Philanthropy Officer, Major Gifts (Development Officer)

Reporting to the Vice President for Communications and External Relations, the Development Officer is responsible for building and managing relationships with high-capacity donors to secure significant philanthropic support aligned with the organization’s mission and strategic priorities. The role focuses on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects through personalized engagement strategies, including one-on-one meetings, tailored proposals, and meaningful recognition. Partnering closely with the Board and leadership team members to articulate impact, advance donor trust, and grow a sustainable major gifts pipeline that supports both immediate fundraising goals and long-term organizational growth.

Key Performance Measures/Deliverables:

Performance Standards

• Invest 60-80% of time on direct fundraising
• Manage a portfolio size, primary and secondary, of 100-150 donors
• Have 160-220 substantive interactions annually
• Complete 15-25 managed asks, with 10-20 closed; and 7-15 team asks
• Create an Annual Work Plan detailing priorities/goals

Donor Identification & Research

• Identify and qualify potential major gift donors.
• Conduct research on donor capacity, philanthropic interests, and giving history.
• Develop donor strategies based on wealth screenings and engagement analytics.

Donor Cultivation & Relationship Building

• Build and maintain strong relationships with prospective and current major donors.
• Conduct one-on-one meetings, visits to the facility, and personalized engagement activities. Engage donors in alignment with fundraising strategies.
• Work closely with leadership to align donor interests with organizational priorities.

Gift Solicitation & Proposal Development

• Develop tailored solicitation strategies for individual donors.
• Present funding opportunities through personalized proposals and case statements.
• Make direct asks for major gifts through in-person meetings, calls, and written proposals.
• Responsible for leading and managing the employee giving program, including designing annual campaigns, coordinating communications and engagement activities, and serving as the primary point of contact for employee donors.

Donor Stewardship & Recognition

• Ensure proper acknowledgment and appreciation of major donors through thank-you letters, impact reports, and events.
• Provide ongoing engagement to deepen donor relationships and encourage future giving.
• Coordinate donor recognition programs, including naming opportunities and special acknowledgments.

Collaboration with Stakeholders

• Work closely with leadership to align fundraising goals.
• Partner with event planning, community engagement, and marketing teams to maximize donor engagement.
• Serve as a liaison between donors and programs or projects they support.

Data Management & Reporting

• Maintain accurate donor records and track engagement activity using CRM tools.
• Prepare reports on progress toward fundraising goals and donor pipeline development.
• Use data analytics to refine donor strategies and measure success.

Event Participation & Major Gift Campaigns

• Attend or organize donor cultivation events, including receptions, galas, and tours.
• Participate in campaign planning for capital projects, scholarships, endowments, and special initiatives.
• Coordinate follow-up strategies post-events to convert engaged donors into major contributors.

The Qualified Candidate

Gift of Life Michigan seeks a focused philanthropy professional with proven experience achieving major giving goals, and cultivating relationships with prospects, donors and colleagues. The successful candidate will have a minimum of 3-5 years of experience.  The selected candidate will be collaborative, compassionate and charismatic, with a can-do attitude.

Specific requirements include:

Key Competencies

• Relationship Building: Ability to cultivate and maintain long-term donor relationships.
• Fundraising Knowledge: Understanding of philanthropic trends, donor motivations, and gift solicitation techniques.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written skills for donor meetings, proposals, and presentations.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align donor interests with organizational priorities.
• Persuasion & Negotiation: Comfort with making direct gift solicitations and closing major donations.
• Confidentiality & Ethics: Knowledge of fundraising best practices, gift agreements, and donor confidentiality.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in business administration, communications, or a related field.
• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) is preferred.

Personal competencies

• Relationship and trust building skills
• Highly credible with personal integrity
• Proactive and highly responsive
• Solution-oriented/Identifies new opportunities
• Results and goal oriented
• Excellent communications skills
• Confidence to take action and “run with things”

Gift of Life Michigan offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision and life insurance; a retirement plan with a 10% employer contribution (after 1 year of service); an outstanding vacation and time off policy; an on-site fitness facility, professional development program and disability insurance. This role requires limited local travel for donor meetings. The salary range for this position is $130,000 - $142,500 annually. This position is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.