Half-Time Major Gifts Officer (MGO)

Job Title: Half-time Major Gift Officer (MGO)

Reports to: CEO

Location: Primarily remote, with in-person donor visits throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties required. Occasional meetings at Legal Aid of Manasota (LAM) offices in Sarasota.

Hours: Average 20 hours/week

Compensation: $60,000 - $65,000/year based on experience. A budget for travel, meals with donors, and tools such as wealth screening and prospect research will be provided.

About Legal Aid of Manasota

Founded in 1991, Legal Aid of Manasota is a non-profit organization that provides free civil legal aid to the most vulnerable residents of Sarasota and Manatee counties. We are committed to providing access to justice by making sure the justice system serves the poor and not just those who can afford a lawyer. Legal Aid Manasota provides free civil legal services to low-income residents by partnering with local lawyers. This group of volunteer and staff lawyers helps stabilize homes, health, and families, making our community stronger socially and economically. In 2025 alone, our volunteer attorneys donated 4,000 hours of free legal services valued at $1.2 million.

Legal Aid of Manasota has 8 Board Members, an executive and administrative staff of 3; 8 staff attorneys; and approximately 400 volunteer attorneys. Development consists primarily of appeals written by the Senior Philanthropic Office and the occasional outside consultant. The donor database, DonorPerfect, is managed by a PT database administrator.

Revenues in 2025 were $1,787,841, of which 92% were grants and 8% individual donors

Position Summary

Legal Aid of Manasota (LAM) seeks a seasoned Major Gift Officer (MGO) to serve as a strategic fundraising partner on a This individual will lead the effort to grow our major donor pipeline, strengthen relationships with key supporters, and increase individual giving at the $5,000 level. The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience, understands the “sales” aspect of the position (getting on the phone and getting on the phone some more), and is comfortable working independently within a .

A Permanent Part-time Position

Currently, LAM has neither the donor base nor the budget for a six-figure Major Gift Officer carrying a portfolio of 100-125 donors.

We do have enough potential major donors identified through a DonorSearch wealth screening to support a portfolio of 50-60 donors.

This position is expressly not envisioned as a “stop over” between full-time jobs. We are looking for a long-term part-time employee.

As a part-time employee, you may work with other nonprofits, as well.

Confidentiality will be maintained through:

- A “firewall” that honors each organization’s donor ownership and strategy.

- A signed Agreement that sets expectations and ethical boundaries from the start.

- Segmentation of employers by sector, agreeing not to work for/contract with another organization that provides legal aid or social services in Sarasota or Manatee counties while employed by LAM.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute all phases of major gift fundraising, including donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies—with an emphasis on face-to-face visits.
• Build and manage a portfolio of approximately 50-60 current and prospective major donors.
• Make at least 50 in-person donor visits each year—and be on the phone/email/texting the remainder of the time building connections.
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board to advance key relationships and secure new or increased gifts.
• Develop individualized cultivation and stewardship strategies for each donor, with the goal of securing new and increased gifts.
• Assist in identifying new prospects through research and network building.
• Recommend updates to materials and donor proposals as necessary. An initial “Donor Conversation Driver” that can be used to support the donor conversation and present donor giving opportunities will be provided.
• Track interactions and outcomes in DonorPerfect, Legal Aid of Manasota’s CRM.
• Attend:
• Board Meetings
• Monthly check-ins with a Fundraising Coach (CEO will join periodically)
• Prepare a monthly report that summarizes: # of donor calls, visits, asks, other activities, and results/status.

This position expressly : Event planning, annual appeals, grant writing or any other non-major gift fundraising-related activities.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in nonprofit major gift fundraising with a track record of securing gifts of $5,000 during in-person donor visits.
• Highly self-motivated and organized, with the ability to work independently.
• Strong listening and relationship-building skills.
• Comfort engaging with high-net-worth individuals.
• Outreach persistence—phoning/emailing/texting (to set-up donor visits)
• Excellent verbal communication abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a small-to-mid-sized nonprofit environment.
• Experience in a social service environment.
• Familiarity with donor databases.

To Apply

Please send a resume and a brief cover letter to diane@majordonors.com with the subject line: LAM Part-time Major Gift Officer Application. Application deadline: October 20, 2026.

Note: Initial screening will be done by fundraising counsel MajorDonors.com. The interview process will include a role-play. Please only apply if you have initiated multiple in-person donor visits, presented opportunities for donors to give, and secured gifts.

Job Type: Part-time

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Sarasota, FL 34236

Salary : $60,000 - $65,000