Major Gifts Officer

Position Summary

The Bellforge Arts Center seeks a dynamic and entrepreneurial Major Gifts Officer (MGO) to lead efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors in support of a transformative capital campaign to establish a vibrant, inclusive regional arts center on the historic Medfield State Hospital campus. As Bellforge enters an exciting phase of growth and visibility, the MGO will play a pivotal role in securing leadership and major gifts that will help shape the future of the campus and support capital and programmatic priorities.

Reporting to the Director of Development, the MGO will manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects capable of making gifts of $10,000 and above, with a focus on securing six- and seven-figure commitments. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a passionate fundraiser to help build an arts institution from the ground up while increasing access to arts experiences for communities historically underserved.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategies to secure major gifts in support of Bellforge’s capital campaign and long-term fundraising goals.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100–150 prospects, including discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship phases.
• Conduct at least 10–12 in-perpson prospect visits/solicitations per month; prepare and deliver personalized proposals and donor communications.
• Work closely with the Director of Development, Bellforge staff, and board members to deepen donor engagement and identify new sources of major support.
• In coordination with the Development team, contribute to prospect strategy meetings, donor cultivation events, and host site tours to advance relationships and showcase Bellforge’s impact.
• Collaborate with program and communications teams to ensure consistent messaging and alignment between donor interests and institutional priorities.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor activity and relationships in the donor database (Salesforce).
• Represent Bellforge at public events, performances, and community engagement opportunities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, with a proven track record of securing major gifts ($10,000 ).
• Experience working with individual donors and private family foundations at the five- and six-figure gift level preferred.
• Demonstrated success in campaign environments or capital fundraising preferred.
• Passion for the arts and belief in the role of culture in community building and equity.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; persuasive, poised, and empathetic.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across departments and with external stakeholders.
• High level of discretion and integrity in managing confidential information.
• Experience with donor databases and CRM tools; knowledge of Salesforce or similar platforms a plus.
• Availability to travel locally and regionally, and to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Salary Range: $100,000–$125,000, commensurate with experience, plus competitive benefits.