Major Gifts Officer

The Major Gifts Officer will work very closely with the CEO to get the CEO in front of top prospects and will advise and strategize with the CEO on major donor solicitation and the growth of a thriving major gifts program with regular asks made by the CEO and the MGO. The primary measure of success will be a pipeline of major gifts that advance the mission of the organization and make philanthropy a significant and dependable source of annual support for the mission of the organization.

The position works directly with the CEO to arrange and prepare donor meetings and serves as a critical connector between prospective donors, executive leadership, and the Board Development Committee.

This position supports and contributes to the Ten Thousand Villages mission by: Expanding Ten Thousand Villages’ access to transformational philanthropy by building a disciplined, CEO- engaged major gift engine. By increasing the volume and quality of major gifts secured, the Major Gifts Officer directly supports the long-term growth and impact of Artisan Pathways and the organization’s broader mission.

Position Duties/Responsibilities:

Major Gift Origination

• Identify, research, and qualify prospective major gift donors, including individuals, family
  foundations, and aligned institutions.
• Proactively generate new donor leads through networking, referrals, events, and targeted
  outreach.
• Conduct discovery conversations to assess donor interests, philanthropic priorities,
  capacity, and readiness.
• Establish initial relationships that position Ten Thousand Villages as a credible, mission-
  aligned philanthropic partner.
• Advance qualified prospects to CEO-led donor meetings with clear purpose and next
  steps.
• Ask for and close major gifts alone and alongside the CEO.

Direct CEO Support and Donor Engagement

• Work directly with the Chief Executive Officer to arrange donor meetings and
  introductions.
• Prepare concise donor briefings, background summaries, and engagement objectives for
  CEO interactions.
• Ensure timely follow-up on CEO donor conversations, translating interest into structured
  cultivation pathways.
• Protect CEO time by prioritizing meetings with high-alignment, high-potential prospects.
• Manage roughly 20% of the CEO’s time for major gift work while also managing a list of up
  to 120 top prospects for the MGO’s solicitation and stewardship as well.

Board Development Committee Collaboration

• Work closely with the Board Development Committee to support donor identification,
  introductions, and cultivation efforts.
• Coordinate with board members on prospect strategy, preparation, and follow-up.
• Assist in aligning board relationships and networks with Artisan Pathways funding priorities
  and other gift opportunities that appeal to major donors and propects
  Philanthropic Messaging and Context
• Communicate Ten Thousand Villages’ mission, philanthropic priorities, and Artisan
  Pathways strategy clearly and consistently.
• Stay current on artisan stories, program outcomes, and organizational priorities to support
  donor conversations.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure donor-facing messaging is accurate and aligned.
  Prospect Management and Coordination
• Apply disciplined moves-management practices to advance prospects through
  engagement stages.
• Serve as the staff liaison and support person for the Development Committee of the Board.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, insights, and next steps.
• Coordinate the transition of qualified prospects into solicitation and longer-term
  stewardship by the MGO and the CEO.
• Support donor-related events and gatherings that advance relationship development.

Success Measures

• Number of new major gift prospects qualified
• Major gifts closed in year one equal to 3 times the investment in salary and benefits for the
  role, then 5 times in year two, and 8 times in year three.
• Number of prospects advanced to CEO meetings, number of solicitations made per
  month, and visits completed per month
• Quality and clarity of donor intelligence and preparation materials
• Conversion of discovery conversations into active cultivation, and successful gift closes.
• Effective coordination with the Board Development Committee

Preferred Experience/Knowledge/Education/Skills/Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Passion for the mission of Ten Thousand Villages and the ability to effectively engage donors, supporters, and partners from diverse backgrounds, especially those motivated by Christian faith and Anabaptist values.
• Strong knowledge of Christian and Anabaptist communities in the US preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in fundraising strongly preferred business development, relationship management, or comparable high-level sales roles may be considered.
• Demonstrated fundraising success, especially successful major gift fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success initiating and advancing relationships with high-capacity individuals.
• Strong discovery, listening, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to represent mission, impact, and strategy with confidence and precision.
• Strong organizational discipline and follow-through.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and judgment.

Personal Attributes

• Externally oriented and relationship driven.
• Comfortable operating in executive and board-level contexts.
• Self-directed, persistent, and attentive to detail.
• Motivated by opportunity creation and mission impact.

Types of Interaction (internal):

• Leadership Team
• Board of Directors
• Home office departments

Type of Interaction (external):

• Donors - corporations, foundations, and individuals
• Artisans
• Non-profit organizations

Physical Requirements:

• This role routinely uses standard office equipment, requires close visual acuity, frequent
  typing, and both hearing and talking abilities. While the role is largely sedentary,
  occasional bending, lifting of up to 10 pounds, and the ability to move throughout the
  building is necessary.
• This job operates in a professional office environment and is not exposed to adverse
  environmental conditions