Major Gifts Officer

POSITION TITLE:  Major Gifts Officer, Multi-Regional

LOCATION: United States

TRAVEL: Candidates residing within commuting proximity to one of the following Per Scholas campuses: Chicago, IL;  Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Atlanta, GA or Charlotte, NC are preferred. National travel will be required, with a primary focus on these specific campus locations

REPORTS TO: Senior Director, Leadership and Major Gifts

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Per Scholas is seeking a Major Gifts Officer, Regional, an energetic and strategic accelerator of major gifts, to identify, cultivate, and secure five- and six-figure contributions by deepening relationships with donors across key markets. 

This is a newly-aligned role, geographically based, to focus on growing commitments from donors and prospects through regular, high-touch engagement, including donor meetings, campus visits, and small-group events. The Major Gifts Officer will play a critical role in leveraging Per Scholas’ 2030 strategic plan to inspire increased philanthropic investment.

With a primary focus on emerging markets in the Midwest and an existing portfolio in the South, this role partners closely with local and national stakeholders to advance strong moves management practices and build a sustainable base of major and leadership giving across regions.

This is an emerging and evolving program, and the Major Gifts Officer will meaningfully influence fundraising strategy, systems, and best practices while driving near-term results. The role is well-suited for a fundraiser energized by building, testing, and refining approaches in real time.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead and orchestrate the solicitation of major gifts in the $10,000–$99,999 range, with an explicit focus on upgrading donors and strengthening the leadership giving pipeline across markets in the Midwest and South. 
• In close collaboration with the Senior Director of Major and Leadership Gifts, steward a portfolio of 60+ current donors while identifying, qualifying, and cultivating 50+ new prospects with the capacity to make gifts of $10,000 or more, with an emphasis on regions in the Midwest and South.
• Generate leads, especially for emerging markets, based on research, local networks and local Per Scholas partners to help build and expand the portfolio.
• Contribute to the design and refinement of a major gifts program, helping to establish strategy, processes, and best practices while advancing immediate fundraising outcomes.
• Uphold a disciplined moves management system that ensures accountability, performance tracking, and consistent donor progression; provide regular reporting on portfolio activity and results.
• Partner closely with regionally based development and program teams to engage donors through localized cultivation and stewardship experiences, including campus visits and market-specific events.
• Represent Per Scholas at programmatic and fundraising activities throughout the South and emerging markets in the Midwest.
• Support donors beyond main regions, as new markets are defined or opportunities arise.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO US:

Professional Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of sophisticated major gifts experience with individuals, with a proven track record of building portfolios and closing five- and six-figure gifts.
• Demonstrated success building and sustaining long-term relationships with high-net-worth individuals and recurring donors.
• Understanding of the philanthropic landscape in the South or Midwest a plus.  
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with confidence engaging senior executives, board members, and institutional leaders.
• Ability to translate complex programmatic and outcome data into compelling, donor-centered cases for support.
• Self-directed, strategic thinker with a proven ability to work independently while achieving ambitious fundraising goals.
• Experience partnering with senior leadership, board members, and cross-functional teams to advance donor relationships.
• Proficiency with donor and prospect management systems, including Salesforce and iWave (Kindsight).
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% of schedule; work occasional evenings or weekends as needed.

Personal Characteristics

• You thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and bring energy and professionalism to donor engagement.
• You are motivated by building and upgrading a donor pipeline, particularly within competitive, high-capacity markets.
• You enjoy building systems and relationships in parallel and are energized by contributing to a function that is still taking shape while still advancing the work
• You are comfortable working independently, taking initiative, and managing complexity as an individual contributor.
• You are data-informed, results-oriented, and motivated by measurable impact.
• You communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• You are detail-oriented, with strong organizational and time-management skills.
• You are interested in workforce development, economic mobility, technology, diversity, organizational growth, and scaling impact.
• You stand behind our mission, believing that individuals from any community deserve access to well-paying career positions, and that talent can be recognized and recruited from many sources.

For this role specifically, the salary range is between $110,000/year and $130,000/year, where the difference in salary is typically determined by several factors, including geography in which the selected candidate resides, and alignment with qualifications and experience.

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