Major Gift Officer

Overview

Major Gift Officer

Tidewater Community College

Job Description

Tidewater Community College has served South Hampton Roads – both students and employers – for 50 years. It has grown from 1 campus into a regional educational and economic force. TCC is the largest provider of higher education and workforce services in Hampton Roads, enrolling nearly 25,000 students in 2024-25. Founded in 1968 as a part of the Virginia Community College System, Tidewater Community College (TCC) services South Hampton Roads with 4 campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach, 7 regional centers and 2 important cultural institutions.

The college had 3,399 graduates in , 40 percent of whom pursued degrees that would let them transfer to 4-year institutions. Of South Hampton Roads residents enrolled in higher education 33% enrolled ’s institutional accreditation is affirmed through 2027 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The Major Gift Officer will work closely with the TCC leadership and community in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts. The Major Gift Officer will proactively and strategically manage a portfolio of prospects, generate a high level of activity and prospect contact, formulate gift strategies for these individuals/organizations, and write plans directed at achieving maximum gifts in support of college approved funding needs.

This individual will be responsible for diversifying the college’s funding base through government, corporate, private, and foundation fundraising and will provide periodic leadership and oversight for the Institutional Advancement staff (TCC Educational Foundation as well as Marketing and Communications). The Major Gifts Officer reports to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement.

• In coordination with the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, establish clear goals and objectives for the college’s development program and articulate them to a broad audience both within and outside the college.
• Assist to coordinate and implement the comprehensive major gift fundraising program of TCC and its associated Educational Foundation, including major gifts campaigns, general annual fund campaigns, corporate and foundation giving, planned giving, capital and equipment campaigns, and targeted annual appeals to employees, donors, industry partners, and alumni.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of mid-level donors (100-200 donors and prospects). Move donors from four to five figure gifts ($1,000 to $10,000) in the major gift management system – creating a pipeline of highly engaged donors for TCC and the TCCEF.
• Provide creative oversight and manage the production of development correspondence, major gift acknowledgment, promotional and solicitation materials and necessary publications or media related to all fundraising activities.
• Prepare thorough, accurate, and concisely written research reports which may include biographical and financial information, the potential for philanthropic support, areas of interest, affiliations with individuals, and research on corporations and foundations.
• Ensure that all accounting practices comply with state and federal laws and philanthropic accounting requirements.
• Direct the effective operation and management of the donor database (RE), gift management system, and prospect identification software. Ensure best practices and procedures are followed related to data management and prospect management. RE record development is a high priority.
• Represent TCC and the Educational Foundation’s interests with current and potential donors and at appropriate college and external activities.
• Work directly with the TCC Educational Foundation Board and other boards as deemed appropriate by the Vice President.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy among faculty, staff, and volunteers and collaborate closely with college leadership and Development Office staff to ensure appropriate involvement in all development efforts.
• Provide occasional oversight and management of operations in absence of VPIA, and…