Major Gifts Officer

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION: Major Gifts Officer

REPORTS TO: Director of Development

STATUS: Full-time, Exempt

RANGE: $90,000 - $110,000

Founded in 1901, Brooklyn Law School is a distinguished, independent law school located in Downtown Brooklyn, New York. The Law School is searching for a Major Gifts Officer to join our team. The Law School’s size, vibrant employee and student population, and commitment to training the next generation of lawyers and promoting social justice, will offer a candidate the opportunity to develop and diversify practical skills and participate firsthand in operating a successful educational institution.

Brooklyn Law School seeks a highly motivated and donor-centric fundraising professional to join a metrics-driven major gifts program. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in higher education, fundraising or securing new business in related fields, excellent relationship-building skills, and the ability to meet and exceed ambitious philanthropic goals. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to deepen engagement with alumni, donors, and key stakeholders to advance the mission of Brooklyn Law School.

The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) will report to the Director of Development and play a key role in building and managing a major gifts portfolio while helping to inspire a culture of philanthropy across the institution and with our alumni. This position requires frequent collaboration with faculty, staff, students, and leadership to align donor interests with institutional priorities and maximize giving potential.

Responsibilities include:

• Portfolio Management:
  1. Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward perspective major gift prospects, focusing on individuals with the capacity to make gift commitments of $100,000 or greater.
  2. Develop individualized strategies for donor engagement to ensure sustained support and loyalty.
  3. Conduct 125-150 donor meetings annually with the expectation a majority of these meetings in the first few years will be discovery focused with new prospects to assess interest and capacity.
• Collaboration and Strategy Development:
  1. Work closely with the Director of Development and other Advancement team members to achieve short- and long-term fundraising goals.
  2. Prepare tailored materials, including briefings, proposals, and case statements, for donor meetings involving the Dean, faculty, and senior leadership.
• Prospect Management:
  1. Oversee moves management strategies to track donor progress and ensure consistent communication and follow-up.
  2. Implement prospect identification techniques to grow and diversify the donor pool.
• Cross Departmental Engagement:
  1. Partner with Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving to create events and initiatives that develop a pipeline of potential major donors.
  2. Participate in alumni and student events to strengthen relationships and identify new opportunities for giving.
• Volunteer and Stakeholder Engagement:
  1. Work with alumni boards, regional groups, and leadership councils to foster a culture of giving.
  2. Train and support high-level volunteers to engage in peer-to-peer fundraising efforts.
• Stewardship:
  1. Collaborate with the Donor Relations and Stewardship team to design thoughtful stewardship programs that recognize and engage major gift donors.

Required:

• Minimum of 5–7 years in fundraising, or related field, preferably in higher education. Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrated success by soliciting five and six figure gifts, sales or new business opportunities.
• Familiarity with the legal profession or experience working with lawyers is highly desirable.
• Salesforce CRM experience is desired.
• Familiarity with the NYC donor landscape is preferred.
• Must be a results-oriented self-starter with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a talent for crafting compelling cases for support.
• Strong relationship-building abilities with internal and external stakeholders.
• Expertise in planning and executing customized stewardship programs.
• Experience managing volunteers and facilitating peer-to-peer solicitations.
• Willingness to travel and attend events outside traditional working hours.

Remote capabilities:

• This position is eligible for a hybrid/remote schedule.

Brooklyn law school has an excellent benefits package that includes sick, personal and vacation paid time off, a generous retirement plan, dependent tuition scholarship Pre K- undergraduate college and additional summer Friday PTO.

It is the policy of Brooklyn Law School to be impartial in the treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to race, creed, religion, color, natural origin, citizenship status, gender, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, union affiliation, political affiliation, sexual orientation or preferences or any other legal protected status.