Major Gifts Officer, Development & Philanthropy

About the role

The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-net-worth individuals to secure significant philanthropic support for SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. This role manages a dedicated portfolio of donors and prospective donors, develops and maintains long-term relationships, and guides prospects through the donor cultivation and moves management process. The position works to align donors' philanthropic interests with the organization's strategic priorities and funding needs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain meaningful relationships with donors and prospective donors to understand their philanthropic interests, goals, and priorities.
• Cultivate, solicit, and secure major gifts ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000, with an annual fundraising goal of approximately $5 million.
• Manage an established portfolio of approximately 75–100 donors and prospective donors, including the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects.
• Conduct direct, face-to-face meetings and solicitations with donors and prospective donors.
• Develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies designed to move prospective donors through the major gifts pipeline.
• Utilize donor management systems, CRM platforms, wealth screening tools, and other resources to identify, track, cultivate, and manage donors and prospects.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, strategies, solicitations, and outcomes.
• Collaborate with the Development Department and organizational leadership to coordinate fundraising efforts, establish priorities, and achieve fundraising goals.
• Coordinate appropriate public and private recognition and stewardship activities for major donors.
• Track, evaluate, and report fundraising activity and progress using established performance metrics.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field.
• 3+ years of relevant professional experience, preferably in fundraising, development, institutional advancement, donor relations, or a related field.
• Strong verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple donor relationships, priorities, and initiatives simultaneously.
• Or, a satisfactory equivalent combination of experience, education and training.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in a relevant field.
• Experience cultivating and soliciting major gifts from individual donors.
• Experience managing a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects.
• Experience using donor management/CRM systems and wealth screening tools.

About Us

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is one of the nation's leading metropolitan medical centers. As the only academic medical center in Brooklyn, we serve a large population that is among the most diverse in the world. We are also highly-ranked by Castle Connolly Medical, a healthcare rating company for consumers, among the top 5 leading U.S. medical schools for training doctors.