Major Gifts Officer

Major Gifts OfficerEdTrust seeks a Major Gifts Officer to support the organization's growing national impact across federal, state, and regional education policy and advocacy efforts. The Major Gifts Officer will join a mission-driven organization committed to closing educational opportunity gaps that disproportionately affect students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. The Major Gifts Officer is a newly created, foundational role responsible for building and scaling EdTrust's national and California major gifts strategy and capability. This role works closely with senior leadership across EdTrust and EdTrust-West to design and implement a major gifts program that expands EdTrust's base of support, deepens long-term donor relationships, and strengthens the pipeline of unrestricted and flexible funding. This is a unique opportunity for a fundraising professional who is energized by building a function rather than inheriting a mature program. The Major Gifts Officer will help establish the strategy, systems, processes, and donor engagement practices that will shape EdTrust's major gifts program for years to come. Working across both EdTrust and EdTrust-West, this role serves as a shared fundraising resource supporting aligned national and California fundraising priorities. EdTrust is committed to advancing policies and practices that dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the U.S. education system. Through research and advocacy, EdTrust improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where all students will thrive. This role, available immediately, can be based in either the EdTrust National Office in Washington, DC or our EdTrust-West Oakland, CA office and is eligible for telework up to 3 days a week per our current policy. California candidates unable to relocate to Oakland but who can work from a home office located in the state of California will also be considered. Significant travel (i.e., up to 50% time) is expected. The Major Gifts Officer reports to the EdTrust Chief Development Officer and works in close partnership with the EdTrust CEO and EdTrust-West leadership. This position serves as a shared fundraising resource across EdTrust and EdTrust-West, requiring strong collaboration to advance both national and California fundraising priorities within a unified major gifts strategy. Responsibilities and ObjectivesDesign and launch EdTrust's national major gifts strategy, including portfolio structure, donor segmentation, and relationship management frameworks in collaboration with the Chief Development OfficerEstablish and refine major gift systems, processes, and moves management practices that support long-term fundraising growth and sustainabilityDevelop portfolio management, prospect review, forecasting, record maintenance, and performance measurement practices within EdTrust's fundraising systems that enable leadership to track progress and make strategic decisionsServe as the primary coordinator of major donor engagement strategies among the Chief Development Officer, EdTrust CEO, and EdTrust-West leadership, ensuring alignment and effective stewardship of executive relationshipsWork closely with EdTrust-West leadership to support regional major gift opportunities in California, within a cohesive national strategyBuild and actively manage a portfolio of individual donors and family foundations with capacity for significant five, six, and seven-figure investmentsAttend donor meetings, regional events, conferences, and networking opportunities to cultivate relationships and expand EdTrust's major donor communityDevelop and execute multi-year cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for top prospectsPartner with executive leadership to identify, qualify, and cultivate new major gift prospects aligned with organizational prioritiesCollaborate with leadership and staff on donor proposals, customized investment opportunities, and stewardship materialsTravel up to approximately 50 percent of the time to build and sustain donor relationships across priority regionsIdeal Skills & CharacteristicsShared belief in Ed Trust's mission and a commitment to improving educational equity with a focus on racial equityDedication in contributing to and maintaining an equitable working environmentWillingness to receive and act upon, as well as provide, constructive feedbackA flexible, entrepreneurial mindset, with experience having developed and implemented new programs/systems that required piloting, testing, measuring, and adaptingStrong relationship-building and management skills, including being able to represent the organization's work compellingly and create different points of connection for donors, as well as identify ways to deepen/strengthen donor relationships based on individual interestsDemonstrated success securing significant gifts (e.g., five, six, seven figure)Comfort partnering closely with executive leaders, managing up and ensuring alignment, and supporting decision makingStrong project management and time management skillsWillingness and flexibility to travel extensively, as well as to work outside of traditional office hours (e.g., evening events) to fulfill the requirements of this positionQualifications and ExperienceA bachelor's degree or equivalent experienceSignificant (e.g., seven or more years) experience in major gifts fundraisingDemonstrated experience building or scaling major gifts effortsExperience managing donor portfoliosExperience fundraising for policy, advocacy, civil rights, research, systems change, or other mission-driven organizations strongly preferredAbility to translate policy and advocacy priorities into compelling donor investment opportunities strongly preferredCompensationThis position falls in Level F of our salary structure. If the position is based in DC, the new hire salary range is anticipated to be between $111,070 to $125,000, and in California the new hire salary range is anticipated to be $125,000-$140,000. Offers are commensurate with skills, experience, and internal equity and typically do not fall at the top of this range. The Education Trust prioritizes the health and well-being of its employees and, to that end, offers a highly competitive benefits package. Medical, dental and vision insurance are covered at 100% for the employee, with significant coverage also offered for spouses, domestic partners, and dependents. We provide sick leave, vacation leave, and personal leave, and we follow the federal government for most holiday closures. To ensure staff have synchronous opportunities for rest and renewal, the office is closed for a week-long summer break and a week-long winter break. Among other offerings, we provide an Employee Assistance Program at no cost to the employee, and a generous 7% contribution opportunity on a 403(b)-retirement plan. Qualified candidates, please apply. The Education Trust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds. To apply: Please provide an updated resume and complete the application, including the short answer questions, in ADP. Priority will be given to applications received by August 17th.