MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER
Reports To: Director of Development
Department: Development
Location: Catholic Answers - Remote temporarily; relocation to Columbus, Ohio, is required for an in-office position within two years
Status: Full-time, Exempt
POSITION SUMMARY
Catholic Answers is seeking a Major Gifts Officer to join our Development team. The Major Gifts Officer will cultivate, steward, and solicit a portfolio of 100-150 major donors and prospects, building strong, mission-driven relationships that inspire transformative philanthropy.
This position will focus on high-capacity and highly engaged donors within the assigned portfolio. The Major Gifts Officer will work closely with the Director of Development, CEO, and colleagues in Mid-Level Giving, Direct Response, and Marketing to provide thoughtful stewardship, strategic donor engagement, and effective pipeline movement.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Donor Portfolio Management
• Manage a carefully selected portfolio of 100-150 donors and prospects.
• Develop and execute individualized moves management plans.
• Document all donor activity in Salesforce/Momentum.
• Conduct 12-15 quality touches per donor each year, including calls, emails, personal notes, meetings, and visits.
• Provide one to two meaningful touchpoints per donor each month, such as thank-you notes, impact updates, spiritual reflections, or holiday cards.
• Make at least one personal ask per donor each year, excluding mass solicitations.
• Complete at least three personal calls per donor annually.
• Thank donors for every gift of $250 or more and thank recurring donors at least quarterly.
Donor Meetings and Visits
• Complete a minimum of 75 one-on-one donor visits annually.
• Invite every donor in the portfolio to a personal meeting, either in person or virtually, at least once each year unless the donor has opted out.
• Conduct at least 300 donor calls annually.
• Document all meetings and calls in the CRM with appropriate notes.
• Event-based donor interactions, including Catholic Answers Conferences, Vineyard Partner gatherings, pilgrimages, and cruises, may qualify as visits when development-focused. These interactions should not exceed 25 percent of annual visit goals unless approved by the Director of Development.
Stewardship and Cultivation
• Provide timely follow-up on donor commitments and promised actions.
• Share impact updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and stories about the work of Catholic Answers.
• Engage donors through Catholic Answers events, private webinars, apologist office hours, and spiritual outreach opportunities.
• Partner with Mid-Level Gift Officers to identify and transition qualified donors into major gift portfolios.
Data Management and Reporting
• Record all donor activity and relevant insights in the CRM.
• Keep Donor Engagement Plans current.
• Track and report donor movement across programs and the value represented.
• Ensure that transitions between donor levels are properly documented.
Collaboration and Events
• Participate in team meetings and collaborate with Development colleagues on events, campaigns, and strategic planning.
• Contribute to the continued development and refinement of Catholic Answers' Mid-Level and Major Gifts programs.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in fundraising, communications, sales, relationship management, or a related field.
• At least five years of fundraising, sales, or relationship management experience, with a demonstrated record of closing major gifts of $5,000 or more.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust and engage donors on a personal and spiritual level.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage a large portfolio effectively.
• Willingness to travel approximately 40-50 percent of the time.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, preferably Salesforce, as well as Microsoft Office and donor research tools.
• Practicing Catholic in full communion with the Church.
• Passion for the mission of Catholic Answers and comfort discussing the Catholic faith.
KEY ATTRIBUTES
• Relationship builder with a donor-first mindset.
• Attentive to detail and deadlines.
• Adaptable, self-motivated, and proactive.
• Strong sense of discretion and professionalism.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit a cover letter and resume in Word or PDF format to development-jobs@catholic.com.
