Title of Position: Director of Major Gifts
Department: Office of Mission Advancement
Reports to: Vice President for Development
FLSA: Exempt
Holy Cross College’s Mission: The Mission of Holy Cross College is to educate and form global citizens with the competence to see and the courage to act. Holy Cross is a Catholic College that advances the apostolic mission of the Brothers of Holy Cross. Our practical, experiential, liberal arts curriculum applies timeless truths to contemporary life and leads people to wholeness in the image of Christ.
Our hiring practices reflect this missional commitment to being a Christ-centered institution.
All administrators, faculty and staff are called to assist students in their formation to be Christ-like students and thus must embrace and advance the Holy Cross mission of the College in all professional activities.
Typical Schedule: Full time. Minimum 40 hours per week. Must be willing to travel, work nights and weekends when necessary.
Purpose: The Director of Major Gifts reports to the Vice President for Development and provides direct leadership and oversight for a team of gift officers, ensuring that the staff set and attain ambitious goals, develop effective fundraising strategies, and manage fundraising projects and initiatives developed by College Administration. The director, and each member of the major gifts team, are responsible for cultivating and securing major gifts in support of the college’s mission. They will proactively manage relationships with high-capacity donors and prospects, develop strategic engagement and solicitation plans, and align donor interests with the College's funding priorities. This position will play a significant role in achieving major gift targets, particularly in the areas of scholarships, endowments, and capital projects, with an emphasis on the College’s mission of educating the heart and mind in the Catholic tradition.
Essential Job Duties
- Team Leadership and Oversight: Provide direct leadership and mentorship to a team of gift officers, fostering a collaborative, results-driven environment. Establish ambitious fundraising goals for the team and regularly assess progress, adjusting strategies as needed to ensure achievement.
- Training and Professional Development: Facilitate training and development opportunities for the team, equipping staff with the skills and knowledge needed for success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Donor Relationship Management: Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 75-100 high-potential donors and prospects, with a focus on gifts of $50,000 and above.
- Strategic Planning: Develop and implement personalized cultivation and solicitation strategies for assigned prospects, ensuring alignment with College priorities.
- Collaboration: Work closely with College leadership, faculty, and staff to identify funding opportunities and engage donors; facilitate interactions that deepen donor commitment.
- Goal Achievement: Achieve a minimum of 20 major gifts in the first year, generating at least $750,000 in support.
- Portfolio Growth: Qualify and engage new prospects to expand the major gift pipeline; conduct 100-120 meaningful visits per year.
- Documentation: Maintain detailed records of interactions, tasks, and prospect progress within the College’s donor database.
- Stewardship: Provide personalized stewardship, updating donors on the impact of their contributions and ensuring long-term engagement.
- Professional Representation: Advocate for and communicate the College’s Catholic mission and values effectively to donors and prospects.
- Other duties assigned to meet the needs of the department and College.
Minimum Education, Skills, and Abilities:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience in fundraising preferred.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in major gift solicitation, with demonstrated success in securing high-value gifts.
- Leadership and Team Management Experience: Proven experience in leading, mentoring, and managing a team, with a focus on achieving ambitious fundraising goals and developing team potential.
- Skills:
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with a track record of building donor trust and engagement.
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, with persuasive presentation skills.
- Proficiency in donor database management, with experience in Raiser’s Edge or similar software preferred.
- Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion.
- Attributes:
- Alignment with the Catholic mission and values of the College.
- Results-oriented, self-motivated, and adaptable in a dynamic environment.
- Team-oriented with a strong work ethic and attention to detail.
Interested candidates should apply and submit résumé, cover letter, and three references (names and contact information) at Holy Cross College Career Opportunities.
NOTE: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills and physical demands required of personnel so classified. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Employment at Holy Cross College is ‘at will’ meaning that either the College or the employee can end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Holy Cross College is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on qualifications and are made without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or any other legally protected status.
