Gift Officer

Description

The U.S. Naval Institute is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit educational organization founded in 1873.  Our mission is to provide and open forum to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and the critical issues shaping global security. The Gift Officer supports this mission by securing philanthropic resources that sustain the Institute’s programs and initiatives through the Naval Institute Foundation, and is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donors. This position manages a portfolio of approximately 150–200 donors and prospects and is accountable for achieving an annual fundraising goal of $1 million.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct 100–120 substantive donor visits annually, including in-person and virtual meetings
• Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
• Solicit and secure major gifts with an annual goal of $1 million+
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align donor interests with programs
• Maintain accurate and timely records in the CRM system
• Prepare proposals, briefings, and donor correspondence
• Participate in development planning and team initiatives
• Ensure compliance with policies and ethical standards

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 3–5 years of experience closing major gifts in a higher education or nonprofit setting, including 5, 6, and 7-figure contributions
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently
• A sincere and enthusiastic belief in the mission of the U.S. Naval Institute
• Regular travel and occasional evening and weekend work
• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce)

  The U.S. Naval Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled