Major Gifts Officer

THIS IS THE JOB FOR YOU IF YOU…

• Love building authentic relationships and connecting people to meaningful, mission-driven impact.
• Are energized by strategic storytelling, thoughtful relationship management, and inspiring philanthropic generosity.
• Enjoy collaborating with colleagues, engaging with families and community partners, and representing the mission and values of Bosque School.
• Are a proactive communicator who is highly organized, detail-oriented, and motivated by long-term partnership building.
• Thrive in a role that blends strategy, creativity, and relational work and are excited to help grow a culture of philanthropy rooted in equity, community, and care.

The Major Gifts Officer plays a vital role in advancing Bosque School’s mission, financial strength, and long-term strategic vision. As a key member of the Philanthropy team, this position is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a dynamic portfolio of donors capable of making leadership-level philanthropic investments. This role serves as a frontline ambassador for the school, facilitating personalized donor journeys, guiding supporters through multi-step cultivation and solicitation processes, and aligning donor interests with Bosque’s mission, differentiators, and programmatic strengths. The Major Gifts Officer works collaboratively across departments and partners closely with the Director of Philanthropy, Head of School, and campus colleagues to strengthen annual, major, and campaign fundraising efforts.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership Giving Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of leadership donors and prospects with clear goals for cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and annual revenue outcomes.
• Develop individualized donor strategies that follow Bosque’s donor-journey model including discovery, alignment, proposal development, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with the Director of Philanthropy to advance strategic fundraising priorities across annual, capital, and special initiatives.
• Partner with the Head of School and department leaders to engage donors through storytelling, mission-driven experiences, and personalized communication.
• Identify new prospective donors using research tools, giving trends, engagement indicators, and wealth screening.

Donor Cultivation, Solicitation & Stewardship

• Conduct discovery meetings to understand donor interests, values, capacity, and alignment with Bosque’s mission.
• Prepare and present tailored proposals in collaboration with the Director of Philanthropy, Business Office, and program leaders.
• Solicit leadership gifts ($2,000 ) supporting annual operations, tuition assistance, endowment growth, capital projects, and future campaign efforts.
• Implement a robust stewardship program including acknowledgments, impact reporting, and personalized engagement touchpoints.
• Support the planning of donor stewardship experiences, such as Findlay Society events and program-centered engagements.

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Partner with Philanthropy team members to track donor journeys, maintain accurate records, monitor metrics, and strengthen the leadership giving pipeline.
• Collaborate with campus departments to create compelling donor engagement opportunities connected to Bosque’s differentiators, including Field & Community Science and the MRC.
• Work with Marketing & Communications to develop philanthropic narratives and donor stories.
• Coordinate with Admission & Enrollment to identify high-engagement families who may become philanthropic partners.

Events & Experience-Based Engagement

• Participate in donor cultivation and stewardship events, receptions, and school programs.
• Identify and support VIP donor pathways within schoolwide events and follow up on key conversations.
• Build relationships with families, alumni, and visitors through intentional networking at school gatherings.

Data, Reporting & Prospect Management

• Maintain accurate donor interaction records in the database.
• Assess portfolio health by monitoring donor movement, pipeline metrics, and revenue projections.
• Prepare donor profiles, meeting briefings, and call notes for the Head of School and Director of Philanthropy.
• Use research tools to identify new prospects and refine cultivation strategies.

Leadership & Community Engagement

• Engage meaningfully in the daily life of the school to develop a deep understanding of Bosque’s programs and mission impact.
• Maintain knowledge of philanthropic best practices and participate in ongoing professional development.
• Build collaborative relationships with trustees, volunteer leaders, alumni, and parent community members.
• Model professionalism, integrity, equity, community, and care in all interactions.
• Attend school events and represent Bosque School at community gatherings, donor events, and external engagements.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 

• Bachelor’s degree required; CFRE certification preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in major gifts, development, sales, or relationship-based work.
• Demonstrated experience securing leadership gifts or managing complex relationship portfolios.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and storytelling abilities.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and an ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency with donor databases and prospect research tools (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, iWave).
• Excellent communication (oral, written, presentation skills) and interpersonal skills.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work with a broad range of constituents.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Commitment to Bosque School’s mission, core values, and Equity, Community, and Culture Principles and Best Practices, and the creation of a progressive, student-centered, inquiry-based educational model.

WHO WE ARE:

Bosque School, founded in 1994, is a non-profit, co-educational independent school serving approximately 350 students in grades 6-12, located in sunny, culturally dynamic, and affordable Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our mission is to create transformative learning experiences that empower a diverse community of students to lead lives of intellectual curiosity, personal integrity, and compassionate contribution to a more just world. We manifest our mission through our core values of inspiring academic excellence, cultivating community, fostering integrity, and learning from place. Our dynamic, immersive, interdisciplinary learning environment challenges each student to think critically, creatively approach problems, and collaborate effectively with cultural competence. Bosque School has been voted the best private school in Albuquerque multiple years running by the Albuquerque Journal Readers’ Choice Awards. Click here to experience a virtual tour of Bosque School. For out-of-state candidates, you can access information about relocating to Albuquerque on our employment page.

HOW TO APPLY

Bosque School invites interested candidates to submit the following materials for consideration:

• A completed Employment Application 
• A cover letter that includes your interest in the role and salary expectations
• A current resume

Please email all materials to applicant@bosqueschool.org. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position will remain open until filled.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

Bosque School is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions, including those related to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, and recognition of individuals on the basis of their ability and job-related qualifications and without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or any other classification proscribed under applicable federal, state, or local law. We actively seek diversity among faculty and administration as well as among students. The school complies with the law regarding reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application/interview process are requested to contact the School to arrange such accommodation.