Major Gifts Officer

Job title:

Major Gifts Officer

Reports to:

Senior Director of Individual Giving

FLSA Status:
Exempt

Alliance for Justice (AFJ) isanational association of more than 135 organizations,representingabroad array of groups committed toprogressive values and the creation ofanequitable, just, andfree society. For more than
45 years we have beenleaders inthefight foramore equitable society onbehalf of abroad constituency based on the belief that all Americans have the right tosecure justice in thecourtsandtohavetheirvoices heardwhengovernment makesdecisionsthat affect their lives.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Individual Giving, the Major Gifts Officer serves as the strategic architect of the donor journey. This role is best suited for a seasoned gift officer who works collaboratively, approaches challenges with a problem-solving mindset, and brings a strong can‑do attitude. Prior management experience is helpful. The ideal candidate is adaptable and able to pivot as needed, as the development function requires agile thinking and a flexible workflow.

This position focuses on building and managing a scalable system that converts first-time and current supporters into recurring partners, while identifying high net worth potential prospects for deeper investment. Specifically, this role is responsible for cultivating, stewarding and growing annually the mid-level donor and sustainer programs. Success is measured in part by pipeline velocity, defined as the strategic advancement of donors toward leadership level giving, but performance is not evaluated on efficiency alone.

Success also requires the ability to anticipate and respond to current event cycles, identify and leverage timely opportunities, think strategically and creatively, and collaborate effectively across teams to amplify impact.

Equally important is a strong understanding of donor stewardship. The Major Gifts Officer engages donors in ways that are strategic, relevant, and meaningful to them, with the goal of strengthening long‑term relationships, engagement, and sustained support – producing increased revenue growth year over year.

• Targeted Cultivation: Focuses on donors who have moved beyond entry-level giving to maximize their long-term lifetime value.
• Concierge Stewardship: Provides a high-touch experience for mid-tier donors through personal phone calls, custom impact updates, and exclusive event invitations, raising annual growth of this portfolio by 25%
• Pipeline Movement: Systematically prepares and transitions top-tier donors to the Senior Director of Individual Giving once they reach the organization’s highest capacity thresholds. Raising annual growth of this portfolio by 25%
• Engagement Tracking: Monitors interactions from email open rates to event attendance within Every Action to prioritize outreach.

• Donor Search Integration: Leverages Donor Search to perform real-time wealth screening and philanthropic propensity modeling on the current database.
• Predictive Prospecting: Utilizes wealth markers and behavioral data to identify “hidden” high-capacity donors. Resourceful and creative in identifying leads.
• Qualification Cycles: Conducts “discovery” outreach to determine if a donor has the inclination and capacity for a significant gift upgrade.
• Portfolio Hand-off: Serves as the primary filter for the Major Gifts team, ensuring only “warm,” qualified leads are moved into high-touch portfolios.

• Conversion Strategy: Launches automated email journeys in Every Action that trigger recurring giving asks based on specific donor behavior.
• Churn Mitigation: Proactively manages payment failures and expired cards to protect the organization’s predictable cash flow.
• Sustainer Upgrades: Executes data-driven campaigns to encourage monthly donors to increase their commitment or transition to an annual leadership gift.
• Community Building: Manages the identity and “perks” of the monthly sustainers to foster loyalty.

• Dire…