The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The mission at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin is to strengthen the union of the human spirit with Christ through Our Lady of Guadalupe and within the glory of the Catholic faith.

In 1995 Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke met with a small group of people to discuss the ideas for a Marian shrine, ultimately resulting in today’s Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe. Today the Shrine is a place of ceaseless prayer allowing for the healing of both corporal and spiritual welfare of all in need. On average, 80,000 pilgrims from both throughout the United States and abroad, journey to the Shrine yearly as a place of prayer.

THE ROLE OF THE MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER

The Major Gifts Officer will develop relationships with potential donors interested in supporting the Shrine. The MGO will be a part of a growing development team working to fulfill the Shrine’s mission. The MGO candidate must be a devout and driven individual, passionate about inviting donors into a deeper relationship with the Shrine as it begins a multimillion-dollar capital campaign to build a retreat house.

KEY VALUES

• Practicing Catholic with a sound knowledge of the Catholic faith and its practices
• Understand the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Appreciation for the history, mission, and activities of the Shrine
• Strong sense of integrity, poise, and confidence

KEY BEHAVIORS

• Relational and influential
• Self-starter and ambitious
• Dutiful and loyal
• Practical and organized

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Managing portfolio of 100-150 active and prospective donors;
• Traveling to meet with donors and representing the Shrine at national events;
• Cultivating and soliciting donors to support the Shrine;
• Adhering to donor stewardship processes and tracking donor information in database system;
• Assisting in the planning, coordinating, and implementation of donor events and outreach;
• Reviewing key performance indicators and revenue goals quarterly;
• Utilizing wealth-screening information and other research tools to create individual cultivation and solicitation plans, with assistance from fundraising consultants; and
• Supporting the director of development in other areas, as asked.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS 

5-8+ years of experience in nonprofit development work, preferably with donor relations and soliciting four- to six-figure gifts. He or she will also:

• Model an exemplary Catholic faith.
• Possess a high degree of initiative and organizational skills.
• Have high social and emotional awareness with an exceptional ability to communicate the mission and build personal relationships with prospective and current major donors.
• Possess maturity and sophistication to engage high-net-worth individuals on a number of topics.
• Demonstrate superior communications skills, both verbal and written/ be good at storytelling.
• Be self-motivated and ambitious.
• Have strong work ethic and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Be supportive of the department’s overall activities and collegial with other staff.
• Reflect a collaborative and supportive demeanor in advancing institutional objectives and priorities.
• Be comfortable in interacting with people of various socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Have experience with CRM/databases, preferably Raiser’s Edge.
• Travel on average 40%.

THE POWER OF THE PRESENT IN ALL TIME

Nearly 500 years ago, the Virgin Mother of Our Lord, through a gift from God, commenced a series of apparitions to the Chichimec peasant, Saint Juan Diego. She expressed her endearment towards him by calling him “Juanito, Juan Dieguito,” demonstrating the motherly intimacy and maternal care with which she wished to manifest God’s immeasurable and ceaseless love and mercy toward all His beloved children.

Our Lady’s desire to establish a place of pilgrimage so that her children could draw nearer to her Divine Son, Whose mission She eternally shares, extends over nearly five centuries to this day and age, and to this place of pilgrimage in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

All through 2020, the Shrine staff remained steadfast in keeping doors open for pilgrims, encouraging participation in the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist, and serving Our Lady’s mission of mercy—hosting a remarkable 65,000 pilgrims in the year affected by COVID! That work continues what was started 500 years ago.

The quincentenary of the apparitions of Our Lady to St. Juan Diego will come soon, in December 2031. Her message and her maternal solicitude of 1531 remain timely and relevant to us.

The Shrine invites you to prayerfully discern the role you could have as the Major Gifts Officer. This opportunity is for the faithful Catholic looking to embed him or herself in an engaged, courageous, and spirit-filled community. The surrounding area is likewise a witness of God’s love—full of majestic rivers and beautiful bluffs, outdoor recreational activities, arts and culture, and lively eateries. For the young professional looking to grow or the family desirous of a Catholic community, the Shrine invites you to apply.

TO APPLY PLEASE VISIT:

https://www.americanphilanthropic.com/open-searches/major-gifts-officer-2/