Major gifts officer with ten years in arts, university and hospital fundraising, managing a portfolio of 140 donors capable of $25k+ gifts. Closed $6.4M in commitments over the past two fiscal years, including two seven-figure gifts. Brings disciplined portfolio management, donor-centered cultivation and partnership with leadership on complex asks.
Experience
Senior Major Gifts Officer, St. Clement Hospital Foundation (Minneapolis, MN)
Jul 2022 – Present
Manage a portfolio of 140 donors rated $25k–$5M, completing 180+ substantive visits a year
Closed $6.4M in commitments over 2 fiscal years, including two $1M+ gifts for the cancer center campaign
Partner with physicians and the CEO on 20 solicitation strategies a year
Exceeded annual goals by an average of 18% while keeping 95% of portfolio contact reports current
Associate Director of Development, North Star State University Foundation (St. Paul, MN)
Sep 2018 – Jun 2022
Raised $3.1M from alumni for scholarships and an engineering building
Qualified 120 new prospects through discovery visits and wealth screening
Partnered with the dean on 12 leadership gift solicitations
Annual Fund Officer, Lakes Region Arts Foundation (Minneapolis, MN)
Jul 2016 – Aug 2018
Managed a $900k annual fund with direct mail, phone and email
Education
B.A. Communication and Journalism, University of St. Thomas (Sep 2012 – May 2016)
Skills
Major gifts: portfolio management, discovery, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship
Campaigns: capital and comprehensive campaigns, gift agreements, naming opportunities
Certifications: Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)
How to write a Major Gifts Officer resume
A strong Major Gifts Officer resume shows the people and communities you served, the programs and funding you built, and the outcomes you can document for clients, funders and boards. Put your most relevant recent role first and make every bullet show a result, not a duty.
Sections, in order
Summary
Experience
Skills
Education
Certifications
Length: One page for most candidates; move to two only if every line is relevant.
Summary: Write two or three lines: your role, your strongest skills, and one result that proves them.
Skills to feature
Case management
Trauma-informed care
Program design and evaluation
Grant writing and reporting
Fundraising and donor stewardship
Volunteer management
Budget management
Community partnerships
Nonprofit CRM and case systems (Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, Apricot)
Bilingual and culturally responsive communication
Example bullet points
Managed a caseload of 28 families and moved 82% into stable housing within 90 days
Wrote 14 foundation and government proposals that raised $1.3M at a 64% win rate
Recruited and trained 220 volunteers who logged 9,500 hours, the equivalent of 4.5 full-time staff
Tips from recruiters
Put licenses and credentials (LMSW, LCSW, CADC, CFRE) with the issuing state near the top, because many roles screen for them first.
Quantify outcomes funders care about, such as housing placements, retention rates, dollars raised or cost per client, not just activities.
Name the populations, funding streams and systems you know, for example HUD CoC, HMIS, Medicaid billing or Raiser's Edge.
Recommended templates
Classic (ATS-friendly): Jake's-style LaTeX classic: small caps and hairline rules
Modern (ATS-friendly): Clean single column with accent headings and rules
Ivy (ATS-friendly): Harvard-style Times layout with centered headings
Major Gifts Officer resume FAQ
What should a Major Gifts Officer resume include?
A Major Gifts Officer resume should show the people and communities you served, the programs and funding you built, and the outcomes you can document for clients, funders and boards. Use these sections in this order: Summary, Experience, Skills, Education and Certifications. Put your most relevant recent role first and make every bullet show a result, not a duty.
What is the best resume template for a Major Gifts Officer?
Classic, Modern and Ivy work well for Major Gifts Officer roles. They are single-column with standard headings, so applicant tracking systems (ATS) parse them reliably.
How long should a Major Gifts Officer resume be?
One page for most candidates; move to two only if every line is relevant.
Which skills should a Major Gifts Officer put on a resume?
Prioritize the skills named in the job posting. Common ones for Major Gifts Officer roles are Case management, Trauma-informed care, Program design and evaluation, Grant writing and reporting, Fundraising and donor stewardship and Volunteer management.
How do I write strong Major Gifts Officer resume bullet points?
Start with an action verb, say what you did, and end with a measurable result such as clients served, caseload size and program outcomes. For example: "Managed a caseload of 28 families and moved 82% into stable housing within 90 days."