What are the responsibilities and job description for the Major Gifts Officer position at Dexter Southfield?
Major Gifts Officer
About Dexter Southfield
Dexter Southfield is an independent school where boys and girls in Pre-K through Class 12 develop their individual talents and build an ethical foundation for life. Students learn to lead and serve with character, confidence, and compassion. Our 36-acre campus is located on the Brookline-Boston line, just minutes from the city’s best museums, libraries, hospitals, performing arts venues, colleges, and universities—all of which serve as an extension of our classrooms. At Dexter Southfield, we approach everything we do with enthusiasm and commitment, living by our School’s motto: “Our Best Today, Better Tomorrow.”
About This Role
Dexter Southfield seeks a Major Gifts Officer to manage a portfolio of 100 major gift prospects and identify and qualify prospective major gift donors. You will represent Dexter Southfield with the highest level of professionalism and articulate the School’s mission and strategic objectives with confidence and enthusiasm. This position will play a critical role in the School’s centennial celebration in 2026 and the corresponding comprehensive campaign in support of the newly developed strategic plan that contributes to the growth and success of the students, parents, faculty, and administration of Dexter Southfield. The Major Gifts Officer reports to the Director of Development.
Essential Job Responsibilities
- Manage portfolio of 100 prospects (parents, grandparents, and alumni) with the capacity of making six- and seven-figure major gifts in support of Dexter Southfield, raising $2M annually in major gifts and annual gifts.
- Move prospects through the giving pipeline, including setting strategy, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Assist donors in articulating their philanthropic goals and connect them with key funding priorities within the context of the campaign.
- Meet or exceed goals for prospect visits, solicitations, gifts closed, and dollars raised.
- Successfully leverage campus leaders to solicit and close 6- and 7-figure gifts.
- Solicit entire portfolio for unrestricted leadership annual gifts.
- Responsible for the timely, accurate entry of contact reports and upkeep of prospect stage, solicitation records, and biographical data in Raisers Edge.
- Identify, qualify, and develop relationships with new major gift prospects.
- Build a target list of to-be engaged prospects and secure discovery visits to qualify prospects for portfolio assignments.
- Work with the annual giving team to identify prospects through demonstrated annual giving.
- Assign 10 new major gift prospects to your portfolio annually.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Skills and Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required in relevant field; advance degree desirable.
- 7 years of academic leadership experience, including direct frontline fundraising and/or academic and engagement programming.
- Ability building thoughtful, productive relationships and leveraging relationships with major prospects to secure significant gifts through effective prospect management required.
- Highly professional and able to productively collaborate with colleagues in External Relations as well as campus partners.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills to motivate, engage and work with staff, donors, and campus leaders.
- Strong motivation and work ethic to succeed in a goal-oriented environment.
- Self-starter with the ability to work with minimal supervisor independently and as part of a team.
- Ability and willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends, as needed.
At Dexter Southfield, we promote a culture of excellence that extends beyond academics, athletics, and the arts. We value a diverse and inclusive community in which different identities and perspectives are accepted and respected to create a sense of belonging for all.
Dexter Southfield considers several factors in compensation decisions including job knowledge, skills, experience, academic credentials, licensures and certifications, and organizational needs. While compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and merits of each case, individuals are typically not hired at or near the top of the salary range, which for this role is $100,000 to $135,000.
Salary : $100,000 - $135,000