Major Gifts Officer

Major Gifts Officer

The Bushnell seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven fundraising professional who is passionate about the performing arts and committed to building meaningful philanthropic partnerships. The Annual Gifts Officer will be responsible for identifying, researching, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors and prospects in support of The Bushnell Annual Fund and a $45 million campaign in celebration of The Bushnell's 100th anniversary in 2030.

This position plays a critical role in growing annual support by increasing donor participation, strengthening donor retention, upgrading giving levels, and building a sustainable pipeline of future major gift donors. The successful candidate will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, conduct prospect research, and engage donors through personalized cultivation and face-to-face solicitation.

The ideal candidate is a self-motivated fundraiser who combines strong relationship-building skills with a data-informed approach to donor engagement and pipeline development.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with Development colleagues and senior staff to reach major gifts fundraising goals.
• Supervise and mentor the Annual Gifts Officer, providing guidance on portfolio management, donor strategy, and professional development, and ensuring alignment between annual and major gifts efforts.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects capable of making major gifts in the $10,000+ range.
• Manage an active portfolio of approximately 100 households.
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies designed to increase gift size, donor retention, and long-term engagement, including planned giving and multi-year commitments.
• Play an active solicitation role in the Tomorrow Together Campaign, securing leadership commitments from portfolio donors and prospects, and partnering with senior leadership on campaign strategy and donor engagement.
• Conduct a minimum of 15-20 meaningful donor and prospect contacts per month, including in-person visits, virtual meetings, phone calls, and other strategic outreach.
• Conduct ongoing prospect research and wealth screening to identify new major gift prospects with the capacity and inclination to support The Bushnell.
• Partner with the Annual Fund team and the Annual Gifts Officer to identify and qualify donors making first or increased gifts who show potential for major gift giving, leveraging data and wealth screening tools.
• Under the direction of the Chief Development Officer, prepare annual goals, objectives, and strategies to identify, cultivate, and solicit donors and prospects.
• Set annual goals and performance expectations for the Annual Gifts Officer and conduct regular check-ins and performance reviews.
• Work with the Senior Director of Annual Fund & Development Operations and Chief Development Officer to identify and invite donors and prospects to cultivation and stewardship events.
• Prepare prospect profiles, donor briefs, and research materials for solicitations and donor meetings.
• Enter comprehensive contact reports within one week of donor interactions.
• Participate in execution of events and programs in support of development activities. Utilize events and personal interactions to deepen donor engagement and move solicitations forward.
• Lead and assist with solicitations and donor engagement strategies related to other special campaigns.
• Additional duties as assigned.