Major Gifts Officer

Position Summary

The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is responsible for owning qualification, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of high‑capacity donors to secure significant philanthropic support for United Community. This role builds authentic, long-term donor relationships, identifies new prospects, coordinates with CEO, board members, program and volunteer engagement; maintains disciplined portfolio and pipeline data. The Major Gifts Officer typically targets high‑impact donors and pursues substantial contributions and personalized solicitation strategies.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Major Gifts Officer leads the organization's major and planned giving efforts and provides direct supervision and strategic guidance to the Individual Gifts Officer. The position works closely with the Senior Director of Development & Communications and Board of Directors to ensure individual giving strategies are coordinated with the organization's broader fundraising, communications, and donor engagement priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Management & Fundraising

• Manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects capable of making four, five, and six figure gifts.
• Conduct donor qualifications, cultivate relationships, and create individualized solicitation strategies.
• Solicit major gifts through meetings, proposals, events, and tailored engagement opportunities.
• Track moves management progress and regularly updates CRM records.

Prospect Identification & Strategy

• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals with significant philanthropic potential and conduct individual research with Wealth Engine.
• Partner with the Board of Directors and CEO to identify new major donors across the region.
• Leverage networks, events, and partnerships to expand prospect pools.
• Provide strategic recommendations for blended gifts and multiyear giving plans.

Donor Stewardship

• Build authentic, long-term relationships with donors by connecting their philanthropic interests with the organization’s mission, programs, and strategic priorities.
• Ensure high-quality stewardship through ongoing communication, impact reporting, recognition, and personalized engagement.
• Coordinate with program teams to collect success stories, program data, and site visit opportunities for donors.
• Develop meaningful donor engagement opportunities, including program visits, leadership meetings, special briefings, community events, and other cultivation activities.

Planned and Legacy Giving Strategy

• Develop and implement a planned and legacy giving strategy in collaboration with the CEO and Senior Director of Development & Communications.
• Identify, cultivate, and steward donors interested in including the organization in their estate or long-term philanthropic plans.
• Educate donors on appropriate planned giving opportunities and incorporate legacy giving into major donor conversations.
• Build and manage a pipeline of planned and legacy giving prospects, including opportunities for blended current and future gifts.
• Help establish a legacy recognition program and coordinate donor communications, recognition, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with organizational leadership and appropriate legal, financial, or donor advisors on complex and non-cash gifts while maintaining proper documentation and donor confidentiality.

Collaboration & Leadership Engagement

• Serve as a strategic fundraising partner to the CEO, supporting major donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and executive-level donor engagement.
• Prepare the CEO and Board members for key donor meetings and identify opportunities to leverage their relationships and networks to advance fundraising efforts.
• Build productive relationships with Board members and engage them appropriately as ambassadors, connectors, and partners in major and legacy giving.
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Development & Communications to align major gifts, donor outreach, campaigns, communications, events, and stewardship activities.
• Coordinate across the Development team to ensure consistent donor engagement, messaging, and fundraising strategy while maintaining direct accountability to the CEO.

Events & Community Engagement

• Support donor cultivation, stewardship, and fundraising events designed to strengthen donor relationships and engagement.
• Represent United Community at community events, networking opportunities, and external functions to build relationships and increase organizational visibility.
• Identify opportunities to connect prospective donors, community leaders, and partners with United Community’s mission and programs.
• Collaborate with the Development & Communications team on donor and community engagement activities as needed.
• Face to face meetings and making phone calls

Data and Performance Management

• Maintain accurate donor records, interactions, planned gift information, and next steps in Salesforce or United Community’s CRM.
• Track major gift and planned giving pipelines, fundraising goals, key performance indicators, and revenue forecasts.
• Analyze donor activity and recommend adjustments to cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Coordinate with the Development team to ensure consistent, accurate, and confidential donor data and documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of fundraising, major gifts, donor relations, development, relationship management, or comparable experience.
• Demonstrated success personally soliciting and closing five- or six-figure gifts.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship building skills.
• Strong strategic thinking, follow-through, and donor-centric approach.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed for donor engagements, events, and other fundraising activities.
• Advanced Technology skills and social media (LinkedIn)
• Attention to detail and recording into DonorPerfect

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Northern Virginia’s philanthropic community.
• Experience with donor databases (Salesforce, DonorPerfect).
• Familiarity with common planned giving vehicles, including bequests, beneficiary designations, retirement assets, charitable trusts, appreciated securities, and donor-advised funds.
• Experience working with financial advisors, estate planning professionals, attorneys, or other professional advisors in connection with charitable gifts.
• Experience working in a human services, community development, education, family services, or related nonprofit environment.