Major Gift Officer; West Coast

The Advancement Team supports NOLS’ mission and goals that inspire meaningful and enduring engagement of our alumni and friends worldwide. We build lifelong relationships that engage the time, loyalty, and intellectual and financial resources in support of NOLS’ aspirations, goals, and organizational priorities. We’re seeking a seasoned fundraiser who’s passionate about the outdoors and skilled at building authentic, lasting relationships. You’ll engage our West Coast alumni and supporters in their impact of giving back to NOLS.

You’ll enjoy working with a large and engaged alumni base, with a shared passion for NOLS and our 60-year history.

The Major Gift Officer (MGO) will serve as the lead strategist and relationship manager for a dynamic portfolio of major and principal gift donors across the West Coast. You will develop personalized engagement and solicitation plans, steward long-term donor relationships, and work collaboratively with colleagues to align donor interests with the school’s priorities. This position plays a central role in elevating philanthropic partnerships and opening new pathways.

In this role, you'll also coordinate closely with other teams across the organization—including finance, expedition, wilderness medicine and other staff, trustees, and volunteers—to design high-impact donor experiences and create opportunities for deeper engagement. You will represent NOLS with confidence and authenticity, speaking passionately about our leadership, the outdoors as the greatest teacher, and wilderness medicine programs. You will be a compelling advocate for giving at all levels, including planned gifts and other non-cash contributions.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong track record of securing major and principal gifts, an instinct for building relationships, and a genuine passion for the outdoors. You’ll be a strategic thinker, a natural collaborator, and an articulate spokesperson for NOLS’ mission and impact. This is more than a fundraising role, it’s a leadership opportunity to bring others into a shared vision and help fuel the next chapter of NOLS.

• Location:
  
  Western US:
  California or Washington preferred, other intermountain western states considered
• Minimum Qualifications:
  
  3+ years of major gift or individual giving experience, with demonstrated success of success securing large gifts. Consideration may be given for related experience in customer-facing sales, nonprofit programming, financial and estate planning, or marketing.
• Benefits:
  This position is eligible for Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Spending account, Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Long Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, Paid Time off, 403(b), 403(b) contribution, and more.
• Questions:
  Please contact people team
• Start date:
  
  January 2027
• Closing Date: 18 November 2026

• Effectively researches, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards a large 110+ donor portfolio of prospective donors with the ability to secure major and principal gift commitments.
• Cultivates major and principal gift prospects, building relationships and understanding the donors’/prospects’ goals with the expressed purpose of building comprehensive donor strategies to align donor interests and organizational goals.
• Meets outreach, personal visit, and revenue metrics as established by the Vice President of Advancement.
• Employs high-volume email, phone, social media messaging, and personalized mail outreach to secure first-time personal visits with major gifts prospects and increased leadership annual gifts.
• Ensures necessary tracking and regular communication with prospects. Tracks fundraising progress and manages…