Major Gift Officer

Job description

WE ARE A21 At A21, we are fueled by radical hope - the kind that refuses to accept that slavery is someone else’s problem. We believe that freedom is possible, and we work every day to make that belief a reality. We are a global nonprofit organization on a mission to abolish slavery everywhere, forever. For more than 18 years, we’ve assisted people from human trafficking and walked with them through the journey of restoration. We stand on the frontlines, not just to fight for justice - but to build a world where every person is free. In a single moment, a number becomes a name, a tragedy becomes a victory, and belief becomes action. Freedom is the goal - for every human being on the planet. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: Major Gift Officer OVERVIEW The Major Gift Officer has the opportunity to meaningfully engage donors and prospective donors in A21's mission to abolish slavery everywhere, forever. The successful candidate will be a highly relational and proactive fundraiser who is confident identifying, cultivating, and directly soliciting major donors and strategic partners.This role is responsible for managing a portfolio of major donors, cultivating authentic relationships, and securing significant philanthropic investments that contribute to A21's long-term growth and sustainability. Working closely with the Director of Fundraising and Advancement team, the Major Gift Officer develops personalized strategies that inspire transformational giving and create meaningful opportunities for donors to engage with A21's mission. The Major Gift Officer will connect people to impact, communicate A21’s vision, and invite others to make financial investments in the mission while contributing significantly toward A21’s annual growth target. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: Portfolio Management Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospective donors through intentional qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Develop and execute individualized engagement and giving strategies that deepen donor relationships and increase philanthropic investment. Build authentic, trust-based relationships with donors through regular in-person and virtual meetings, personalized communication, impact updates, and meaningful stewardship. Identify opportunities to increase donor engagement, giving, and long-term commitment to A21. Personally solicit major gifts and secure significant philanthropic investments in partnership with the Director of Fundraising and organizational leadership. Identify opportunities for donors to expand A21’s network by making introductions to prospective donors and strategic partners. Contribute to annual and long-term fundraising goals through major gift acquisition, portfolio growth, donor retention, and increased giving. Prospect & Pipeline Development Maintain a strong pipeline of qualified major gift prospects and intentionally move prospects through the donor journey from identification and qualification through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Proactively identify and develop new major donor relationships through networking, referrals, research, events, and existing donor networks. Research and assess prospective donors to understand capacity, interests, relationships, and potential alignment with A21. Prepare compelling proposals, presentations, funding requests, and stewardship materials tailored to individual donor interests and A21’s strategic priorities. Partner with the Director of Fundraising and Advancement team to identify high-capacity prospects, strategic opportunities, and approaches to portfolio growth. Identify opportunities to leverage existing donor and partner networks to expand A21’s reach and fundraising pipeline. Donor Experience & Engagement Collaborate with Regional Advancement & Engagement Leads and cross-functional teams to create compelling donor experiences that communicate A21’s mission, strategy, and impact. Connect donors to A21’s mission and impact through vision trips, events, program experiences, briefings, and other strategic engagement opportunities. Cultivate relationships with individuals, organizations, foundations, where there is potential for meaningful philanthropic partnership. Help create meaningful pathways for donors and partners to engage beyond financial giving, strengthening their connection to A21’s mission and work. Participate in major donor events, networking opportunities, vision trips, donor meetings, and other strategic engagement activities. Maintain high emotional intelligence and sound professional judgment, with the ability to build warm, authentic donor relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. Reporting & Team Collaboration Maintain accurate and timely donor records, activity, moves management, and next steps within A21’s CRM. Monitor portfolio performance, donor engagement, giving trends, and prospect movement to inform cultivation and solicitation strategies. Regularly evaluate portfolio health and identify opportunities, risks, and gaps requiring strategic action. Provide regular updates to the Director of Fundraising on portfolio activity, pipeline development, fundraising progress, and significant donor developments. Collaborate across Advancement, Marketing, Programs, Finance, and Operations to ensure a coordinated and exceptional donor experience. PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS Essential Qualifications Minimum 5 years of progressive fundraising, business development, relationship management, or comparable experience, including demonstrated success cultivating and securing major gifts. Proven experience managing and developing relationships with high-net-worth individuals, organizational leaders, foundations, churches, and/or corporate partners. Demonstrated success personally soliciting and closing five and six-figure gifts. Demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors through the full fundraising cycle. Strong networker with an entrepreneurial mindset and demonstrated ability to develop new relationships and expand a donor pipeline. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the confidence and emotional intelligence to engage high-capacity individuals and organizational leaders. Ability to communicate A21’s mission, vision, strategy, and impact with clarity, authenticity, and passion. Strong strategic thinking and judgment, with the ability to evaluate donor engagement strategies, interpret relationship and giving data, and adjust approaches accordingly. Experience using donor databases or CRM systems to manage relationships, moves management, and fundraising activity. Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as required. Strong alignment with A21's mission, values, and organizational culture, with the ability to represent the organization with credibility, humility, integrity, and discretion. Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of professional experience and demonstrated fundraising success. Key Outcomes Expected Growth in major donor revenue and portfolio engagement. Increased acquisition and retention of major donors. Achievement of an annual individual revenue target, including both renewed and increased giving from existing donors and revenue generated from newly cultivated. relationships. Effective portfolio management resulting in increased major gift opportunities closing five and six figure gifts. Accurate CRM data and timely donor stewardship. Meaningful donor engagement that results in deeper partnership with A21’s mission.