Major Gifts Associate jobs in Chattanooga, TN

About Girls Preparatory School
The mission of Girls Preparatory School (GPS) is to inspire each girl to lead a life of integrity and purpose by engaging her mind, cultivating her strengths, and nurturing her self-confidence and respect for others. Currently, 130 faculty and staff serve approximately 520 girls in grades 6-12 with a college preparatory curriculum that includes a full complement of courses in the humanities, STEM, the arts, and more, as well as a rich and varied cocurricular program.

Position Summary

Girls Preparatory School seeks an experienced Major Gifts Officer to manage a robust portfolio of alumnae, parents, grandparents, and friends of the School. The ideal candidate will have a heart for all-girls education and be devoted to the work of the adults on campus entrusted with the growth of the next generation of female leaders.

Reporting to the Director of Development, the MGO is responsible for expanding the School’s donor base and strengthening relationships with its constituencies. The MGO will perform a key role in the qualification and solicitation of the most philanthropically capable individuals and families to secure leadership annual gifts, major gifts, and planned gifts. This is a largely external-facing position, requiring both local and national travel. 

Responsibilities:

• Maintain current knowledge of school and campaign funding needs and priorities; identify prospective donors for those needs;
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 125-175 alumnae, parents, grandparents and friends capable of making gifts of $25,000 ;
• Complete a minimum of 120 face-to-face visits with assigned prospects each year;  
• Secure leadership gifts from assigned prospects;
• Plan strategies from cultivation to gift closure and implement those strategies in coordination with DOD and Chief Advancement Officer; report progress toward achievement;
• Work with the DOD and Development team to ensure donors are recognized and well stewarded;
• Conduct screening meetings and develop philanthropic profiles with assigned prospects;
• Assist specific Reunion Class committees with Reunion Gift Campaigns, as needed;
• Travel for events, volunteer meetings, and prospect meetings and work evenings and weekends as needed; and
• Perform other tasks or projects as determined by DOD, CAO, and Head of School.
  
  

Qualifications:

Leadership

• An understanding of and appreciation for independent schools and girls’ schools are preferred.

• A leader who acts with a high level of confidentiality and professionalism.
• A collegial, flexible, and collaborative team player.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Experience, Skills, and Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in business, nonprofit administration, or related field required.
• At least three to five years of fundraising or transferable experience, preferably in an educational setting within an independent school in major and/or principal gifts.
• Must have a demonstrated track record of developing, engaging, and managing a portfolio with experience soliciting and closing major gifts.

• Must have exceptional writing and communication skills and the ability to work with people at all levels of an organization. 
• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills.
• High level of fluency with Raiser’s Edge NXT, Google Suite, and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work, multi-task, and collaborate with people on various projects—from administrators, professional community members, volunteers, parents, and alumnae.

It is the School’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, or disability or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local anti-discrimination laws. It is the intent and resolve of the School to comply with the letter and the spirit of the law in the implementation of all facets of equal opportunity. The School’s equal employment opportunity practices extend to recruitment, hiring, selection, compensation, benefits, transfer, promotion, training, discipline, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.
 
All employees are responsible for complying with the School's equal employment opportunity policy.