Senior Major Gift Officer

About the role

The Senior Major Gift Officer (SMGO) is a full-time, year-round position at Amherst College. The expected salary range for this job opportunity is $120,000 to $130,000 per year. The salary offered will vary based on a number of factors, including but not limited to relevant education, training, and experience, tenure status, and other nondiscriminatory business considerations.

Responsibilities

• Manage a robust portfolio of alumni donors and prospects, ensuring consistent, strategic movement through the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycle.
• Secure six- and seven-figure philanthropic commitments that advance Amherst's highest institutional priorities.
• Develop and execute individualized donor strategies, including tailored briefings, targeted outreach, and personalized engagement experiences—both virtually and through significant travel.
• Communicate a compelling and nuanced case for support, translating the College's mission, strategic initiatives, and emerging opportunities into meaningful philanthropic conversations.
• Serve as a strategic partner and primary point of contact for assigned academic departments, programs, affinity/identity-based groups, or institutional initiatives, aligning donor interests with College priorities.
• Collaborate with Advancement colleagues—including Planned Giving, Donor Relations, Alumni Relations, and Advancement Communications—to ensure coordinated messaging, reporting, and donor engagement.
• Participate actively in special fundraising projects and College-wide campaigns, supporting high-visibility events, volunteer committees, and priority initiatives as needed.
• Operate within a data-informed, metrics-driven culture, meeting measurable expectations for donor visits, proposals, solicitations, portfolio activity, and philanthropic outcomes.
• Prepare clear, concise contact reports, strategy updates, and proposal materials that ensure transparency, alignment, and effective collaboration across the Advancement division.
• Use CRM tools, prospect research, and portfolio analytics to track progress, forecast potential revenue, and make data-informed decisions that strengthen portfolio health and fundraising outcomes.
• Plan and support cultivation and stewardship activities, including small events and virtual engagements that advance donor strategies and deepen connection to the College.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Minimum of seven years of experience and success as a frontline fundraiser, including experience soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gifts.
• Strong relationship- and trust-building skills, with the ability to engage donors thoughtfully and align philanthropic interests with institutional priorities.
• Sound judgment and professionalism, with the ability to navigate complex situations and represent the institution effectively.
• Pronounced ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing, to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to thrive in a data-informed, metrics-driven environment, meeting measurable fundraising and engagement goals.
• Demonstrated commitment to contributing to a collaborative, inclusive Advancement culture, working effectively with colleagues across teams.
• Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends and to travel as required to support frontline fundraising responsibilities.
• Successful completion of required reference and background checks.