What are the responsibilities and job description for the Major Gifts Officer position at Association for Autism and Neurodiversity Inc?
Position: Major Gifts Officer
Location: Remote (US-Based) with optional access to Watertown, MA. Office- Employees must reside in and be authorized to work in the United States. The ideal candidate will be based in the Greater Boston or New England region.
Reports to: Director of Development
Ideal start date: October 1, 2025
Position Overview
The Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE), based in Watertown, MA, is seeking a strategic and relationship-driven Major Gifts Officer (MGO) to build and manage a portfolio of individual donors making gifts of $10,000 or more. This role will be instrumental in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors to secure unrestricted funding in support of our mission. The ideal candidate will be an entrepreneurial self-starter with a passion for relationship-building and donor engagement.
This is a remote position open to candidates based in and authorized to work in the United States, with optional in-office work available. The ideal candidate will be based in the Greater Boston or New England region. The position is budgeted to start October 1, 2025.
Key Responsibilities
Portfolio Development: Build and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors from the ground up.
- Donor Cultivation & Solicitation: Develop and implement personalized strategies to engage, solicit, and steward donors at the $10,000 level.
- Collaboration: Work closely with the Executive Director and Director of Development to craft donor strategies. Partner with the Deputy Director and other program department leadership when donors express specific programmatic interests.
- Stewardship & Engagement: Ensure that donors receive meaningful engagement, recognition, and impact updates to maintain and increase their support.
- Travel: Conduct donor meetings and stewardship visits as needed. This may include occasional travel outside of the Greater Boston and New England areas.
- Events: Manage and execute donor cultivation events to strengthen relationships and identify new prospects.
- Planned Giving Awareness: Maintain a basic understanding of planned giving strategies and incorporate them into donor conversations where appropriate.
Reporting & Metrics: Track and report on donor engagement and revenue goals, with success measured primarily by dollars raised over time.
Qualifications
5 years of experience in leadership gifts or major gifts fundraising.
- Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and securing five- or six-figure gifts, plus a deep understanding of the importance of unrestricted funding.
- Ability to work independently and build relationships from scratch.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and storytelling skills.
- Willingness to travel as needed for donor meetings and events.
- Experience working in a large, complex, best-practice development shop is highly desirable.
Passion for AANE’s mission and community.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary range: $90,000–$100,000, commensurate with experience.
- Opportunities for professional development
- Employer match for IRA contributions
- Paid sick time as accrued
- Comprehensive health insurance options, including FSA and DCA accounts, for eligible employees.
- Potential loan forgiveness through PSLF program for qualifying employees
Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE) helps Autistic and similarly Neurodivergent people build meaningful, connected lives. We provide individuals, families, and professionals with education, community and support, in an inclusive atmosphere of validation and respect.
AANE’s Commitment to Recruiting and Retaining Racially Diverse Professionals: As a global leader in promoting neurodiverse environments in all aspects of society, AANE is deeply committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the communities we serve and in our own workplace. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a racially diverse team, and we encourage professionals of color to apply for this and other job opportunities with our organization. Please consider joining us.
To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the Major Gifts Officer position, and relevant experience.
Salary : $90,000 - $100,000