"Senior Major Gifts Officer – NY Region"

Job Details

Title
Senior Major Gifts Officer – NY Region

Department
Leadership Giving

Regular or Temporary
Regular

Hours Per Week
40

FLSA Determination
Exempt

Weeks Per Year
52

Open Date
08/22/2025

Full or Part Time
Full Time

Position Summary
Trinity is a highly selective, independent, nonsectarian liberal arts institution located in the capital city of Hartford, Connecticut. The college maintains a rigorous academic profile complemented by a vibrant co-curricular program. With more than 2,100 full-time undergraduate students, representing forty-three states and ninety-one countries, we consider our location in a culturally and socioeconomically diverse capital city to be among Trinity’s most distinctive assets; and we cultivate strong connections with our surrounding neighbors and with institutions and organizations throughout Hartford and the region. As a preeminent liberal arts college in an urban setting, Trinity College prepares students to be bold, independent thinkers who lead transformative lives.

Trinity College is seeking a Senior Major Gifts Officer to step into a high-impact, remote leadership role that blends autonomy, ambition, and mission-driven purpose. The Senior Major Gifts Officer will independently manage a portfolio of approximately 150 high-capacity donors—individuals poised to make gifts of $100,000 or more—and guide them through a thoughtful donor engagement process. This fundraiser will lead strategy, craft personalized outreach, and cultivate deep relationships with alumni, parents, and friends who are ready to transform Trinity’s future through philanthropy.

This is a unique leadership opportunity to influence the College’s trajectory while working closely with a collaborative advancement team. The Senior Major Gifts Officer will play a central role in supporting key institutional priorities—capital campaigns, scholarships, academic initiatives, and more. The successful candidate will be a self-starter who thrives on meaningful engagement, strategic thinking, and measurable results. If you are energized by building long-term relationships and closing significant philanthropic investments, this role offers the platform and support to shine.

The Senior Major Gifts Officer will be responsible for the active management of major gift prospects as assigned. Individuals in the Senior Major Gift Officer’s portfolio of approximately 150 prospects will have the capacity to make gifts of $100,000 or more. The Senior Major Gifts Officer is responsible for moving prospects through the donor engagement process—identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship—and closing comprehensive gifts for Trinity College.

Must be willing to travel regularly and have the ability and personality to relate comfortably to a sophisticated and diverse alumni and parent constituency. This is a remote position based in the New York City metropolitan area.

The Senior Major Gifts Officer is expected to work independently from a home office, with regular travel throughout the assigned region to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors. The role requires travel to campus approximately once per month for team meetings. Additional travel may be necessary for donor engagement and institutional events. Flexibility to participate in occasional evening and weekend activities—both locally and on campus—is also expected.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward Trinity alumni, parents, and friends as assigned who are capable of making major gift commitments to the College. These gifts may include restricted/capital gifts, gifts to Annual Giving purposes, and planned gifts.
• Work closely with colleagues across the campus to set donor strategy with a focus on soliciting and closing major gifts of $100,000 and above.
• Develop and grow relationships with major gift prospects through phone, email, video call, and face-to-face meetings.
• Collaborate with colleagues on key reunion classes, campaign initiatives, and annual giving.
• Assist in obtaining hosts, staffing, and executing advancement events, both on and off campus.
• Complete all assigned reporting including travel plans, itineraries, contact reports, expense reports and monthly status reports in a timely manner.
• Attend and actively contribute to staff and departmental meetings, as scheduled.
• Remain informed about the mission of the College, including its history, academic programs, current activities, and policies.
• Write donor proposals, presidential briefings, and gift documentation with precision and in a timely fashion.
• Meet mutually agreed upon performance expectations.
• Some evening and weekend work required.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to solicit and close six-figure gifts.
• A Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Five or more years of successful leadership-level fundraising or comparable experience, preferably in education.
• Well-developed written and oral communication skills are essential, as well as a genuine and sincere interest and ability to interact with a broad range of constituents.
• Ability to solve problems, create and implement prospective strategies, and engage with campus partners.
• Willingness and ability to spend roughly 50% of the time on frontline meetings through local meetings, travel, and via Zoom.
• Must be self-driven, highly organized, flexible, and able to manage multiple priorities successfully.
• Must be a team player with a highly developed sense of integrity and work ethic.
• Evidence of a commitment to a liberal arts education and mission preferred through actual or volunteer experience.
• Must demonstrate empathy and must value and foster behaviors that support a diverse college community.
• Computer fluency, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, donor database software, and query tools, is required.

Desired Qualifications:

• Familiarity with fundraising principles and experience in a higher education or academic setting.
• Experience with Slate and/or CRM systems.
• Plus Delta Discipline of Frontline Fundraising training preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Trinity College’s mission and programs and/or experience in another college setting.

Special Instructions to Applicants

All applicants must apply online by submitting their resume, cover letter and three references.