Major Gifts Officer

Major Gifts Officer

Location: Saint Vincent Academy (SVA), Newark, NJ

Position Type: Full-Time, In Person

About Saint Vincent Academy

Saint Vincent Academy is a Catholic, college-preparatory high school for young women, rooted in the legacy of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. Located in Newark, NJ, SVA is committed to empowering young women to become compassionate leaders, critical thinkers, and agents of positive change in their communities.

Position Overview

Saint Vincent Academy is seeking a dynamic and strategic Major Gifts Officer (MGO) to join our growing Development team. This is a newly created position and an exciting opportunity to build and lead the major gifts program.

Reporting to the Director of Development, the MGO will be a frontline fundraiser responsible for designing and implementing strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, helping to secure transformative gifts that advance SVA’s mission. The successful candidate will play a foundational role in strengthening the school’s philanthropic culture and positioning SVA for long-term fundraising success.

Key Responsibilities

Major Gifts Program Development

• Design and launch a comprehensive major gifts program aligned with institutional goals and fundraising best practices.
• Establish policies, procedures, and benchmarks for identifying, qualifying, and engaging major gift prospects.
• Build a sustainable pipeline of major gift donors through proactive prospecting and relationship-building strategies.

Fundraising & Donor Cultivation

• Manage a portfolio of 50+ major gift prospects and donors with the capacity to give $10,000+.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward donors through tailored, relationship-based strategies.
• Partner with the Director of Development and President on key solicitations, including prospect strategy, meeting preparation, and proposal development.
• Support the creation of compelling cases for support to engage donors in SVA’s mission and vision.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Develop and execute high-touch engagement and stewardship plans, including meetings, correspondence, customized proposals, and donor events.
• Plan and participate in cultivation and recognition events, as appropriate.
• Ensure a positive and consistent donor experience across all stages of the donor life cycle.

Data & Reporting

• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor contact, strategies, and progress in the donor database (Raiser’s Edge).
• Track key performance indicators and provide regular reports on major gifts activity and outcomes.
• Support overall data integrity and the use of analytics to drive fundraising decisions.

Team Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Development team members on annual fundraising initiatives, campaigns, and communications.
• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives and represent the Development team in various internal and external settings.
• Participate in department-wide planning, goal setting, and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of progressive experience in major gifts or related fundraising roles.
• Demonstrated ability to secure five- and six-figure gifts through strategic cultivation and solicitation.
• Proven success in building or significantly expanding a major gift or individual giving program is highly desirable.
• Outstanding communication, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and donor database systems (Raiser’s Edge preferred).

Essential Skills

• Ability to take initiative and build new systems and relationships from the ground up.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with an ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Discretion, professionalism, and a high degree of emotional intelligence.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative, mission-driven team.
• Knowledge of Newark’s philanthropic, educational, and business communities is a plus.
• Dedicated individual to support the mission and legacy of Saint Vincent Academy.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume (combined into a

single PDF) detailing your interest and qualifications to development@svanj.org.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to

submissions received by June 20, 2025. Salary will be commensurate with experience.