Major Gift Officer, Athletics Advancement

Position Overview

Merrimack College seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven Major Gift Officer to join the Athletics Advancement team. Reporting directly to the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development, this position will play a critical role in advancing the mission and strategic priorities of Merrimack Athletics through the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift donors and prospects.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 major gift prospects and donors, developing meaningful relationships and securing philanthropic investments of $25,000 and above.

• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that successfully move prospects through the donor pipeline.

• Meet established goals for donor visits, solicitations, proposals submitted, and dollars raised.

• Lead fundraising efforts supporting key athletics priorities, including capital projects, revenue-sharing initiatives, student-athlete development programs, facility enhancements, and annual fund growth.

• Conduct a high volume of in-person and virtual meetings with alumni, parents, friends, and supporters of Merrimack Athletics.

• Utilize prospect research, data analysis, and donor insights to identify philanthropic interests and align giving opportunities with institutional priorities.

• Identify and qualify new prospects through research, networking, events, referrals, and engagement activities.

• Partner closely with coaches, athletics administrators, and senior campus leadership to develop and execute fundraising strategies.

• Collaborate with colleagues in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations on prospect management, donor communications, campaign initiatives, and stewardship efforts.

• Prepare donor briefings, gift proposals, stewardship reports, correspondence, and fundraising updates.

• Represent Merrimack Athletics and the College at athletic contests, alumni events, donor functions, and community engagement opportunities.

• Travel locally, regionally, and nationally to cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects and donors.

• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, proposals, and fundraising activity within the College's CRM system (Slate).

• Follow all institutional policies and best practices related to fundraising, donor stewardship, and gift documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, athletics development, sales, business development, or another relationship-driven field.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts, philanthropic investments, or comparable revenue-generating commitments.
• Strong understanding of moves management, prospect strategy development, and donor stewardship.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Ability to build trust and credibility with alumni, parents, volunteers, coaches, senior administrators, and campus partners.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated, goal-oriented, and capable of working independently while contributing to a collaborative team culture.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, solve problems creatively, and adapt to evolving priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and donor database/CRM systems; experience with Slate preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently and work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Valid driver's license and insurable driving record required.
• Prior experience in higher education fundraising and/or Division I athletics fundraising strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of the changing collegiate athletics landscape, including revenue sharing, NIL, and modern fundraising strategies, is preferred.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for Merrimack College's mission and commitment to student-athlete success.