Major Gifts Officer
WFAE
Charlotte
,
NC
Application Deadline: Saturday, Aug 09, 2025
Description
Immediate Opening – July 2025
WFAE, the NPR station in Charlotte, is an award-winning multiplatform newsroom (radio, digital, podcasts, live events) committed to providing high-quality local news and engagement that meets the needs of our diverse community. Our mission is to deliver journalism that informs, engages and inspires. Our vision is to help create a more knowledgeable and engaged community grounded in our shared humanity. Make an impact on the community. Work with a team of smart, collaborative colleagues. This is an exceptional opportunity for a public radio fan and mission-minded professional.
is seeking a dynamic and experienced Major Gifts Officer to join our development team. The ideal candidate will be a strategic relationship builder responsible for managing a portfolio of major donors and prospects, with a focus on securing significant philanthropic support. The Major Gifts Officer will play a key role in advancing the organization’s comprehensive campaign by cultivating and securing major gifts in alignment with campaign priorities. This role requires proactive engagement with internal stakeholders and active participation in external community events to advance the organization’s mission.
Key Responsibilities:
- Portfolio Management:
- Manage a personal portfolio of 100–150 major gift prospects and donors.
- Develop and implement individual cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
- Conduct donor meetings, site visits, and presentations to inspire increased giving.
- Maintain accurate and timely records of all donor interactions in the CRM system.
- Donor Engagement & Stewardship:
- Build long-term relationships with major donors, ensuring a deep understanding of their interests and motivations.
- Coordinate personalized stewardship plans, including acknowledgments, impact reports, and exclusive updates.
- Community & Internal Engagement:
- Represent the organization at external events, including galas, community gatherings, networking functions, and donor-hosted receptions.
- Collaborate with program staff to gather stories, data, and impact outcomes that resonate with donor interests.
- Partners with membership and events teams maximize donor presence and engagement at events.
- Strategic Fundraising:
- Support the execution of the organization’s major gift strategy as part of the overall development plan.
- Identify new major gift prospects through research, referrals, and event engagement.
- Participate in strategy sessions and prospect review meetings with the development team.
Qualifications:
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in fundraising, with a focus on major gifts or high-income donor engagement.
- Proven record of accomplishment of securing gifts of $10,000 and above.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills—both written and verbal.
- Ability to work independently while also being a strong team collaborator.
- Willingness to work regular evenings and weekends as needed for events and donor meetings.
- Proficiency with donor databases (e.g., Allegiance and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Bachelor’s degree o
Compensation & Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement plan with employer match
- Generous paid time off and holiday schedule
Salary Range: $65K to $80K