Major Gifts Officer

TITLE: Major Gifts Officer

REPORTS TO: Director of Philanthropy

SUPERVISES: None

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-time, exempt

SCHEDULE: Flexible, generally 9-5 Monday through Friday; regular evenings and weekends for donor events and performances

PAY RANGE: $80,000 - $83,000 annually + full benefits

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Major Gifts Officer leads the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donors for The Freight. This position focuses on building meaningful relationships with high-capacity donors, developing personalized engagement strategies, and securing major gifts to advance the organization's mission. Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy, this role requires a strategic approach to donor development with minimal administrative responsibilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

50% Major Donor Portfolio Management

● Manage a portfolio of 150+ major gift prospects and donors ($1,000+)

● Develop and implement customized cultivation and solicitation strategies for each donor

● Conduct personal visits and solicitations with major donors

● Create and maintain detailed moves management plans in Tessitura

● Identify upgrade opportunities within the existing donor base

● Document all donor interactions, strategy developments, and next steps

● Collaborate with Director of Philanthropy on solicitation strategies for top donors

● Meet annual revenue goals for major gift fundraising

25% Donor Relationship Building

● Attend 1-2 concerts weekly to engage with donors and prospects

● Host donor receptions and backstage meet-and-greets

● Arrange meetings between key donors and organizational leadership

● Create personalized stewardship experiences for major donors

● Develop deep knowledge of donors' interests, motivations, and giving capacity

● Serve as primary relationship manager for major donors

● Work with board members on peer-to-peer solicitation strategies

15% Events Strategy and Management

● Design and oversee execution of donor cultivation and stewardship events

● Lead planning for annual fundraising gala and other major donor events

● Develop event concepts that meaningfully engage donors with The Freight's mission

● Collaborate with Director of Philanthropy and artistic leadership on event programming

● Facilitate seat reservations for Music Makers

● Evaluate event effectiveness and donor engagement outcomes

● Ensure effective follow-up with event attendees

10% Prospect Research and Development

● Identify new major gift prospects through research and events

● Evaluate donor capacity and develop qualification strategies

● Work with Director of Philanthropy to develop major gift proposals

● Stay informed about industry trends in major gift fundraising ● Participate in the creation of annual development goals and strategies

● Support The Freight's commitment to equity and inclusion in all aspects of work

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

Required

● 5+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience with demonstrated success in securing major gifts

● Proven track record of cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts of $5,000+

● Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build authentic relationships

● Outstanding verbal and written communication skills

● Experience with donor management systems, preferably Tessitura

● Ability to work evenings and weekends for donor events and performances

● Strong project management skills and attention to detail

● Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

● Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive environment

● Passion for the arts and ability to articulate The Freight's mission convincingly

Preferred/Desirable

● Experience in performing arts or music-related organizations

● Knowledge of the Bay Area philanthropic community

● Experience with moves management methodology

● Background in events planning and management

● Advanced knowledge of Tessitura or similar CRM systems