The Major Gift Officer is responsible for securing the financial resources that make Chazak Rescue’s mission possible. You will be the primary architect of major donor relationships, focusing on soliciting and securing gifts of $10,000 or more in support of Chazak’s mission through portfolio management and support for campaigns and events.
This role works in partnership with subject matter experts, marketing personnel, and other development staff to accomplish Chazak’s annual fundraising goals. This is a hybrid position, but candidates should ideally be located within commuting distance of our headquarters in New Holland, PA.
The Major Gift Officer will need to understand the overall goals, themes, culture, and values of Chazak Rescue. There are 3 essential requirements of this position:
- Take “Extreme Ownership” of your role.
- Have a strong commitment to the values and culture of Chazak Rescue.
- Communicate well with other team members.
The Major Gift Officer is a team member in the Development Department of Chazak Rescue, reports to the ELT Executive Director, and works with the PR Team, ELT, and Board members.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
The Major Gift Officer will:
- Develop and articulate mission-oriented value propositions for major donors and impact investors that honor Chazak’s security protocols.
- Independently build and deepen relationships with major donors and prospects across the country.
- Secure substantial funding by soliciting five and six-figure gifts.
To drive strategic donor growth, the Major Gift Officer will:
- Expand Chazak’s existing pool of donors by identifying prospects and executing long-term cultivation and solicitation strategies.
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 priority partners.
- Develop and execute an annual plan, including individualized engagement strategies for advancing each relationship.
- Work with the PR Team, ELT, and Board members to identify people aligned with Chazak’s values who have the capacity to give transformative gifts.
To lead collaborative cultivation, the Major Gift Officer will:
- Curate key donor meetings for staff and leadership as subject matter experts.
- Prepare strategic briefs, impact reports, and materials for donor meetings.
- Advise and support colleagues throughout the organization in the cultivation of individual donor relationships.
To serve and care for partners, the Major Gift Officer will:
- Personally engage partners through visits, special events, vision trips, and other meaningful touches.
- Provide personal and timely acknowledgment of partner contributions.
- Minister to donors on a spiritual level, encouraging their walk with the Lord and incorporating principles of Biblical stewardship as appropriate.
- Provide customized impact reporting and keep partners feeling connected, updated, and valued.
To represent Chazak publicly, the Major Gift Officer will:
- Represent Chazak Rescue at key internal and external events, speaking engagements, and public-facing activities.
- Stay informed of institutional priorities, regional work and achievements, and current updates on key issues.
- Manage CRM database (Bloomerang + Donor Elf + QBO) to ensure contributions, contacts, and relationship development are properly maintained.
Qualifications
A qualified individual for this position will have:
- Personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of professional fundraising experience with a proven track record of closing $10,000+ gifts.
- Experience building and managing a donor and prospect portfolio using moves management best practices.
- Strong experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, or Bloomerang).
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal).
- Ability to translate complex operations into compelling stories that resonate with donors.
- Commitment to maintaining a high level of confidentiality regarding Chazak prospects, donors, and volunteers.
- Ability to work independently and engage in collaborative, consensus-based decision making.
- Living and working in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
- Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
- Availability to travel approximately 30–50% of the time for donor meetings and occasional visits to training sites or deployment debriefs.
Compensation: As a Major Gift Officer, your immediate baseline goal will be raising the funds to cover your own position, which offers a salary range of $85,000 – $110,000 per year commensurate with experience. Benefits include flexible work schedules, professional development opportunities, staff enrichment retreats, and a generous self-managed leave benefit inclusive of vacation, sick, and holidays. Bonuses will be given for reaching fundraising milestones each year. Employees can submit work-related expenses, including mileage, for reimbursement.
