaborate with campaign leadership and volunteer committees to facilitate prospect strategy and donor engagement opportunities
• Assist with preparation of campaign materials, prospect strategies, briefing documents, and solicitation plans
• Support campaign events and cultivation opportunities designed to deepen donor relationships and inspire transformational giving

Stewardship and Donor Experience

• Develop and execute thoughtful stewardship plans to ensure donors understand the impact of their philanthropy
• Coordinate personalized recognition and engagement opportunities for major donors and campaign supporters
• Partner with school leadership, faculty, students, and alumnae to create meaningful donor experiences
• Maintain accurate records of donor interactions, strategies, and outcomes within the constituent database (Raiser's Edge NXT)

Other Expectations

• Ability to work collaboratively with a variety of constituents to achieve school advancement goals
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Effective interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with an interest in occasional grant writing preferred
• Effective organizational skills and proven ability to successfully manage and prioritize multiple projects and/or tasks to achieve goals and meet timelines
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
• Commitment to the Our Lady of Mercy mission and its core values
• Willingness to travel and work some weekends and evenings

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Complete 75 meaningful donor visits annually
• Identify and qualify 25–40 new major gift prospects annually
• Maintain active management of a portfolio of 100–150 prospects
• Achieve annual major gift fundraising goals as established by the Vice President of Development
• Increase the number of leadership-level and major gift donors annually
• Develop a robust pipeline of prospects capable of supporting Mercy's Centennial Campaign priorities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• 5+ years of experience in major gifts, advancement, fundraising, or campaign preparation preferred
• Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts
• Experience managing donor portfolios and achieving fundraising goals
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and project management skills
• Experience with donor databases and prospect research tools preferred
• Mission alignment with Mercy education and the advancement of women's leadership