Major Gifts Officer

Reports to: Chief Development Officer

Location: Hybrid (Boston, MA) In-office presence required 3 days per week

The Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) is an internationally recognized leader at the forefront of climate resilience, environmental justice, and clean water advocacy. Based in Boston, we protect the 80-mile Charles River and its 308-square-mile watershed through science, advocacy, and the law. Having quadrupled our revenue over the past six years, we are preparing to launch our next ambitious five-year strategic plan. We are seeking a relationship-driven Major Gifts Officer (MGO) to help drive our next phase of growth.

The MGO will manage a dynamic portfolio of 125–150 prospects, securing gifts of $10,000 and building meaningful, long-term partnerships with donors. This is an ideal opportunity for a sophisticated communicator and proactive fundraiser who is energized by donor strategy and inspired to turn climate urgency into tangible local impact. Candidates can look forward to joining a high-performing, mission-driven team that holds polluters accountable while supporting the diverse community who hold the Charles near and dear.

If you are a goal-oriented fundraiser who leads with empathy, thrives in a collaborative culture, and is eager to build a best-in-class major gifts program, we invite you to partner with CRWA’s leadership and development team to protect and restore one of our region’s most vital natural resources.

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 125–150 donors and prospects with the capacity to give $10,000 and above, moving them through the donor cycle (identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship).
• Develop and execute tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies for major individual donors, family foundations, and institutional funders to increase annual, multi-year, and legacy commitments.
• Conduct 10 to 15 meaningful donor interactions per month.
• Prepare briefings, talking points, proposals, and donor materials for major gift meetings.
• Track activity, projections, and engagement plans through CRWA’s donor CRM (DonorPerfect or similar CRM experience preferred).

• Identify, research, and qualify new prospects to strengthen CRWA’s major donor pipeline.
• Work with the Chief Development Officer to assess donor capacity, interest, and likelihood of giving.
• Collaborate with program staff to understand programmatic priorities and translate them into compelling donor cases for support.
• Partner with the Board Development Committee to identify new prospects and develop effective cultivation and solicitation strategies.

• Lead stewardship plans for major donors, including personalized updates, site visits, impact reporting, and recognition opportunities.
• Coordinate donor meetings, briefings, and tours of the Charles River and watershed with program staff.

• Work closely with Development, Communications, and Program staff to stay informed on CRWA’s work and upcoming initiatives.
• Partner with the Senior Development Manager on corporate relations and joint cultivation opportunities.
• Support event-based donor cultivation, including CRWA boat tours, small gatherings, house parties, and the annual major donor events.

• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, projections, and strategies in the CRM.
• Provide regular updates on portfolio progress, revenue forecasts, and donor pipeline health.
• Ensure compliance with fundraising best practices and contribute to a culture of strong donor stewardship across the organization.

At CRWA, we recognize that someone may excel in this role even if they don’t have every attribute listed below. We also recognize that the skills needed in this position may be gained from a variety of personal, educational, employment, and volunteer experiences. We take all of this into account when reviewing applications and if you think you’d be a great fit for this role, we encourage you to apply!

• Demonstrated fundraising success in one-to-one solicitations and relationship building, specifically in six-figure gifts.
• At least 10 years of fundraising experience, including at least 5 years of frontline donor relations experience, preferably in major gifts, or similar relationship-based roles.
• Proven track record of managing donor or client portfolios, cultivating relationships, and closing gifts.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills; able to articulate complex ideas in a compelling way verbally and in writing.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; able to balance donor meetings, follow-up, and strategy development.
• Experience using CRM systems (DonorPerfect or similar) to manage donor pipelines.
• Comfort engaging donors in person, over Zoom, and at events.
• Ability to work independently, think strategically, and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Commitment to CRWA’s mission and values, including equity and environmental justice.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for donor events.

CRWA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, protected veteran status, disability, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, and breastfeeding), genetic information, or other bases protected by law.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. CRWA is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

• Development team FY25 unrestricted contributions raised: $1.5M
• Development team FY26 unrestricted goal: $1.9M
• FY26 organizational budget: $3.9M
• Anticipated FY27 organizational budget: $4.2M

This is an exempt, full-time position based in Boston with a starting salary of $115,000 annually. CRWA-sponsored benefits include generous paid time off, employer contributions to health/dental/vision insurance premiums and retirement plan, fully paid family and medical leave, sabbatical policy, Employee Assistance Program, discounts on outdoor gear and apparel, and professional development opportunities. CRWA’s office operates on a hybrid remote/in-person schedule (3 days per week in the Boston office); fully remote candidates will not be considered for this role. 

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to hiring@crwa.org with “Major Gift Officer” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and candidates are encouraged to apply early–the position will remain open until filled. Candidates will be interviewed and selected based on criteria such as prior experience and skills relevant to this position. Date posted:

CRWA strives to attract and retain staff from a wide range of backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives and to foster a culture of belonging in which all feel valued and respected. If you need accommodation(s) to make the interview process more accessible, please let us know by emailing hiring@crwa.org.

CRWA is committed to the ongoing work of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within our organization and in our external relationships. 

Internally, CRWA seeks to embed these principles in staff hiring, professional development, and retention practices as well as in Board recruitment, onboarding, and governance. CRWA strives to attract and retain staff and Board members from a wide range of backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives and to foster a culture of belonging in which all feel valued and respected.

Externally, we are engaged in outreach and relationship development to connect with a broader set of constituents in the watershed, including people and communities that have historically been marginalized. CRWA acknowledges the historic disinvestment and past harm in some watershed communities and is committed to advocating for equitable investments in climate resilience and river health. 

CRWA condemns racism, sexism, bigotry, and discrimination in any form.