Major Gifts Officer
Institutional Advancement
Fort Lewis College
Durango, Colorado
Position Summary
The Major Gifts Officer’s primary responsibilities are to plan, manage and direct efforts to attract private
philanthropy primarily from individual major gift prospects and donors in support of the College’s
priorities, provide leadership for the continued solicitation and stewardship of existing major gift
donors, and develop relationships with new individuals. A portion of the responsibilities will involve
working corporations and foundation. The position is based in Durango.
Required Qualifications and Competencies
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Baccalaureate degree
Minimum of three years of progressive development experience with a proven track record of
meeting established goals and effectively soliciting gifts.
Demonstrated communication skills in all mediums and with all audiences.
Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to earn confidence of a wide range of internal
and external constituents.
Ability to relate well to the academic enterprise and personnel, and to explain and support the
academic purposes of the College to a broader community (individuals, corporations and/or
foundations).
Ability to identify and evaluate major donor and prospect giving capacity.
Ability to initiate major gift fundraising strategies for individuals, corporations and/or
foundations; knowledge of development/fundraising concepts and techniques; knowledge of
gift planning and procedures.
Ability to work comfortably in an atmosphere of change; ability to function as a team member
and forge strong working relationship with colleagues, alumni, volunteers and donors; and
ability to work comfortably amid a major gift fundraising campaign environment.
Preferred Qualifications and Competencies
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Fundraising experience in a higher education setting
Certified Fund Raising Executive credential
Graduate degree
Five years of progressive development office experience
Duties
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Identify, cultivate and solicit individual, corporate, and/or foundation prospects for the College.
Personally conduct 120-150 regional or national visits each year with major gift prospects,
bringing College and/or other Fort Lewis College personnel as appropriate, for the purposes of
prospect identification, cultivation, stewardship and solicitation.
Effectively manage assigned prospects through personal visits, correspondence, electronic and
telephonic communication.
Utilize the College-wide prospect management system (Banner, Wealth Engine) to ensure the
effective and productive management and reporting.
Utilize strong strategic planning skills to develop, implement and track cultivation and
solicitation plans for prospects.
Complete all standard, travel, or contact related reports in a timely and efficient manner
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Possess a detailed understanding of the College’s key fundraising priorities and have the ability
to articulate these in both written and oral terms
Participate in College and Alumni events
Compensation
Salary of $60,000 to $68,000 depending on experience with a full benefits package.
This is a full-time, 12 month exempt-staff position.
Application Process
Electronically submit the following in PDF format:
1. A letter of interest that addresses the qualifications, competencies and duties
2. Resume
3. Contact information of three current professional references
Email application materials (PDF format only), to:
Major Gifts Officer Search
Mark Jastorff
Email: majastorff@fortlewis.edu
Applications received by February 12 will receive full consideration.
The position will remain open until filled.
The successful candidate will be required to submit official transcripts
and pass a background check.
Equal Opportunity
Fort Lewis College does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender,
disability, sexual orientation, political beliefs, or veteran status. Accordingly, equal opportunity for
employment, admission, and education shall be extended to all persons. The College shall promote
equal opportunity, equal treatment, and affirmative action efforts to increase the diversity of students,
faculty, and staff. People from under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.
The College and the Community
Fort Lewis College is Colorado's innovative public liberal arts college, offering baccalaureate degree
programs in the arts, sciences and the professional areas of teacher education and business
administration. The college has a diverse student body with an enrollment of about 4,000 from 46
states and 10 nations, 26% Native American, and 10% Hispano. The campus is located on a mesa top
at the foothills of the San Juan Mountains as it converges with the desert Southwest. The College
contributes directly to the cultural vitality of the area through the College’s Community Concert
Center, the Art Gallery, and the Center of Southwest Studies.
Durango, a multicultural community, is the hub of Southwestern Colorado, situated in a beautiful
mountain valley with nearby peaks reaching 14,000+ feet. A mild 4-season climate allows numerous
opportunities for skiing, fishing, biking, golfing, etc. With an area population of 45,000, Durango is
cosmopolitan for its size and is served by major airlines with direct connections to Denver, Phoenix,
and Salt Lake City. It is 3.5 hours driving distance from Albuquerque, New Mexico.