Director of ; Major Gifts

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Posted:
May 2026
Status:
Open

Organization:

St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church (Newman Parish) in Columbia, Missouri

Position

Description:

St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church (Newman Parish) is hiring a Director of Advancement for Major Gifts. Established in 1963, Newman is a vibrant Catholic parish located adjacent to the University of Missouri (MU) campus. Newman serves 900 resident parishioner households with a full range of faith formation programs including a highly active Campus Ministry program that serves approximately 1,000 students at MU, Stephens College, and Columbia College, all located in Columbia, Missouri.

Newman Parish is looking for someone who is cheerful, enthusiastic, energetic, self-motivated, confident in their ability to ask for financial support and close philanthropic gifts, with a passion for building and maintaining strong relationships with both student and resident parishioners that will bear fruit in the form of philanthropic gifts to Newman and Newman’s Campus Ministry.

Position

Description:

The Director of Advancement for Major Gifts reports directly to the Pastor and works cooperatively with the Director of Advancement for Gifts and Administration. This position is responsible for leading the major gifts program, cultivating transformational philanthropic relationships, and securing significant financial resources to advance the mission of the Parish. This position works closely with the Director of Advancement for Gifts and Administration to ensure alignment between major gifts strategy and the broader development program.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Major Gifts Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Develop and implement a comprehensive major gifts strategy focused on gifts of $10,000+ or as determined by the Pastor.
• Research, build, manage, and actively steward a growing portfolio of major gift prospects and benefactors.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and close major and principal gifts in support of Parish priorities.
• Partner with the Director of Advancement for Gifts and Administration and the Pastor to align fundraising priorities with vision, mission, and strategic initiatives.

Donor Engagement & Travel

• Conduct a minimum of 10–15 in-person visits per month with major gift prospects and benefactors.
• Travel regularly (regionally and nationally) to cultivate and solicit benefactors and deepen relationships.
• Develop personalized cultivation and solicitation strategies for each assigned prospect.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the Director of Advancement for Gifts and Administration to ensure seamless integration between major gifts and annual fund efforts.
• Assist in supporting clergy, staff, and key volunteers in major gift cultivation and solicitation.
• Participate in strategic planning related to advancement, campaign readiness, and long-term growth.

Stewardship & Donor Relations

• Ensure high-quality, personalized stewardship for major benefactors, including impact reporting and ongoing communication.
• Arrange and facilitate clergy-donor meetings.
• Oversee with the Director of Advancement for Gifts and Administration, the development of proposals, case statements, and major gift materials.
• Maintain detailed and accurate donor records, contact reports, and pipeline activity.

Campaigns & Special Initiatives

• Provide leadership for endowment efforts, other special funding initiatives, and capital campaigns as assigned by the Pastor.
• Assist in identifying leadership gift opportunities and securing early/anchor gifts for major initiatives.

Reporting & Accountability

• Establish measurable goals for visits, solicitations, and dollars raised.
• Provide…