Advancement Officer, Major Gifts (Boston, MA)

Advancement Officer, Major Gifts

The Winsor School, one of the nation’s leading independent schools, serves 470 academically promising
and motivated girls in grades five through twelve. Located in the heart of Boston’s Longwood medical
and academic area, The Winsor School is a diverse, vibrant community that values intellectual curiosity,
authentic engagement, and personal integrity. We challenge our students to lead lives of purpose as
responsible, generous-minded women and the adult community of faculty, staff, alumnae, parents, and
friends make every effort to support this mission. 

POSITION STATEMENT
The Winsor School seeks an Advancement Officer of Major Gifts (MGO) to manage and further
cultivate a strong group of existing donors to support the ambitious and strategic fundraising growth of
the School. The MGO will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major
gift donors and prospects. Key to success in this role will be identifying and building relationships with
new prospects, as well as strengthening relationships with existing donors to maximize philanthropic
support. In addition to soliciting major gifts, the MGO will develop ways in which donors can support
the future of The Winsor School through transformational campaign gifts.

Reporting directly to the Director of Advancement, the Advancement Officer of Major Gifts will work
closely with the Director of Advancement, senior-level Advancement volunteers, and other key
stakeholders to expand and grow the fundraising efforts of The Winsor School. The Winsor
fundraising team secures philanthropic resources that propel the work of our faculty, establish access,
equity, and belonging for our students, and empower Winsor to realize its fullest potential, securing
the School into the future.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Major Gifts Portfolio Management

• Grow and manage a portfolio of 150-175 major gift prospects capable of making six and seven-figure commitments.
• Identify and qualify new major gift prospects and create a comprehensive strategy for donor cultivation, solicitation, and retention.
•  Directly solicit major gifts and partner with senior staff and/or volunteers on solicitations by providing prospect briefings, strategic guidance, and assistance with donor communications.
• Ensure that key prospects are actively managed by meeting and corresponding regularly with them; communicate fundraising goals and move prospects through the major gifts pipeline.
• Enhance the operational efficiency of Winsor's major giving program by developing, implementing, and ensuring that all systems and processes—from tracking prospect activity to gift documentation to reporting—are accurate and align with the needs and requirements of the Advancement Office and the Business Office.
• Work strategically, as assigned, with the Head of School, other senior administrators, faculty, staff, and volunteer leaders to communicate fundraising priorities.

Prospect Cultivation and Donor Stewardship

• Liaise with the Engagement team to develop, plan, and participate in donor engagement events.
• Develop a high-quality donor experience through regular correspondence, professional proposals, and timely acknowledgements.
• Lead the development and implementation of cultivation and stewardship for your portfolio of major gift donors.
•  Personally acknowledge all gifts from assigned prospects.
• Visit specified regions across the country to cultivate prospective donors and build relationships.
• Establish a plan, including specific goals and timetable, to cultivate and solicit prospective planned gifts and maintain up-to date planned giving knowledge.

Advancement Responsibilities and General Operations

• Ensure relationships are developed with alumnae and families through engagement tactics that complement fundraising activities.
• Partner with the Director of Annual and Leadership Giving to ensure the growth and development of all fundraising efforts at Winsor. Work together to identify, steward, and cultivate major giving prospects.
• Manage the fundraising team. Help hire, train, and evaluate persons in direct report position(s).
• Engage with the Winsor community beyond Advancement initiatives in order to represent the school authentically. Be an active member of the broader Winsor community.

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS

• A belief in all-girls independent school education, keen understanding of Winsor’s mission and goals, and the ability to articulate its uniqueness and relevance.
• Minimum of 7 to 10 years experience in major gifts fundraising in a mission-driven nonprofit institution. Bachelors degree required.
• Excellent communication skills and a strong ability to inspire and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships. Proven record of closing major gifts.
• The ability to serve as senior member of the Advancement Team, providing thoughtful insights and high-level strategic input in all areas of fundraising and prospect management.
• A working knowledge of constituent management systems with an emphasis in Raiser's Edge for Windows, NXT, and Microsoft Windows suite of products.
• A solution-oriented mindset, a demonstrated sensitivity in handling confidential information, strong skills in diplomacy, communication, collaboration, and a sense of humor.
• Some travel and weekend and after-hours work required.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This full-time, benefits-eligible position offers a salary commensurate with experience and the
opportunity to work in a school environment and make an impact.    

HIRING PROCESS AND TIMELINE
Please send a current resume and cover letter explaining why you are interested in this role and what
you will bring to the position to Myrna Guerrero-McCabe at mguerrero-mccabe@winsor.edu. The hiring process includes:

• Virtual interview with Erika McMahon, Director of Advancement
• Virtual or in-person meeting with Advancement Team Members
• Virtual or in-person interview with Sarah Pelmas, Head of School
• Virtual or in-person interview with select members of the Board of Trustees

Questions? Contact Erika
McMahon at emcmahon@winsor.edu.

Please visit the Winsor Careers page to apply for and submit your resume and cover letter:
https://www.winsor.edu/about/careers-at-winsor/open-positions

The Winsor School is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any application for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic testing, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by law. The Winsor School is committed to an equitable and inclusive program and a diverse faculty, staff and student body. 

Department: Administration
This is a full time position