Major Gifts Officer

Texas Water Trade seeks a Major Gifts Officer to work with the Director of Development (DOD), Chief Strategy Officer, and the Chief Executive Officer of Texas Water Trade to create and lead fundraising efforts involving major gifts of $50,000 and greater. The Major Gifts Officer will develop and implement strategies that diversify TWT’s funding portfolio, with an express emphasis on individual donors and foundations.

The Major Gifts Officer will report to the CEO of Texas Water Trade and work with the Director of Development and Chief Strategy Officer.

• Manage, cultivate, and grow a portfolio of major‑gift prospects and donors with a focus on gifts of $50,000 and above.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors in alignment with TWT’s fundraising priorities.
• Develop tailored engagement and stewardship strategies that reflect donor interests and TWT’s mission and impact.
• Evaluate, develop, and maintain new major gifts and advocates to support TWT’s annual and long‑term growth.
• Develop and steward relationships with individual donors through network outreach, individual engagement, and strategic events.
• Design, create, establish, and advance a planned giving program.

• Work with the CEO, Development Director, campaign contractor and key board members to design and lead the major gifts rollout of a multi‑year fundraising campaign.
• Collaborate with TWT staff to manage strategy, donors, and outcomes by using and improving the functionality of our internal CRMs and data management tools.
• Lead reporting and accountability for targeted/assigned donor prospects.

• Work with the Director of Development and CEO to create and implement strategic and effective development plans. Responsible for execution and communication of a compelling vision and sense of purpose to internal and external stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with the CEO, Development team, the Board of Directors, and other team members to understand and meet the organization’s priorities and lead the development of strategies designed to meet fundraising goals.
• Consistently meet and exceed financial performance measures, goals, and deadlines.
• Effectively use, leverage, and collaborate to improve office systems to support all development projects (i.e. development calendar, metrics reports, and donor tracking databases).
• Continuously analyze and benchmark the effectiveness of development efforts and make improvements accordingly.
• Supervise donor and gift record‑keeping and coordinate development research activities with the development and leadership teams.
• Lead, support, prepare, advance, facilitate and otherwise potentiate the CEO’s major gift work with top prospects and donors.
• Work with executive leadership to support the annual budgeting process and periodic multi‑year forecasting exercises.
• Assist in the creation of development reports for the Board and other audiences.

• Demonstrable experience (more than seven years, 10+ preferred) and track record dealing with major gifts from high value individual donors, as well as corporate and foundation givers, deep familiarity with Texas and the major markets elsewhere in the United States.
• Fundraising experience and competency with all phases of the donor lifecycle (identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship).
• A proven record of commitments secured across a national donor pool.
• Demonstrable experience and proficiency building a portfolio of major gift donors at $50,000 and above with a focus on individuals and inclusive of corporate sponsors and private foundations.
• Experience writing, managing, and tracking grants.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, with a focus on detail and deadlines.
• A talent for developing authentic human connections.
• Comfort and penchant for working with donors, entrepreneurs, scientists, government officials, and engineers.
• An ability to relate well to all people, inside and outside of the organization, build appropriate rapport and constructive relationships using listening…