Major Gifts Officer

Featured

Aug 3

Anticipated Start Date: 09/08/2026

Description

Reporting to the Senior Director of Individual Giving, the Major Gifts Officer serves as the strategic architect of the donor journey. This role is best suited for a seasoned gift officer who works collaboratively, approaches challenges with a problem-solving mindset, and brings a strong can do attitude. Prior management experience is helpful. The ideal candidate is adaptable and able to pivot as needed, as the development function requires agile thinking and a flexible workflow.

This position focuses on building and managing a scalable system that converts first-time and current supporters into recurring partners, while identifying high net worth potential prospects for deeper investment. Specifically, this role is responsible for cultivating, stewarding and growing annually the mid-level donor and sustainer programs. Success is measured in part by pipeline velocity, defined as the strategic advancement of donors toward leadership level giving, but performance is not evaluated on efficiency alone.

Success also requires the ability to anticipate and respond to current event cycles, identify and leverage timely opportunities, think strategically and creatively, and collaborate effectively across teams to amplify impact. Equally important is a strong understanding of donor stewardship. The Major Gifts Officer engages donors in ways that are strategic, relevant, and meaningful to them, with the goal of strengthening long term relationships, engagement, and sustained support – producing increased revenue growth year over year.

Responsibilities

30% | Mid-Level Program & Portfolio Stewardship

Targeted Cultivation: Focuses on donors who have moved beyond entry-level giving to maximize their long-term lifetime value.
Concierge Stewardship: Provides a high-touch experience for mid-tier donors through personal phone calls, custom impact updates, and exclusive event invitations, raising annual growth of this portfolio by 25%
Pipeline Movement: Systematically prepares and transitions top-tier donors to the Senior Director of Individual Giving once they reach the organization’s highest capacity thresholds. Raising annual growth of this portfolio by 25%
Engagement Tracking: Monitors interactions from email open rates to event attendance within EveryAction to prioritize outreach.

30% | Pipeline Management & Prospecting

DonorSearch Integration: Leverages DonorSearch to perform real-time wealth screening and philanthropic propensity modeling on the current database.
Predictive Prospecting: Utilizes wealth markers and behavioral data to identify "hidden" high-capacity donors. Resourceful and creative in identifying leads.
Qualification Cycles: Conducts "discovery" outreach to determine if a donor has the inclination and capacity for a significant gift upgrade.
Portfolio Hand-off: Serves as the primary filter for the Major Gifts team, ensuring only "warm," qualified leads are moved into high-touch portfolios.

30% | Recurring (Sustainer) Program Growth

Conversion Strategy: Launches automated email journeys in EveryAction that trigger recurring giving asks based on specific donor behavior.
Churn Mitigation: Proactively manages payment failures and expired cards to protect the organization's predictable cash flow.
Sustainer Upgrades: Executes data-driven campaigns to encourage monthly donors to increase their commitment or transition to an annual leadership gift.
Community Building: Manages the identity and "perks" of the monthly sustainers to foster loyalty.

10% | Annual Fund & Data Optimization

Direct Response: Leads the creative direction for high-volume appeals (Year-End, Giving Tuesday) across mail, email, and SMS.
CRM Hygiene: Maintains meticulous data entry in EveryAction to ensure no prospect falls through the cracks. Measurable Growth Benchmarks
Portfolio Movement: Number of donors successfully "graduated" to the Major Gifts pipeline and portfolio revenue increase.
Prospect Qualification: Percentage of the database screened via DonorSearch and qualified annually.
Sustainer Growth: Net increase in active monthly donors and total recurring revenue. Retention numbers as well as increased gift size or additional gifts.
Pipeline Velocity: Average time taken to move a new donor from their first gift to their first mid-level gift.

Requirements

Qualifications Required

8-10 years experience in major gift leadership, with a proven track record of success.
Ability to hit the ground running: work effectively as a team member and independently.
Tool Expertise: Mastery of EveryAction and DonorSearch to build and manage prospect lists.
Strategic Prospecting: Experience using wealth screening to inform cultivation and solicitation strategies.
Persuasive Communicator: Ability to write compelling, "donor-centric" copy that triggers immediate action.
Analytical Mindset: Comfortable using data to pivot strategies and prove ROI.

Preferred

Strong communicator who collaborates effectively across departments.
Self-driven and takes initiative to solve problems with the team.
Understand that details matter and prioritizes accuracy.
Values efficiency, but never at the expense of quality.
Focused on delivering a personal, meaningful experience – because that’s what the donor remembers.

Traits That Will Make You Successful In This Role

Approaches challenges with a problem-solving mindset.
Brings a strong can do attitude.
Adaptable and able to pivot as needed, as the development team requires agile thinking and a flexible workflow.
Able to recover from setbacks inherent in a fast-paced work environment like fundraising.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

The starting annual salary range for this position is $125,000 - $131,000.

We offer a comprehensive and generous benefits program, including: Insurance We offer medical, dental, vision benefits, as well as an employee assistance program for physical and mental well-being. Retirement Save for retirement with our 401K plan with a 5% employer contribution.

Other insurances include life and disability.

Time Off

Year 1 (0-12 months): Eleven (11) days of vacation each year (3.66 hours per pay period), with a maximum accrual cap of 17 days
Year 2-4: Sixteen (16) days of vacation each year (5.33 hours per pay period), with a maximum accrual cap of 24 days
Year 4+: Twenty-One (21 days) of vacation each year (7.0 hours per pay period), with a maximum accrual cap of 32 days

Parental Leave

Eligible employees may take up to sixteen (16) total weeks of leave in connection with the birth of the employee’s child, placement of a child with the employee for adoption, or gaining of a foster child. AFJ will provide eligible employees with twelve (12) weeks of fully paid parental leave for purposes of bonding with a new baby following a birth or placement of a child for adoption or gaining of a foster child.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer and communicate with others while doing so. On occasion, travel by car, train, and/or airplane may be required. Ability to work long hours when needed (though rare). All employees are required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities of their positions. The essential duties and responsibilities listed above are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.

