Career Blazers Nonprofit Search
Position Overview
Join a purpose-driven team working to end hunger and tackle its root causes through community partnerships, advocacy, and direct food distribution. Every role contributes to a powerful mission that helps provide millions of meals annually to individuals and families in need. Be part of a movement creating lasting change by increasing access to nutritious food and building a healthier, more equitable future for all. As Major Gift Officer, you will manage a portfolio of 125–150 major and planned giving prospects, securing gifts of $10,000 and above to support the Organization’s fundraising goals. You will cultivate and steward donor relationships through the full giving cycle, aligning donor interests with mission-critical priorities. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of closing five-figure gifts, strong relationship-building skills, and a commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in fundraising.
Responsibilities
Oversee a portfolio of 100–125 major gift prospects, focusing on qualification, discovery, and securing gifts of $10,000 or more
Plan and execute outreach and cultivation strategies to identify prospects and advance solicitation and stewardship efforts, including 50–80 in-person or virtual donor visits annually
Apply a deep understanding of development practices and organizational priorities to align donor interests with funding opportunities
Partner with supervisors and colleagues to identify top prospects using giving history, research, and relationship insights
Develop customized relationship action plans for each prospect to support financial and fundraising goals
Collaborate with senior leadership to plan and conduct major gift solicitations
Ensure meaningful recognition of major donors through events, publications, and program engagement opportunities
Work alongside development team members to support ongoing cultivation and stewardship activities
Qualifications
Proven track record in fundraising, successfully securing gifts of $5,000–$10,000+ within a nonprofit, educational, or similarly complex organization
Strong knowledge of the Chicago philanthropic landscape and donor community
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Highly organized with keen attention to detail
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Experience with development databases, ensuring accurate data entry and management
Excellent interpersonal skills, capable of building strong relationships with donors, volunteers, and colleagues
Comfortable working in a general office environment with limited exposure to warehouse settings
Interacts regularly with staff, financial donors, volunteers, and the general public
Willingness to travel locally for events and donor meetings, including occasional evenings and weekends as required
Compensation
Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
Employer-paid life and disability insurance
Employee Assistance Program
403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
Generous paid time off
$3,000 annual employer-paid ThrivePass lifestyle and wellness benefit program
$250.00 employee Referral bonus
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Business Development
Industries
Non-profit Organizations
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Join a purpose-driven team working to end hunger and tackle its root causes through community partnerships, advocacy, and direct food distribution. Every role contributes to a powerful mission that helps provide millions of meals annually to individuals and families in need. Be part of a movement creating lasting change by increasing access to nutritious food and building a healthier, more equitable future for all. As Major Gift Officer, you will manage a portfolio of 125–150 major and planned giving prospects, securing gifts of $10,000 and above to support the Organization’s fundraising goals. You will cultivate and steward donor relationships through the full giving cycle, aligning donor interests with mission-critical priorities. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of closing five-figure gifts, strong relationship-building skills, and a commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in fundraising.
Responsibilities
Oversee a portfolio of 100–125 major gift prospects, focusing on qualification, discovery, and securing gifts of $10,000 or more
Plan and execute outreach and cultivation strategies to identify prospects and advance solicitation and stewardship efforts, including 50–80 in-person or virtual donor visits annually
Apply a deep understanding of development practices and organizational priorities to align donor interests with funding opportunities
Partner with supervisors and colleagues to identify top prospects using giving history, research, and relationship insights
Develop customized relationship action plans for each prospect to support financial and fundraising goals
Collaborate with senior leadership to plan and conduct major gift solicitations
Ensure meaningful recognition of major donors through events, publications, and program engagement opportunities
Work alongside development team members to support ongoing cultivation and stewardship activities
Qualifications
Proven track record in fundraising, successfully securing gifts of $5,000–$10,000+ within a nonprofit, educational, or similarly complex organization
Strong knowledge of the Chicago philanthropic landscape and donor community
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Highly organized with keen attention to detail
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Experience with development databases, ensuring accurate data entry and management
Excellent interpersonal skills, capable of building strong relationships with donors, volunteers, and colleagues
Comfortable working in a general office environment with limited exposure to warehouse settings
Interacts regularly with staff, financial donors, volunteers, and the general public
Willingness to travel locally for events and donor meetings, including occasional evenings and weekends as required
Compensation
Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
Employer-paid life and disability insurance
Employee Assistance Program
403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
Generous paid time off
$3,000 annual employer-paid ThrivePass lifestyle and wellness benefit program
$250.00 employee Referral bonus
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Business Development
Industries
Non-profit Organizations
#J-18808-Ljbffr