What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Major Gifts Officer position at The Water Project?
Who We Are
The Water Project unlocks human potential by building and connecting global networks of local leaders, communities of generous supporters, and an informed public to provide sustainable water and sanitation programs to needlessly suffering communities in developing countries. We are committed to bringing people together to solve the problem of finding clean water. Whether it’s our local teams in the field, our international staff, our donors and fundraisers, or the communities we serve, we believe that people are the greatest solution to the water crisis.
At The Water Project, we prioritize the well-being of our team. We provide competitive salaries and excellent benefits, including fully covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) match, and a generous vacation policy.
What The Role Is
Major gifts fuel lasting impact.
As Senior Major Gifts Officer, you will personally own and deliver significant philanthropic revenue goals for The Water Project. You will be personally accountable for an annual major gifts revenue goal in the $1–$2 million range.
This is a senior frontline role for an experienced major gifts fundraiser who knows how to build trust, move relationships forward, and close meaningful gifts.
Reporting to the Chief Revenue Officer, you will manage and grow a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, expand a strong pipeline of five- and six-figure opportunities, and serve as a trusted philanthropic partner to individuals and families capable of transformational giving.
This role exists to ensure that donor relationships translate into sustained, mission-aligned investment—so communities gain access to clean, safe water today and for generations to come.
This is a full-time position and may be located anywhere in the United States, with travel required.
What You Will Own and Be Accountable For
Major Gifts Revenue & Results
Secure $10,000 gifts and six-figure multi-year commitments from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners, including philanthropic and sponsorship gifts, contributing to a personal annual revenue goal of $1–$2 million.
Maintain a qualified major gifts pipeline valued at a minimum of 3–4x annual revenue target.
Consistently meet or exceed annual and quarterly revenue goals.
Build, manage, and actively move a healthy, well-qualified major gifts pipeline.
Portfolio Ownership & Donor Strategy
Personally manage a strategic portfolio of 150–200 high-capacity donors and prospects, with clear revenue, upgrade, and retention targets for the portfolio.
Design and manage multi-year donor strategies that support predictable, sustained revenue growth.
Maintain disciplined, intentional contact and clear next steps for every donor.
Design and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies aligned with donor interests and organizational priorities.
Prospecting & Growth
Identify, qualify, and engage new major donors.
Work closely with Marketing to qualify new mass and mid donors with major giving potential
Maintain and work to convert a pipeline of prospects
Move individuals and families from initial interest into deeper, long-term investment.
Expand The Water Project’s major donor presence in key metropolitan markets.
Own qualification standards and ensure new prospects meet defined capacity, inclination, and readiness criteria.
Strategic Partnership & Execution
Partner closely with the Chief Revenue Officer on revenue forecasting, pipeline development, and multi-year growth strategy.
Partner with Marketing and Programs to align donor interests with organizational funding priorities and campaign needs.
Identify risks and opportunities within the major gifts program and adjust strategy accordingly.
Shape and deliver a consistent volume of compelling, donor-aligned proposals and solicitations that advance revenue goals.
Operational Discipline
Maintain accurate, current donor plans, activity tracking, and records in Salesforce.
Use data and insights to guide decisions, prioritize effort, and evaluate performance.
Regularly assess portfolio performance and reallocate time and strategy to address underperformance or stalled revenue.
Travel domestically and internationally with donors and prospects as appropriate.
Team Coaching and Mentorship
Provides peer coaching and informal mentorship to strengthen major gift strategy, skills, and confidence across the team.
Serves as a senior resource for consultation, feedback, and best-practice sharing
Supports peers in setting, refining, and tracking major gift goals, offering guidance and accountability
What Success In This Role Will Look Like
Success in the First 12–18 Months:
Consistent achievement or exceedance of assigned annual major gifts revenue goals.
A pipeline maintained at or above 3–4x coverage against annual revenue targets.
A clearly defined, actively moving portfolio with strong donor engagement and upgrades.
A healthy, growing pipeline of qualified five- and six-figure prospects.
High donor retention and increased lifetime value among major donors.
Strong trust and partnership with the Chief Revenue Officer and philanthropy team.
Confidence across leadership that major gifts revenue is disciplined, predictable, and growing.
Who You Are
You are trusted—and donors give because of the relationships you build.
You enjoy raising money and are comfortable being directly accountable for revenue results.
Integrity and authenticity define how you work and communicate.
You ask thoughtful questions, listen closely, and act with discernment.
You think strategically within relationships for the benefit of both the donor and the organization.
You hold yourself to a high bar and follow through.
You are both an independent owner and a strong collaborator.
Required Qualifications
8 years of fundraising experience, including 5 years managing high-capacity major gift portfolios.
Demonstrated success closing $15,000–$100,000 gifts, including multi-year commitments.
Proven year-over-year revenue growth with clear personal accountability for outcomes.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency with Salesforce or comparable CRM systems.
High emotional intelligence and cross-cultural competence.
Willingness and ability to travel.
You'll Thrive Here If...
You fundraise because the mission matters — and because you're genuinely good at it. You don't separate the two. Closing meaningful gifts energizes you, and the fact that those gifts bring clean water to real communities makes it even better.
You're comfortable owning a number. You don't wait to be managed toward your goals. You set the pace, know your pipeline cold, and hold yourself accountable before anyone else does.
You build relationships that last longer than a gift cycle. Donors trust you because you've earned it — through consistency, follow-through, and genuine curiosity about what they care about.
You thrive with autonomy, but you're not a lone wolf. You'll own your portfolio independently, but you'll also partner closely with the CRO, collaborate with marketing, and show up for your colleagues. The team's wins matter to you.
Small-org energy doesn't slow you down — it suits you. There's no bureaucracy here to hide behind or hand things off to. You're resourceful, adaptable, and you find the lean environment freeing rather than frustrating.
You're as strong on paper as you are in the room. Proposals, stewardship letters, solicitation strategies — you craft them with care, because you know the words matter as much as the meeting.
You want your work to mean something. The communities TWP serves are counting on the resources you secure. That weight is something you carry with purpose, not pressure.
Salary : $15,000 - $100,000