Major Gift Officer

About the role

Outreach is hiring a full-time Major Gift Officer to develop meaningful relationships with major donors and high-capacity prospects who can significantly advance Outreach's mission. This position manages a portfolio of approximately 75–100 donors and prospects, developing and executing personalized strategies for cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, donor upgrades, and multi-year commitments. The Major Gift Officer serves as a frontline fundraiser and works closely with Resource Development and executive leadership to deepen donor engagement and drive sustainable revenue growth.

Responsibilities

• Manage and strategically engage a portfolio of approximately 75–100 major donors and high-capacity prospects.
• Develop and execute individualized strategies for donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Work toward annual major-gift revenue goals of $1.25M–$1.75M+ through significant gifts and multi-year commitments.
• Build authentic, long-term donor relationships that deepen engagement with Outreach's mission and increase giving.
• Lead face-to-face donor meetings, personalized proposals, and gift solicitations.
• Identify opportunities to upgrade donors and secure increased annual and multi-year commitments.
• Partner with the CEO, CGO, and Resource Development leadership on strategies and solicitations involving key donors and prospects.
• Develop high-touch stewardship strategies that provide donors with meaningful communication, recognition, and opportunities to experience the impact of their giving.
• Identify and qualify new major-gift prospects while building a sustainable pipeline of future major donors.
• Collaborate with donor engagement, events, and program teams to connect donor interests with Outreach's programs and funding priorities.
• Maintain accurate donor activity, moves, pipeline information, and revenue forecasting within the organization's CRM.
• Use donor and fundraising data to evaluate progress, strengthen strategies, and maintain accountability for portfolio and revenue goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5+ years of experience in major gifts, individual giving, nonprofit development, or a related fundraising role.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and closing significant charitable gifts.
• Experience managing a portfolio of major donors and prospects and achieving defined fundraising goals.
• Strong donor relationship-building, solicitation, and stewardship skills.
• Ability to develop individualized donor strategies and move relationships from cultivation through solicitation and stewardship.
• Strong communication, presentation, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience working collaboratively with executive leadership and internal teams.
• Experience with donor database/CRM systems and maintaining accurate donor activity and pipeline information.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, discretion, and ability to manage multiple donor relationships and priorities.
• A demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Outreach Community Ministries.

Pay

$80,000–$85,000 annually, based on education, experience, and qualifications.

Benefits

• Paid vacation, agency holidays, sick days, Illinois Paid Leave, and wellness days.
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan.
• Employee Assistance Program and Employee Discount.
• A mission-driven environment that fosters professional growth and development.