Princeton Day School has an immediate opening for a full-time, 12-month dynamic Senior Major Gifts Officer / Major Gifts Officer (MGO) who will play a key role in advancing the mission and strategic priorities of the School through the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors capable of making significant philanthropic investments. The MGO manages a portfolio of donors and prospects capable of contributing $10,000+ to the Annual Fund and/or $50,000 - $1,000,000 in major restricted gifts, which may be fulfilled over a five-year period or through planned giving vehicles.

The MGO is responsible for securing leadership-level Annual Fund gifts, as well as restricted gifts supporting capital, endowment, and programmatic initiatives that sustain and shape the future of PDS. This is a front-line position reporting to the Director of Annual Giving; this position will require primarily local and regional travel with occasional national travel. The position requires that the majority of time be spent corresponding, engaging, and visiting with donors and prospects both on and off-campus.

This role has four (4) key responsibilities:

• Fundraising and Portfolio Management (70%)
• Project Management and Strategic Initiatives (10%)
• Events and Stewardship (10%)
• Planning Giving and Other (10%)

Fundraising and Portfolio Management (70%)

• Manage and strategically engage a portfolio of approximately 150 major gift donors and prospects located primarily in New Jersey and the Northeast with occasional travel beyond the region. 
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors capable of making significant commitments to PDS.
• Personally solicit each assigned prospect for an Annual Fund leadership gift.
• Conduct a minimum of 100 meaningful donor interactions annually, deepening relationships and communicating the transformative impact of philanthropy at PDS.
• Collaborate closely with the Director of Advancement, Director of Annual Giving, Head of School, Board of Trustees, and Development Committee to advance relationships with key stakeholders.
• Build enduring, mission-centered relationships with alumni, parents, and other key constituents that lead to sustained philanthropic engagement.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation of donor interactions, strategies, and next steps in the advancement database.
  
  

Project Management and Strategic Initiatives (10%)

• Draft, review, and manage gift proposals and multi-year or restricted gift agreements, ensuring accuracy and alignment with institutional goals.
• Collaborate with advancement colleagues to build and sustain an effective pipeline from annual giving to major giving.
• Contribute to the maintenance of high-quality donor messaging across print and digital platforms as well as to the development of campaign materials and impact reports that inspire confidence and investment.
  
  

Events and Stewardship (10%)

• Collaborate with the Advancement Events and Office Manager to plan Leadership Giving Donor and Prospect Events, including:
• Fall: Leadership Prospect Reception
• Winter: 1965 Society Dinner
• Spring: Leadership Donor Thank-You Reception
• Partner with the Advancement Events and Office Manager on Fall and Spring Endowment Stewardship Letters, ensuring timely and personalized stewardship communications.
• Support the development of meaningful stewardship experiences that reinforce donor impact and strengthen long-term relationships.
  
  

Planned Giving and Other (10%)

• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement and Communications Office in creating two Planned Giving marketing / stewardship pieces to be distributed via email or the Journal.
• Assist with additional projects and tasks as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications and Personal Attributes:  

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5 -7 years of professional fundraising or relationship management experience, preferably in independent schools, higher education, or nonprofit advancement.
• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts.
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and writing skills.
• Strategic, organized, and results-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Collaborative and collegial approach, with a commitment to teamwork and cross-departmental partnership.
• Familiarity with Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud NXT, or comparable CRM platforms preferred.
• Deep appreciation for the mission and values of PDS.

Compensation Range: $95,000 - $100,000 a year (this role is eligible for benefits)

At Princeton Day School, offering a comprehensive and competitive benefits package is one way we recognize our employee’s contribution to the success of the school and our role in helping our employees and their families be healthy, feel secure and maintain work/life balance.  Full-time and part-time employees who are regularly scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for PDS’ competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous 403(b) match, paid time off, and many other valuable benefits. 

Princeton Day School is the region's premier independent day school for students from Pre-K through Grade 12. We aspire to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive community in which all members are seen, challenged, affirmed, respected and valued. Nestled on a picturesque 106-acre campus just two miles from Downtown Princeton and with a history dating back to 1899, PDS provides students with unparalleled opportunities for discovery, exploration and innovation and seeks employees who are passionate about their work and who embrace the importance of lifelong learning.

If this sounds like you and you want to be part of a great advancement team, please apply by sending your resume and cover letter to hr@pds.org.