Senior Major Gift Officer

Amherst College
United States, Massachusetts, Amherst
6 East Drive (Show on map)
Feb 19, 2025
Senior Major Gift Officer Amherst Campus Full Time JR5782 Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff. Job Description: Amherst College invites applications for the Senior Major Gift Officer position. The Senior Major Gift Officer is a full-time, year-round position, starting at $120,000 per year - commensurate with experience. Given Amherst's distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community. The Senior Major Gift Officer is an integral member of the College's Major & Planned Gifts and Advancement team. This experienced fundraising professional will manage a diverse portfolio of approximately 150 households, which include Amherst alumni, parent donors, and prospective donors. The SMGO will be responsible for designing and implementing tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies to secure significant philanthropic support. The role requires frequent domestic and international travel to engage members of the Amherst community in meaningful conversations, ultimately leading to six and seven-figure gifts. Reporting to the Senior Director of Major and Planned Gifts, the SMGO will collaborate closely with a dynamic team of fundraising professionals. This individual will play a vital role in the raising of major gifts in support of Amherst's funding priorities, including, but not limited to, the new Student Center and Dining Commons project, the Climate Action plan, and the College's best-in-class financial aid program. This individual's performance will be measured against clearly established metric-based goals. The person in this role is expected to work as part of a collaborative and inclusive team including taking appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participating in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment. In addition, all advancement staff members are required to support and staff key events such as Reunion, Homecoming, and Family Weekend. These events may require occasional evening and weekend hours. Summary of Responsibilities: Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 diverse Amherst alumni donors and prospective donors Design and implement tailored strategies for prospect cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship Travel frequently, primarily domestically but occasionally internationally, with some additional virtual (Zoom) visits to engage diverse members of the Amherst community Close six- and seven-figure gifts in support of Amherst's established priorities Track personal fundraising metrics and use data to inform fundraising strategies Solicit an annual gift for each assigned prospect Maintain an in-depth knowledge of Amherst's priorities, academic and extracurricular programs, and key faculty and administrators Serve as a point of contact for targeted fundraising initiatives, events, and efforts across college divisions, departments, and/or affinity/interest groups Plan and staff regional engagement and cultivation events, including some on nights and weekends Qualifications: Required Bachelor's Degree Five to seven years of related experience Proven success closing six-figure and above gifts or applicable and relevant experience in a related field Minimum of five years experience in the development field, including substantial work and success in soliciting major gifts and marketing planned gifts Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with donors, volunteers, and colleagues with the ability to advance relationships strategically and proactively An unwavering commitment to sound judgment and integrity, coupled with the ability to lead effectively through influence and inspire trust Personal capacity to thrive in a fast-paced environment Able to travel 35-50% of the time- domestically and internationally Strong organizational, interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills Commitment to working with diverse communities Amherst College offers many opportunities for professional growth and development, continued learning, and career advancement. Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for Benefits Information. Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs. Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Jobs Hub icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. To apply, visit https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Amherst_Jobs/job/Amherst-Campus/Senior-Major-Gift-Officer_JR5782 jeid-26effc435c5f0844af8323bb1f3a5986