How to apply for Major Gift Officer

About All Our Kin

All Our Kin is a nonprofit that fundraises over 80% of its budget at the national level through a centralized Development department, while regional Vice Presidents handle local, state, and earned-revenue efforts. The organization uses a hybrid centralized/decentralized model, so this role sits within a national fundraising team that partners closely with regional leaders.

About the role

The Major Gifts Officer at the Director level leads major donor fundraising for high-capacity individuals, including Board networks, corporations, family and private foundations, and donor advised funds. This person builds and manages a portfolio of key donors, partners with the CEO, CDO, and Board on fundraising initiatives, and works with senior leadership to meet or exceed revenue goals.

A typical day

A typical day may include meeting with the CEO or CDO to align on donor strategy, preparing a briefing for a Board member introduction, and updating a portfolio of major donors in the CRM. The role also involves collaborating with regional Vice Presidents to ensure national and local fundraising efforts do not overlap. Because the position is remote, much of the work happens over video calls and email.

Who All Our Kin is looking for

• Has direct experience managing a portfolio of high-capacity individual donors, including Board networks, corporations, family and private foundations, and donor advised funds.
• Has worked at the Director level or equivalent in a fundraising role, with a track record of meeting or exceeding revenue goals.
• Is comfortable partnering with a CEO, CDO, and Board of Directors on fundraising strategy and donor engagement.
• Can operate in a centralized/decentralized model, collaborating with national Development staff and regional Vice Presidents without duplicating local efforts.

Tips for this application

• Name the specific donor types you have managed in your materials: high-capacity individuals, Board networks, corporations, family and private foundations, and donor advised funds.
• Quantify your fundraising results. State portfolio size, revenue goals, and whether you met or exceeded them.
• Describe how you have worked with a CEO, CDO, or Board on donor strategy. This role explicitly partners with all three.
• Show that you understand All Our Kin's split model: national Development raises over 80% of the budget, while regional Vice Presidents handle local and state efforts. Explain how you would avoid overlap.
• Address the remote nature of the role. Explain how you build donor relationships and collaborate with senior leadership across locations.

What to cover in your cover letter

State your experience managing a major donor portfolio that includes Board networks, corporations, foundations, and donor advised funds. Give one or two examples of revenue goals you met or exceeded. Explain how you have partnered with a CEO, CDO, or Board on fundraising. Describe how you would work within a centralized/decentralized model where national Development raises most of the budget and regional Vice Presidents handle local efforts.

Research before applying

• Review All Our Kin's national fundraising structure: over 80% of the budget is raised by the Development department, while regional Vice Presidents handle local, community, place-based, state, and earned-revenue efforts.
• Find public information about All Our Kin's Board of Directors and their fundraising initiatives, since this role partners with the Board.
• Look up the CEO and CDO of All Our Kin and any public statements they have made about fundraising priorities or donor strategy.
• Check All Our Kin's recent annual reports or financial statements to understand the budget size and how major gifts fit into the revenue mix.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you build and manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors that includes Board networks, corporations, family and private foundations, and donor advised funds?
• Describe a time you partnered with a CEO, CDO, or Board of Directors to secure a major gift. What was your role and what was the result?
• How would you work with regional Vice Presidents in a centralized/decentralized model to avoid duplicating local fundraising efforts?
• What is your approach to enhancing the donor experience and fostering relationships with major donors over time?
• How do you set revenue goals and track progress against them for a major gifts portfolio?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Do not submit a generic cover letter. This role requires specific experience with high-capacity individual donors, Board networks, corporations, foundations, and donor advised funds.
• Do not ignore the centralized/decentralized model. Candidates who do not address how they would work with regional Vice Presidents may appear unprepared.
• Do not focus only on individual giving. The role explicitly includes corporations, family and private foundations, and donor advised funds, so omitting those donor types is a gap.