Major Gifts Officer — Arts & Business

Department Development Job Summary

The Major Gifts Officer for Arts & Business is a key frontline fundraising professional within the Development team in University Advancement at LSU New Orleans. The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of prospective and current donors capable of making major gifts in support of the university's strategic priorities, academic programs, research initiatives, and student success, with a focus on the Henry Bernstein College of Business Administration and the College of Liberal Arts, Education & Human Development.

Working collaboratively with Advancement colleagues, academic leadership, faculty, and senior administrators, the Major Gifts Officer plays a critical role in advancing a culture of philanthropy and securing private support that enhances LSU New Orleans's mission as a public urban research university. The Major Gifts Officer partners closely with the Foundation and reports fundraising activity and progress to the LSU New Orleans Foundation Board.

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 75 to 120 major gift prospects and donors, generally defined as individuals with the capacity to make gifts of $25,000 or more, or as defined by the University.
• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors through purposeful, strategic, relationship‑based engagement.
• Develop and execute individualized major gift strategies and solicitation plans that align donor interests with university priorities.
• Conduct a high volume of meaningful donor visits, in person, virtual, and by phone, including discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship interactions.
• Secure major gifts, multi‑year pledges, and blended gifts in collaboration with Planned Giving and other Advancement partners when appropriate.
• Work closely with the deans, faculty, and leadership of the Henry Bernstein College of Business Administration and the College of Liberal Arts, Education & Human Development, along with advancement leadership and volunteers, to identify funding priorities, translate academic and program goals into compelling funding opportunities, and engage prospects effectively.
• Prepare written proposals, gift agreements, stewardship reports, and correspondence tailored to donor interests.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, moves‑management activity, and proposals in the University's CRM (Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT), partnering with the Senior Prospect Strategy & Research Analyst on prospect qualification, portfolio optimization, and pipeline reporting.
• Partner with the Advancement Data & Stewardship Manager and the Advancement Operations & Events Manager to ensure timely, meaningful stewardship and effective cultivation and recognition events.
• Participate in strategic initiatives such as comprehensive campaigns, special projects, donor events, and volunteer engagement efforts.
• Provide exemplary stewardship to ensure donor satisfaction and long‑term philanthropic commitment.
• Stay informed about university programs, achievements, and funding priorities to effectively communicate LSU New Orleans's impact.
• Report fundraising activity, pipeline movement, and progress to advancement leadership and to the LSU New Orleans Foundation Board as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the goals of University Advancement.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, donor relations, sales, or relationship‑based development, preferably in higher education or a nonprofit environment.
• Demonstrated success in securing major gifts or comparable revenue‑generating outcomes.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship‑building skills with the ability to engage diverse constituencies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively as part of a team.
• Proven organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with fundraising databases and CRMs and with Microsoft Office…