Major Gifts Officer

Primary Responsibility

The Major Gifts Officer is a front line fundraiser responsible for building and managing relationships with current and prospective donors capable of making significant philanthropic investments in Le Jardin Academy. Through strategic qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, the Major Gifts Officer advances support for the school’s highest funding priorities, including annual, capital, endowment, scholarship, and programmatic initiatives.

This role plays a vital role in strengthening Le Jardin Academy’s culture of philanthropy and expanding the pipeline of major donors to support the school’s evolving priorities and long-term sustainability.

Qualifications

• Build and manage a portfolio of 75-100 prospective major donors with the goal of closing $200,000 by June 2027 and demonstrating an ROI of 5-10% by 2030.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts prospects/donors to ensure a healthy major gifts donor pipeline.
• Conduct regular face-to-face, virtual, and other meaningful donor interactions to advance relationships and move prospects through the donor continuum.
• Work closely with the Executive Director of Advancement and Director of Development to build the major gifts program through regular prospect identification, engagement, and creative strategies that lift LJA’s strategic and operational goals and potential for future legacy gifts.
• Partner with the Annual Giving Manager to identify highly engaged constituents with major gift potential and to ensure coordinated donor engagement and stewardship.
• Help donors align their philanthropic interests with Le Jardin Academy’s mission, strategic priorities, and funding opportunities to create meaningful impact for both the donor and institution.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor records in Raiser’s Edge NXT, documenting all substantive donor interactions via Reports of Contact (ROCs), moves management activity, cultivation strategies, and next-step actions to support effective portfolio management and fundraising outcomes.
• Partner with Advancement leadership to strategically engage the Head of School, Trustees, and other key stakeholders in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship as appropriate.
• Prepare compelling proposals, gift agreements, impact reports, and other donor-facing materials that communicate opportunities for investment and philanthropic impact.
• Ensure timely and meaningful stewardship and recognition of major donors through personalized communication, reporting, and engagement opportunities.
• Conduct prospect research and analysis to identify new major gift opportunities and inform engagement strategies.
• Serve ad-hoc on the Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees.
• Monitor and report weekly on portfolio activity, donor engagement, and fundraising.
• Support capital, endowment, and special fundraising initiatives as they arise.
• Participate in school events and activities as a means of connecting with prospects and advancing fundraising objectives.
• Ensure continuous refinement and expansion of LJA’s major gifts program.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3–5 years of progressive frontline fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in major gifts, leadership giving, or related development work, preferably in an independent school, higher education, or nonprofit environment.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong ability to build authentic, trust-based relationships with donors and internal partners.
• Exceptional storytelling ability, emotional intelligence to read donor cues, and discretion to handle sensitive information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling donor communications and presentations.
• Demonstrated organizational and portfolio management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• High level of self-motivation with the ability to work independently while contributing effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a commitment to relationship-building and donor-centered engagement.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and donor database/CRM systems.
• Ability to prepare visually clear and compelling presentations and proposals using standard design and formatting tools.

Personal & Professional Attributes

• Deep commitment to the vision, mission, values, and educational philosophy of LJA.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and intercultural sensitivity, with the ability to engage effectively with a diverse community of stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker who is also execution-oriented, with a balance of relationship focus and results orientation.
• Creative problem solver with sound judgment and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and discretion in handling confidential donor information.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends and travel as needed to support donor engagement.

Physical Requirements

• Frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to manipulate, handle, grip and feel objects, utensils, tools or controls.
• Frequently required to reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally required to lift, push, pull and/or carry items and objects up to 50 pounds, with a minimum of 25 pounds lifted and carried.

Details

Department: Advancement
Status: Full-time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Work year: Twelve month
Work hours: Must be able to work flexible hours, with standard hours being 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, including some Saturdays, holidays and evenings.