HQ – Headquarters

Major Gifts Officer

Department: HQ – Headquarters

Salary: $140,000-$150,000

Location: Pasadena, CA

Position Summary: The Major Gifts Officer will partner with Development leadership and peers to help build a fundraising program to grow the culture of philanthropy across the institution in support of Carnegie’s scientific community. This new position will be based and will be regionally focused on the West Coast. The Major Gifts Officer will strive to develop the pipeline of major, principal, and planned gifts by engaging with Carnegie’s donors, prospects, and other stakeholders to strengthen existing relationships, as well as expand the institution’s portfolio of donors. Discovery work is a significant component of the position, offering an opportunity to establish and deepen relationships that benefit the institution.

Essential Duties:

  • Contribute to the development of the major gifts pipeline by leveraging relationships with donors, supporters, scientists, staff, and others.
  • Execute thoughtful moves management and interactions that deepen relationships, increase giving, and move donors up the giving ladder.
  • Move prospects through the donor continuum by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors to successfully close gifts.
  • Participate in efforts to deepen individual donor engagement in Carnegie Science, including opportunities for donors to participate in prospect identification.
  • Identify, pursue, and develop relationships that lay the groundwork for 5-, 6-, and 7-figure solicitations.
  • Increase donors at the leadership annual fund level of 5-6 figures through membership in “philanthropy circles”.
  • Build relationships with donors and prospects via personal visits, Zoom meetings, phone calls, ongoing written contact, and events.
  • Collaborate with other development partners to understand the philanthropic interests and priorities of constituents and help them realize their philanthropic potential as supporters of Carnegie Science.
  • Participate in activities that help meet the goals and objectives of the development team, including attendance at institution-wide meetings, departmental community lectures, scientific presentations given by department scientists, as well as at other engagements.
  • Build awareness of Carnegie Science to foster donors in the philanthropic community.
  • Work with leadership and colleagues to craft appropriate and consistent messaging regarding Carnegie Science’s fundraising.
  • Write proposals and other cultivation and stewardship materials.

At Carnegie, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community. We believe academic environments should be places where diverse groups of people with a variety of viewpoints and ideas can thrive and work together. As such, we encourage applicants from underrepresented groups and backgrounds to apply. The Carnegie Institution is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability, or other protected group status.