| Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts. Meijer Gardens is ranked among the 100 most visited art institutions in the world. The organization embraces the concept of a major cultural attraction centering around horticulture & sculpture. Meijer Gardens' commitment is to create a legacy of lifelong learning, enjoyment, and a rich cultural experience for generations to come. Department: Philanthropy Supervisor: Director of Development Pay Type: Salary, Full-time Compensation: The salary for this position ranges from $80,000 to $90,000, depending on experience and qualifications. Position Summary: The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for developing and executing strategies to expand mid-level and major giving at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. In partnership with the Vice President of Philanthropy and Director of Development, this position contributes to the overall individual giving fundraising strategy and plays a critical role in fostering a culture of philanthropy. The Major Gifts Officer leads efforts to cultivate and steward relationships with current and prospective donors, secure transformational gifts aligned with institutional priorities, and manage a comprehensive major and planned giving program.
Essential Functions - Provide leadership and strategic direction for a successful major and planned giving program.
- Manage a portfolio of 150–200 individual major gift prospects through all stages of the donor lifecycle: identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention.
- Collaborate with internal teams to develop and implement donor strategies focused on securing gifts of $1,000 and above.
- Assist with donor stewardship and cultivation events as assigned.
- Monitor and report on donor activity, portfolio progress, and solicitation outcomes, and maintain optimum data integrity via a CRM database.
- Generate tailored gift proposals aligned with both donor interests and institutional priorities.
- Lead regular strategy sessions to evaluate and prioritize major gift prospects; maintain prospect tracking systems.
- Assist with the tribute program and identify opportunities for strategic growth.
- Support the planned giving program by identifying, cultivating, and stewarding planned giving prospects and promoting opportunities across the organization.
- Maintain deep knowledge of Meijer Gardens’ mission, programs, and fundraising priorities to effectively represent and advocate for the institution.
- Contribute to the organization’s visibility and reputation by communicating a consistent philanthropic message to stakeholders via newsletters, donor appeals, etc.
- Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Education and / or Qualifications preferred: - Education: A bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, public relations, arts administration, or a related field is required. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may also be considered. Master’s degree in business, nonprofit management, or a related field is preferred.
- Experience:
- Minimum of three (3) years of related experience working with donors in the philanthropic community.
- Minimum of six (6) years of fundraising experience.
- Proven success soliciting and closing major gifts of $1,000 or more.
- Experience working with donor databases and CRMs for tracking and reporting (Salesforce or Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred).
- Familiarity with prospect research, campaign development, and writing compelling fundraising letters and proposals.
- Experience with face-to-face donor engagement and relationship building.
- Skills/Knowledge/Licenses:
- Strong customer service orientation and relationship-building skills.
- Commitment to Frederik Meijer Gardens’ values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Collaborative approach to working within a multidisciplinary team.
- High level of professionalism and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.
Organizational Expectations - Embrace Meijer Gardens’ mission to promote the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts.
- Embrace the organization’s non-profit status and commitment to serving and treating the public with dignity and working with a broad and diverse group of employees, volunteers, members, and guests in a respectful and professional manner.
Working Conditions: Basic mobility is expected in offices, grounds, and exhibition areas. Ability to observe details at close range and communicate information accurately with others. Engage in occasional object manipulation with or without assistance, and efficiently navigate the workspace to access essential resources. Manage occasional lifting tasks, and ability to handle objects weighing up to 20 pounds with ease and regularity. This job operates in a professional indoor office environment, across grounds, and exhibition areas. Occasionally, may be required to work outdoors under inclement weather conditions. Occasional assignment to off-shift duties. As part of our onboarding process, all new hires are required to complete our background check. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.
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