Major Gifts Officer - Office of Development

Job Summary

Responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of gift donors. In concert with the development leadership team, the Major Gifts Officer will work with individuals, corporations, and foundations to achieve annual fundraising goals. Will assist in creating and implementing effective strategies designed to interest, engage, and secure a wide range of major‑gift prospects and donors to support capital, programmatic, research, and education funding opportunities. Plays a critical role in raising funds to support UMMC’s priorities.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Five (5) years of work experience in fundraising or donor relations

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Understanding of major issues and trends in healthcare and philanthropy
• Grasp of the complexities of a medical center environment (preferred)
• Ability to learn appropriate levels of information about a broad range of health disciplines and interdisciplinary areas
• Self‑motivated with ability to seek direction and guidance when appropriate
• Outstanding organizational and time‑management skills
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Effective communication with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, produce quality work, and meet strict deadlines
• Adept at building collaborative relationships with departments, program staff, physicians, and other internal constituents
• Ability to assess processes and workflow
• High level of integrity when handling sensitive donor information
• Desire, ambition, and energy to work in a rapidly evolving organization
• Commitment to the development team’s values of cooperation, partnership, and a “can‑do” attitude
• Working knowledge of online donor databases (e.g., Raiser’s Edge), Microsoft Word, Excel, and other research tools

Responsibilities

• Comply with all Medical Center and development office guidelines
• Advance a portfolio of donors and prospects from alumni, grateful patients, foundations, corporations, and friends throughout Mississippi
• Prepare articulate, tailored gift acknowledgment letters and major‑gift proposals/solicitations for UMMC leadership
• Produce appropriate collateral materials
• Manage relationships with donors and their financial advisors to encourage gifts
• Maintain constant contact with donors through cultivation letters, solicitation letters, proposals, case statements, acknowledgment letters, and other communications
• Develop and implement annual gift strategies for individual donors and prospects related to specific fundraising initiatives
• Support development‑related efforts of assigned UMMC units, faculty, and management
• Design, coordinate, and conduct fundraising and marketing support programs and events for assigned UMMC units (schools, departments, institutes, centers, foundations)
• Maintain current and comprehensive donor records, both electronic and hard copy
• Collaborate effectively with other gift officers, UMMC leadership, and fundraising volunteers to maximize acknowledgment and stewardship opportunities
• Work with other development staff to improve the organization’s fundraising strategies
• Provide general support to development staff and work on special projects as needed

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Frequent working hours significantly beyond regularly scheduled hours
• Frequent travel to off‑site locations
• Occasional activities subject to significant volume changes of a seasonal/clinical nature
• Constant work produced subject to precise measures of quantity and quality
• Occasional bending, lifting and carrying up to 25 pounds
• Frequent driving, occasional pushing/pulling, reaching
• Frequent sitting, standing, and walking (occasional up to 20 %, frequent 21 %–50 %, constant 51 % or more)

Employment Details

• Time Type: Full time
• FLSA Designation: Exempt
• Pay Class: Salary
• FTE: 100 %
• Work Shift: Day