Major Gifts Officer

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Development, the Major Gifts Officer (MGO) plays a significant role in securing philanthropy for Bentley University's strategic priorities. The MGO qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals living locally and out of state who have the capacity to make gifts of $100k or more. The MGO's portfolio may be focused on specific prospect constituencies including alumni and parents, geographic regions, and/or institutional priorities including athletics, financial aid and capital projects.

The successful MGO establishes effective relationships with individuals in their portfolio and develops and executes strategic solicitation plans. The MGO utilizes data to evaluate and prioritize a portfolio of 125–150 individuals. Collaboration is highly valued across the university and especially with University Advancement colleagues including other frontline staff and teams in Alumni & Family Engagement, Donor Relations, and Prospect Research.

• Effectively and efficiently qualify individuals in portfolio to solicit and close gifts of $100K+.

• Possess skills to manage donors and prospects throughout the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship phases applying sound strategies for each prospect.

• Meet and exceed annual goals for gift revenue, meetings, qualification, solicitation, and other key performance indicators as defined.

• Maximize productivity through portfolio management strategies supported by prospect research, data analytics, AI and other technology.

• Update database with timely contact reports, demographic updates, and moves management activity.

• Prepare donor correspondence, gift documentation, briefing materials and related documents.

• Partner with other frontline teams, including Major Giving, Annual Giving, Gift Planning, Corporate and Foundation Relations, to create comprehensive solicitation strategies that support mutually shared goals.

• Collaborate with the Office of Alumni & Family Engagement and the Pulsifer Career Development Center to maximize resources and create opportunities to engage prospects and donors through events and other activities.

• Develop relationships with key campus partners to achieve engagement and revenue goals.

• Steward donors in collaboration with the Donor Relations team.

• Develop and articulate a deep knowledge of the culture at Bentley University including fundraising priorities, mission, and strategic positioning; academic, extra‑curricular and athletic programs; and its faculty, students, and administration.

• Understand and meet departmental standards, policies, and procedures with respect to all aspects of the position.

• Participate in and organize, as appropriate, the planning and execution of targeted cultivation events locally and out of state.

• Attend staff events, which may require travel, evening, and weekend responsibilities.

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 5 years of frontline fundraising experience. Other related experience, sales, or account management experience, preferably in an institution of higher education, may be considered.

• Positive professional who is initiative‑taking, results‑oriented and collaborator who is enthusiastic and able to make direct person‑to‑person solicitations.

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.

• Experience with and proficiency in CRM donor database usage and an intermediate command of the Microsoft 365 Suite.

• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks simultaneously with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines.

• Demonstration of a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in a value‑driven organization.

• Interact professionally and maintain confidentiality.

• Must hold and maintain a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver's license, with an insurable driving history as determined by Bentley's insurance carrier.

• This role offers a flexible work arrangement, combining in‑person attendance with remote work. On‑site presence is required based on business needs, team collaboration, or scheduled meetings. Scheduling specifics will be determined in…