What are the responsibilities and job description for the Major Gifts Officer position at USA Lacrosse?
Company Description USA Lacrosse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the national governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse in the United States. It leads the U.S. National Teams Program and sets universal standards to guide the sport’s development and integrity. With nearly 400,000 members nationwide, USA Lacrosse brings together players, coaches, officials, parents, and program leaders into a unified community. The organization focuses on inspiring participation, enriching the athlete experience, and driving sustainable growth of the sport at all levels. Team members join a mission-driven environment that values collaboration, inclusion, and service to the lacrosse community.
Role Description The Major Gifts Officer is a full-time remote role responsible for developing and managing relationships with individual donors and stakeholders to secure significant philanthropic support for USA Lacrosse. Day-to-day tasks include identifying and qualifying prospects, cultivating and stewarding major gift donors through regular outreach, meetings, and tailored engagement strategies, and preparing compelling proposals, cases for support, and impact reports. The role collaborates with development leadership and program staff to align donor interests with organizational priorities, coordinate fundraising campaigns, and support planned and annual giving initiatives. The Major Gifts Officer maintains accurate donor records, tracks activities and outcomes in the CRM system, analyzes portfolio performance, and contributes to long-term strategies that deepen donor engagement and expand philanthropic revenue. Occasional travel may be required for donor visits, events, and meetings.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience with major gifts fundraising and philanthropy, including cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-capacity donors.
- Knowledge of Planned Giving practices and the ability to work with donors and advisors on legacy and estate-based contributions.
- Background in Annual Giving programs, including campaign support, donor segmentation, and pipeline development.
- Proficiency in Prospect Research to identify, evaluate, and prioritize donor prospects and develop effective engagement strategies.
- Experience in Alumni Relations or similar constituent engagement, building long-term relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to craft persuasive written materials and conduct compelling donor conversations.
- Comfort with remote work, including effective time management, use of CRM and virtual collaboration tools, and independent problem-solving.
- Ability to collaborate across departments, demonstrate cultural competence, and uphold ethical and inclusive fundraising practices.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, or a related field.
- Interest in or familiarity with sports, particularly lacrosse, is beneficial but not required.