Position Title:

Major Gift Officer

Department/School:

Office of College Advancement 

Salary/Pay Rate:

$75,000 - $90,000

Job Summary:

The Major Gift Officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gifts ($50k+) from prospective donors to meet fundraising goals. They build relationships with high-net-worth alumni, parents, individuals, and other key stakeholders, engaging them in Marist's mission and strategic priorities. This role collaborates with other Development team members to tailor proposals and stewardship plans, ensuring donors feel valued and connected to the impact of their contributions.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree; 3 - 5 years of experience as a major gift officer, preferably in higher education; strong history of closing high six-figure and $1M+ gifts; and consistently reaching fundraising objectives. Successful experience making cold calls and developing personalized strategies that move prospects through the donor process from discovery to solicitation and stewardship.

Must possess strong written, oral, and presentation communication skills and have experience in developing clear and concise funding proposals.

Must possess good time management skills to use their time efficiently.

Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with all levels of staff, volunteers, donors, and prospective donors.

Must be able to work independently while also working as a member of the Advancement team.

Essential Functions:

• Manage a personal portfolio of 100-150 major gift donors to move them appropriately through the complete giving life cycle: qualification, engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship by conducting emails, calls, and meetings with prospective donors to cultivate relationships.
• Promptly maintain database contact information and interactions for all donors in their portfolio.
• Support academic leadership via meetings with Deans, Faculty, other Academic leaders and programs in fostering philanthropic support, volunteer engagement, and campaign content development by ensuring they are well-informed about College initiatives to allow them to identify prospects who might be interested in supporting these areas.
• Support Advancement, Alumni Relations, and Special events and activities throughout the year by attending events and serving as a philanthropic advisor.
• Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree

Required Application Documents:

Resume, Cover Letter, & Contact Information of 3 Professional References 

Benefits:

The position includes a comprehensive benefit package*. Benefits for this position include but are not limited to the following:

• 3 weeks of paid vacation. 4 weeks of paid vacation beginning in the 6th year of employment.
• Unlimited paid sick time.
• 14+ paid holidays per year.
• Medical, Dental & Vision insurance programs at a 15% employee / 85% employer contribution rate. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Dependent Care (FSD).
• Life insurance.
• Generous short-term and long-term disability programs and workers compensation.
• 403(b) defined contribution plan:
  • First 6 years College contributes 7.5%, Employee contributes a mandatory 4%.
  • College contribution increases to 10.5% in year 7, and 12% after 15 years.
  • Employee contribution decreases to 1% in year 7. Remains 1% thereafter.
  • Typical eligibility requirements: 1 year of service and 1,000 hours with Marist College.
• 403(b) Tax Deferred Annuity – Roth option available. Voluntary, up to IRS maximum contribution.
• Tuition Benefits:
  • Up to 16 undergraduate credits per semester. Up to 18 graduate credit per academic calendar. Eligibility extends to employee, spouse, and dependent children under age 26.
  • College pays 100% tuition only.
  • Eligible dependents may be Reimbursed up to $2,000 per semester towards tuition at another accredited institution.

*Eligibility requirements including waiting periods and/or employee probationary periods may apply at the discretion of the College.

About the Department/School:

The Advancement Office promotes a culture of philanthropy that attracts vital resources to support the goals and objectives of the College’s strategic plan and core educational mission.

The Advancement team accomplishes this by nurturing life-long relationships with and among alumni, parents, trustees, friends, students, faculty, staff, and other constituencies. It also communicates regularly with them through meaningful personal contacts, targeted print and web-based publications, and high-impact special events.

About Marist College:

Located on the banks of the historic Hudson River and at its Florence, Italy campus, Marist College is a comprehensive, independent institution grounded in the liberal arts. Its mission is to “help students develop the intellect, character, and skills required for enlightened, ethical, and productive lives in the global community of the 21st century.” Marist educates approximately 5,000 traditional-age undergraduate students and 1,200 adult and graduate students in 53 undergraduate majors and numerous graduate programs, including fully online MBA, MPA, MS, and MA degrees, and also Doctor of Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant programs. Marist is consistently ranked among the best colleges and universities in America by The Princeton Review (Colleges That Create Futures and The Best 386 Colleges), U.S. News & World Report (3rd Most Innovative School/North), Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (“Best College Values”), and others. Marist’s study abroad program is ranked #1 in the nation by the U.S. State Department’s “Open Doors Report” and has also received the Senator Paul Simon Award for First Year Abroad programs in Italy and Ireland. Marist’s Joint Study partnership with IBM, which began in 1988, has brought the College the kind of world-class technology platform typically found at leading research institutions. To learn more, please visit https://www.marist.edu/about 

Type of Position:

Full-time

Classification:

Administrative (Exempt)

Months per Year:

12

Work Schedule:

Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm; requires some evening and weekend hours, as needed. Extensive travel is also required.

Hours per Week:

37.5

Location:

Marist College Main Campus

Number of Position Openings:

1

Equal Employment Statement:

Marist College is committed to creating a diverse workforce on our campus by ensuring that barriers to equal employment opportunity and upward mobility do not exist here. To this end, the College will strive to achieve the full and fair participation of minorities, women, people with disabilities, and any other protected groups found to be under represented.

Equal opportunity means employment, development, and promotion of individuals without consideration of race, color, disability, religion, age, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, or veteran status unless there is a bona fide occupational requirement which excludes persons in one of these protected groups. The College will review its employment policies and procedures to ensure that barriers which may unnecessarily exclude protected groups are identified and eliminated. The College will also explore alternative approaches if any policy or practice is found to have a negative impact on protected groups.

Marist's policy of non-discrimination includes not only employment practices but also extends to all services and programs provided by the College. It shall be considered a violation of College policy for any member of the community to discriminate against any individual or group with respect to employment or attendance at Marist College on the basis of race, color, disability, religion, age, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other condition established by law.