Major Gift Officer

About This Opportunity

Under the general supervision of the Associate Athletic Director for Advancement and reporting to the Assistant Athletic Director of Major Gifts, the Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is an integral member of the Tyee Club Fund Development team. The MGO collaborates with leadership, volunteers, and other development staff to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospects to support Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA). The MGO creates tailored solicitation strategies to further ICA's fundraising priorities and pursue gift opportunities that align with the interests of potential donors, while adhering to established goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Frontline Fundraising (60 %): Manage a portfolio of 150 major‑gift prospects, advancing them through the donor engagement process to secure major gifts annually or semi‑annually; focus on individual donations of $100,000 or more; create and implement a cultivation strategy for each prospect, targeting 150 + substantive contact‑report entries and a minimum of 10 major‑gift solicitations each year; establish personal goals, objectives, and strategies for ICA in consultation with senior leadership; prepare and complete timely contact reports, written proposals, background reports, and other development materials.
• Relationship Management (25 %): Establish, nurture, and maintain strong relationships with donors and supporters, fostering lifelong partnerships and aligning their passions with the institution’s mission.
• Program Development and Management (10 %): Evaluate advancement programs and fundraising performance using data and metrics, assess progress toward goals, and recommend adjustments to improve effectiveness and increase donor engagement.
• Other duties (5 %): Perform additional tasks as assigned and ensure compliance with University, NCAA, Conference, State of Washington, and other governing‑body rules and regulations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in frontline fundraising, professional development/advancement, including major‑gift and campaign experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the integrated advancement model.
• Knowledge of alumni relations and development/advancement principles.
• Knowledge of UW Advancement policies and procedures, including use of the development database software Microsoft Dynamics.
• Experience at an NCAA Division I athletic program, higher education, academic fundraising, public relations, marketing, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Advanced degree.
• Demonstrated strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for correspondence, special reports, spreadsheets, databases, forms, etc.

Working Conditions

• Ability to work evening and weekend hours, with flexible in‑office days as needed, on short or limited notice.
• Regular and reliable transportation for local travel; willingness to travel when necessary, including frequent local and occasional out‑of‑state travel.
• Participation in rules‑education programs offered by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
• Physical demands during events: ability to stand for 4 + hours continuously, walk for 4 + hours continuously, and work greater than a 10‑hour day.

About the Team

Washington Athletics aims to inspire champions in competition and in the classroom. Operating with the core values of growth mindset, committed service, humility, and grit, the Huskies lead by example. The department serves over 650 student‑athletes across 22 sports programs, striving to provide competitive opportunities while supporting academic achievement at a leading public research university.

Compensation

Pay Range: $108,000.00 – $125,004.00 annually. Other compensation includes tickets to UW Intercollegiate home competitions and, for non‑local candidates, a possible moving allowance.

Benefits

For information about benefits for this position, visit UW staff benefits page.

Schedule

First Shift (United States of America). Regular full‑time position, 100 % FTE.