Major Gifts Officer

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Major Gift Officer is part of the Major and Planned Giving team responsible for the strategic development and implementation of Milwaukee Rep’s fundraising priorities. In partnership with the Director of Major and Planned Giving and the Senior Major Gift Officer, the Major Gift Officer will support research and development of a major gift pipeline, coordinate donor cultivation strategies, and assist with gift solicitations. The Major Gift Officer reports to the Director of Major and Planned Giving.

DUTIES INCLUDE:

• Manage a portfolio of 100–150 major gift donors and prospects, developing strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic support.
• Spend 50–75% of time in direct donor engagement, including cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and relationship management.
• Plan and help lead donor cultivation trips, including coordinating itineraries, logistics, and stewardship activities in partnership with the Major and Planned Giving team.
• Support the planned giving program by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding planned giving donors and prospects.
• Identify, qualify, and develop new major gift prospects through wealth screening, donor analysis, and collaboration with the Development team to support annual fundraising goals and campaign initiatives.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor records in Tessitura, including contact reports, plans, moves management, and campaign activity. Prepare reports and analyze giving trends to identify opportunities for donor growth and increased engagement.
• Develop proficiency in wealth screening tools and leverage Tessitura and other resources to track donor activity, monitor solicitation progress, and inform fundraising strategies.
• Represent Milwaukee Rep as a visible ambassador at donor, community, and civic events, building relationships with supporters, community partners, and key stakeholders. Plan, coordinate, and support select donor cultivation and stewardship events, including recurring donor-benefit programs such as the St. John’s on the Lake concert series.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION:

• Five (5) years of professional experience with some combination of gift solicitation, sales, or other professional relationship-building roles.
• Knowledge of philanthropy and fundraising principles.
• Ability to establish rapport with donors and trustees, and an interest in cultivating relationships within diverse communities.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills