Major Gifts Officer

Location: Atlanta, Georgia | Type: Full Time

About the role

Mount Vernon School is seeking a dynamic Major Gifts Officer to join our team and help drive transformational philanthropy. This role focuses on building meaningful relationships with leadership donors to support the School’s mission, annual giving objectives, capital priorities, and innovative programming. The ideal candidate is a strategic relationship-builder with a passion for education, a track record of securing significant gifts, and a talent for inspiring others to invest in bold ideas.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100-150 major gift prospects, guiding them through the full donor lifecycle from identification to stewardship
• Be an ambassador and strategic partner for annual and capital campaigns including the Let’s Do This campaign
• Partner with the Chief Philanthropy Officer to execute thoughtful, personalized cultivation and solicitation strategies
• Design and implement creative engagement plans based on prospect research, analytics, and donor interests
• Conduct at least 12-15 monthly prospect visits targeting 150 visits annually; including other Mount Vernon representatives as appropriate
• Upgrade existing donors through intentional stewardship and data-informed outreach
• Collaborate with academic and administrative leaders to articulate funding priorities and create inspiring donor experiences
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor activity, proposals, and communications using the School’s CRM system
• Represent Mount Vernon at key events and in the community with professionalism, warmth, and integrity
• Work occasional evenings or weekends for school events

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in fundraising, advancement, non-profit management, or related field
• 2+ years of experience in a philanthropic setting, including major gifts solicitation
• Experience in administrative management, advancement, fundraising, constituent engagement, a non-profit, or education preferred

About Mount Vernon School

Established in 1972, The Mount Vernon School, serving students in preschool through grade 12, is located in the heart of Sandy Springs within the metropolitan Atlanta area on a 37-acre campus. Throughout the School's rich history, Mount Vernon remains committed to offering an innovative educational experience for students to lead the future with confidence as they confront a fast-paced digitally based global marketplace. Mastering 21st century skills, driven by a vigorous college preparatory environment, reflects the world-class education received by students at Mount Vernon. The School is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS).