Job Location Miami Country Day School - Miami, FL 33161
The Major Gift Officer (MGO) advances the philanthropic mission of Miami Country Day school by building meaningful, long term relationships with donors capable of making leadership and major gifts. In addition to managing a robust portfolio of major-gift prospects, the MGO will play a key leadership role in elevating the School’s annual and capital giving programs, working closely with Advancement colleagues and volunteer leaders. This individual is an accomplished relationship based fundraiser with exceptional communication skills, strong emotional intelligence, and a passion for independent school education. This individual will help elevate a culture of philanthropy and comprehensive giving across the School community.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & TASKS:
Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership and major-gift prospects, including gifts of $100,000+ and $1,000,000+, aligned with Miami Country Day School’s fundraising priorities.
Manage a portfolio of approximately 100–125 active prospects, developing and executing individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
Conduct a high volume of meaningful donor interactions, including in-person visits, phone calls, stewardship touchpoints, and personalized written communication.
Develop compelling proposals, briefing materials, talking points, impact reports, and donor correspondence that clearly articulate philanthropic impact.
Partner closely with the Chief Advancement Officer, Head of School, trustees, and campaign volunteers on joint donor strategies and solicitations.
Provide strategic insight and counsel to senior leadership on donor engagement and relationship-building opportunities.
Serve as a strategic partner in strengthening Miami Country Day School’s annual giving program by identifying opportunities to increase participation, upgrade gifts, and deepen donor engagement.
Meet regularly with current parents to communicate the importance of annual giving and its role within the School’s overall revenue model.
Build and manage a leadership-giving pipeline that supports donor growth from initial participation to major-gift readiness.
Integrate annual, capital, and endowment giving in donor conversations, reinforcing the importance of comprehensive philanthropy.
Educate families on the School’s financial model, including endowment growth, spending policies, restrictions, and the impact on the operating budget.
Ensure consistent, clear messaging around comprehensive giving in donor proposals and campaign communications.
Provide internal coordination and support with the Finance Office related to gift reconciliation and comprehensive giving tracking.
Maintain accurate, timely, and detailed records of donor interactions and strategies in Raiser’s Edge (or comparable CRM system).
Develop and implement moves-management plans for all assigned prospects.
Utilize prospect research, analytics, and wealth-screening tools to inform donor strategy and prioritization.
Track progress toward fundraising goals and report on outcomes using established metrics and key performance indicators.
Ensure exceptional stewardship for major and leadership donors through personalized recognition, reporting, and engagement experiences.
Collaborate with Advancement colleagues on donor events, campaign initiatives, and community-building opportunities.
Support and equip trustees and volunteer leaders with training, materials, and strategic guidance for effective donor outreach.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
Minimum of five years of experience in major-gift fundraising, preferably within education or a complex nonprofit organization.
Demonstrated success in soliciting and closing leadership and major gifts.
Strong knowledge of charitable giving vehicles and the ability to guide donors in making informed philanthropic decisions.
Exceptional interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to engage donors from diverse backgrounds.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate mission and vision into compelling philanthropic impact.
Strong organizational, planning, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
Deep alignment with and commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Miami Country Day School.
Familiarity with capital or comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
Proficiency with Raiser’s Edge, RE NXT, or similar donor management systems.
Professional training or certification in fundraising, nonprofit management, or planned giving.
