Major Gifts Officer

Reports To: Senior Vice President, Development

FLSA Status: Full Time - Exempt
Salary: $85,000 + DOE

SUMMARY

The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) plays a pivotal role in the success of Arizona Science Center (ASC). The primary focus of this position is to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donor prospects for both ASC education programs and the ongoing capital campaign. This individual serves as a key member of the ASC’s development team and is accountable for an assigned share of the Arizona Science Center’s general operating and capital campaign goals.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Arizona Science Center maintains a strong policy of equal employment opportunity for all Employees and applicants. We recruit, hire, train, promote, compensate and dismiss Employees on the basis of such factors as experience, character, ability and skill, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or heritage, age, marital or veteran status, disability, citizenship, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following and other duties as assigned:

• Manage a portfolio of 50 - 100 major gift prospects with capacity to give $25,000+
• Work with CEO and SVP, Development, to tailor cultivation strategies and solicitation plans for each prospect
• Conduct face-to-face meetings, donor events, and campaign briefings to deepen engagement
• Collaborate with leadership, board members, and campaign committee members to leverage additional prospects
• Partner with external consultants to align donor outreach with campaign phases and priorities
• Contribute to the development of campaign materials, proposals, and impact reports
• Track and report on donor activity, pipeline progress, and revenue forecasts
• S tewardship & Relationship Management
  • Ensure timely and meaningful stewardship of all major gifts
  • Coordinate recognition opportunities, naming rights, and donor impact communications
  • Maintain accurate records in the CRM/database and uphold donor confidentiality
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with CEO, SVP, Development, communications, finance, and program teams to align messaging and impact
• Support campaign events, site visits, and donor engagement experiences
• Participate in regular strategy sessions and campaign progress reviews

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Required
  • Minimum 5 years of experience in major gifts fundraising, preferably within a capital campaign
  • Proven track record of securing gifts of six and seven figure gifts
  • Possess a strong understanding of planned giving vehicles and complex gift structures, with the ability to navigate sophisticated philanthropic conversations involving estates, trusts, securities, and other charitable assets
  • Strategic thinker with strong organizational and analytical abilities
• Familiarity with fundraising standards and campaign best practices
• Ability to travel locally and occasionally work evenings/weekends

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university. Tessitura or related database knowledge and experience highly preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Required
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytic, written, computer and verbal communication skills a must.
• Stellar written and communication skills are a must, as the individual who fills this position must compose original narratives quickly and accurately and make solicitation presentations to donors.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence and…