Department: 421000 - Development
Position SummaryServing as a key member of the University Advancement team, the Major Gift Officer (MGO) is responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors. The MGO develops and manages a portfolio, builds a sustainable pipeline, secures donor meetings, creates and executes individualized engagement and solicitation strategies, develops proposals, makes asks, and closes major gifts in support of La Salle University priorities. Personally developing and managing their assigned portfolio, the MGO is responsible for securing major gifts of $50,000 or more, with a particular focus on gifts of $100,000 and above, in support of the University's strategic priorities.
Each MGO will be assigned one or more areas of focus based on University fundraising priorities. Assignments may include, but are not limited to, one of the University's schools, Athletics, the Honors Program, a geographic market, a special initiative, and/or a portfolio of otherwise unassigned prospects. Focus areas may be adjusted as institutional priorities and fundraising opportunities evolve. Regardless of assignment, all MGOs are University Advancement employees, report through University Advancement, and are accountable to Advancement's goals, strategies, standards, and performance expectations.
The MGO builds strong, consistent partnerships with University leaders, deans, faculty, coaches, staff, and other campus colleagues. The MGO brings knowledge of each prospect's capacity, giving history, interests, relationships, and fundraising strategy, while campus partners provide insight into academic, athletic, programmatic, and institutional priorities and opportunities for meaningful engagement. The MGO connects these elements and is responsible for moving donor relationships toward philanthropic support.
Essential DutiesPortfolio Management, Cultivation, and Solicitation- Develop and execute an annual work plan for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors.
Build and actively manage a portfolio of major gift prospects aligned with the officer's assigned area or areas of focus and broader University priorities.Proactively identify and develop new major gift prospects through referrals, research, alumni and donor networks, University relationships, events, and other prospect-development activities to maintain a healthy and sustainable pipeline.Qualify prospects, secure substantive in-person and virtual meetings, assess philanthropic capacity and inclination, and move relationships through the major gift pipeline.Develop and implement individualized cultivation, engagement, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for assigned prospects.Develop compelling cases for support, proposals, and gift opportunities; make direct solicitations and close major gifts independently and in partnership with University leadership and other appropriate colleagues.Identify opportunities for planned, blended, endowed, and other complex gifts and partner with appropriate Advancement colleagues and professional advisors to develop and execute gift strategies.Coordinate with Advancement leadership and appropriate University partners to ensure proposed gifts, gift agreements, donor restrictions, naming opportunities, and commitments are consistent with University policies and approval processes.Maintain appropriate stewardship responsibilities and coordinate with Advancement colleagues to ensure donors receive timely, meaningful, and accurate follow-up.Achieve annual goals established by Advancement, which may include goals for donor visits, prospect qualifications, solicitations, proposals, pipeline movement, portfolio development and health, and dollars raised.Focus Area Partnership and Donor Engagement- Establish regular communication with leaders and appropriate faculty or staff in assigned focus areas to develop a strong understanding of priorities, programs, students, activities, and funding opportunities and translate them into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
- Strategically use University activities and opportunities for engagement with students, faculty, coaches, programs, and other members of the University community to advance donor relationships.
- Partner with campus colleagues to identify potential prospects, connections, and engagement opportunities while retaining responsibility for donor strategy, portfolio management, solicitation planning, and follow-through.
- Ensure that donor engagement is strategy-driven and designed to cultivate, solicit, and close gifts rather than being primarily event-driven.
Strategy, Data, and Accountability- Collaborate with Advancement leadership and colleagues on portfolio reviews, campaign priorities, major fundraising initiatives, and donor strategies.
- Maintain complete, accurate, and timely records of prospect and donor activity, strategies, contacts, proposals, and solicitations, and follow-up in Salesforce or the University's designated advancement system.
- Prepare reports and provide transparent updates on portfolio activity, pipeline movement, fundraising forecasts, progress toward goals, emerging opportunities, and barriers requiring attention.
- Use research, data, and prospect information to prioritize activity, identify opportunities, and inform fundraising strategy.
- Coordinate effectively with Advancement Operations, Annual Giving, Alumni Engagement, Stewardship, Marketing and Communications, and other partners to advance donor relationships and institutional goals.
- Represent La Salle University at meetings, events, and gatherings and serve as a professional, donor-centered ambassador for the University.
- Contribute to a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive Advancement culture.
Secondary Responsibilities- Support other Division and University priorities, initiatives, and projects assigned.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
# of Direct Reports: 0
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
- Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, development, relationship management, sales, or a related field, with demonstrated success advancing relationships toward measurable financial or philanthropic outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to secure meetings, build relationships, make persuasive presentations or solicitations, and achieve measurable results.
- Excellent verbal, written, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to articulate compelling cases for support to varied audiences.
- Ability to manage a portfolio and multiple priorities independently while collaborating effectively in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.
- Strategic judgment and the ability to understand institutional priorities, navigate complexity, and work effectively with donors, alumni, volunteers, University leaders, deans, faculty, coaches, and staff.
- Discretion, professionalism, sound judgment, and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
- Strong attention to detail, follow-through, project management, research, and data-management skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience with Salesforce or a comparable CRM or donor database, or the ability to learn new systems quickly.
- Entrepreneurial initiative, persistence, integrity, and a results-oriented approach to developing and strengthening relationships.
- Ability to develop positive working relationships with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.
- Knowledge of and commitment to the mission of La Salle University.
Preferred Qualifications- Fundraising and direct solicitation experience, particularly in higher education or a similarly complex, mission-driven organization.
- Experience managing a major gift portfolio and developing donor strategies, proposals, and solicitations.
- Familiarity with comprehensive campaigns, academic or athletic fundraising, geographic portfolios, or affinity-based fundraising programs.
Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours- Ability to travel independently for local, regional, and occasional national donor meetings and University activities.
- Evening and weekend work is required as responsibilities and donor engagement opportunities warrant.
Special Instructions to ApplicantLa Salle University is dedicated to fostering a welcoming and respectful environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek candidates who will contribute to a positive, inclusive, and supportive community, and who are committed to working collaboratively with students, fostering critical thinking, supporting their success, and helping them realize their full potential.
La Salle University offers its eligible employees comprehensive medical and dental plans, employer paid life and disability insurance, retirement benefits, generous paid time off (vacation, sick leave, and holidays), and tuition benefits such as no cost undergraduate and graduate degree programs for its employees (with no wait period) and no cost undergraduate degree programs for its employees' dependents (after completing the required years of service).
Application Open Date: 10/01/2026
Application Close Date: 11/30/2026