Work Environment Geographic Location

Washington, D.C. metro area

Work Arrangement

Hybrid Typical

Setting

Office

Travel Requirements

For employees located outside of Washington, DC or working remotely in the DC area, travel to events such as staff retreats and other work meetings will be required approximately one to four times per year.

Schedule

Full-time
Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Some occasional evening and weekend hours will be required.

Direct Reports

This position will supervise the Senior Development Associate.

DEIA and Equal Employment

At Alliance for Justice, we celebrate the richness that our differences bring. We believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are not just principles, but the foundation of our strength. Every individual brings a distinct and invaluable perspective, and we thrive when all voices are encouraged to speak openly, authentically, and with confidence. By embracing who we are and where we come from, we create a culture where everyone is welcomed, heard, and empowered to contribute to our collective mission.

Alliance for Justice provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on actual or perceived race; color; creed; sex; age (18 and over); sexual orientation; national origin; religion; political affiliation; marital or partnership status; familial status; gender, including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions; gender identity; gender expression; military or veteran status; medical condition or history, including cancer and AIDS/HIV; genetic information including predisposition or carrier status and that of family members; disability (mental or physical); physical characteristics or personal appearance, including height, weight, and hair (including hair texture or hairstyle if that style or texture are commonly associated with a particular race or national origin); ethnicity; ancestry; status as a survivor or family member of a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or on any basis prohibited by federal or state statute.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

AFJ/AFJAC shall not unlawfully discriminate against any employee or prospective employee due to actual or perceived arrest or criminal record. AFJ/AFJAC will not ask applicants about any arrests that did not lead to convictions. AFJ/AFJAC will not ask job applicants about their conviction record at the application or interview stage.

After the employer has extended a conditional offer to the applicant, the employer may choose to run a background check and ask questions about the applicant’s criminal conviction history. Disclaimer This description is intended to provide an overview of this position and is not all-inclusive. The incumbent in this position will be expected to perform other duties as required. Responsibilities may change over time. This description is provided for informational purposes only and does not form the basis of a contract.

How to Apply for this Job

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About the Organization

Alliance for Justice (AFJ) stands as the premier nonprofit organization committed to fortifying the progressive movement through its unwavering focus on federal and state courts and building power by providing unique resources to maximize nonprofits’ advocacy capacity. Headquartered in Washington, DC, AFJ uses a distinct and unique combination of technical and content expertise, deep reach in movement advocacy and legal networks, and trusted decades-long experience to transform courts through judicial nominations and ensure everyone has the power to shape the policies that affect our lives.

With a membership consisting of over 135 partner organizations, AFJ represents a diverse and powerful array of groups united in their dedication to progressive values and the transformative goal of reshaping the judiciary for the betterment of all. The recent election has only underscored the critical nature of AFJ's mission, highlighting the urgent need for a fair and impartial court system and progressive nonprofit sector that upholds the rights and freedoms of all Americans.

Mission: To build the strength of progressive movements by training and educating nonprofit organizations on advocacy and harnessing their collective power to transform our state and federal courts.

Vision: AFJ envisions a vibrant, ambitious, multiracial constitutional democracy where historically marginalized voices are amplified to upend exclusionary systems and center justice in our institutions of power. History AFJ emerged as a response to a pivotal moment in American political history.

In 1971, the influential "Powell Memo" called for the business community to leverage the courts to protect corporate interests. Recognizing the far-reaching implications of this strategy, attorney and activist, Nan Aron, founded AFJ in 1979 to counter the growing threat to progressive advancements from conservative forces.

By the mid-1980s, AFJ had launched its cornerstone Judicial Selection Project, bringing together 20 like-minded progressive organizations to focus on shaping the federal judiciary. This initiative marked AFJ's commitment to ensuring that the courts would remain a bastion of justice for all Americans, not just the powerful few. Justice Program AFJ is driving the conversation around courts’ critical importance to our democracy and their foundational role in helping us achieve equality and justice for all. AFJ’s state and federal courts teams partner with its diverse members, partners, and allies to champion the appointment of advocates of equal justice and movement lawyers to the bench nationwide.

In the decades following its inception, Alliance for Justice became a formidable force in shaping the federal judiciary. AFJ's meticulous research and unwavering advocacy became the cornerstone of progressive efforts to safeguard the courts. The organization spearheaded pivotal opposition campaigns against controversial nominees like Robert Bork, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh, effectively influencing the composition of the nation's highest courts. During the Clinton, Obama, and Biden administrations, AFJ played a crucial role in elevating hundreds of exceptionally qualified jurists to the federal bench, ensuring a more demographically and professionally diverse and representative judiciary. AFJ's commitment to judicial integrity has remained steadfast through both triumphs and setbacks.

The historic confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stands as a testament to AFJ's tireless efforts to promote diversity and excellence in the judiciary. Conversely, the overturning of Roe v. Wade underscores the ongoing challenges in preserving hard-won rights. Through it all, AFJ continues its resolute advocacy for a Supreme Court that truly mirrors the nation's diversity and upholds the rights of all citizens, not just the privileged few. This unwavering dedication to justice remains the bedrock of AFJ's mission, driving its efforts to shape a more equitable legal landscape for generations to come.

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