Major Gift Officer

Position Overview

Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Valparaiso University in the search for a Major Gift Officer.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Development, the Major Gift Officer will advance the philanthropic mission of Valparaiso University by building and managing a portfolio of major gift prospects, including alumni, parents, friends, and foundations. The Major Gift Officer will develop and implement personalized cultivation strategies that deepen relationships and engage donors in the university's vision and initiatives. The Major Gift Officer will identify, qualify, and solicit major gifts, while collaborating with the Assistant Vice President, Development and the Advancement team to create compelling proposals, and ensure donors receive meaningful updates on the impact of their contributions.

The Major Gift Officer also will design customized stewardship plans that express gratitude and foster long-term engagement, while effectively managing a portfolio through personal visits, correspondence, and digital communication. Working in close partnership with colleagues across the university, the Major Gift Officer will align fundraising efforts, identify funding priorities, and leverage opportunities for support.

Valparaiso University (Valpo) is an independent Lutheran school with a reputation for extraordinary academics, as well as a bright, energetic spirit. Valpo offers more than 70 undergraduate majors in five colleges and more than 20 graduate programs. With an average class size of 21, the university boasts a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The university offers study abroad opportunities with dedicated study centers in England, Germany, Costa Rica, and China, and additional opportunities available in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and Central and South America.

As a faith-based school, Valpo works towards a mission that focuses on both the academic and spiritual journeys of its students. Valpo provides a community of learning dedicated to excellence and grounded in the Lutheran tradition of scholarship, freedom, and faith — preparing students to lead and serve in both church and society. It prides itself on being a welcoming community for all faiths, built on values of mutual respect, positive regard, and academic freedom.

As an institution that sets high standards for its students and faculty, Valpo consistently achieves national recognition for best teaching and value and as one of the best universities in the Midwest. The Princeton Review ranked Valpo number five for the best green MBA. U.S. News & World Report has ranked it one of the top ten regional universities in the Midwest and it is currently listed among the best nationally ranked colleges.

The same publication named the university as the number one best value and number five for best undergraduate teaching in the Midwest. Valpo regularly appears in Forbes "America's Top Colleges" list. It is also listed as one of the best colleges in Indiana by  Valpo students and recent alumni have been honored with prestigious awards, such as the Fulbright Fellowship, IEEE Fellowship, Gilman International Scholarship, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, and the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship.

Valpo ranks second among U.S. master's degree institutions in producing winners of prestigious Fulbright awards for international study, research, and teaching. The faculty are also nationally recognized. Professors have recently been granted research grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Luther Institute. Valpo professors have also been honored with the National Book Award, membership in the President's Council on Bioethics, and recognition as Chevalier in France's Ordre des Palmes académiques.

A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least three years of successful major gift fundraising experience in higher education or a related nonprofit sector is preferred for this position.…