Jobs and Careers

Sr. Major Gift Officer - Engineering

United StatesRemotefull_timeVerifiedPosted 7 Apr 2026

💰 $88,000/yr($25,000/yr – $88,000/yr)

About the role

Sr. Major Gift Officer - Engineering

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Sr. Major Gift Officer - Engineering at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties):

JOB PURPOSE

Provide expertise and experience while participating in fundraising efforts, strategies and initiatives for the James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering. Manage a prospect portfolio to achieve aggressive fundraising and contact goals annually. Cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donors to meet established fundraising goals within the allocated expense budget. This position reports to the Senior Director, Major Gifts – James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

(Essential functions are the primary duties/major job responsibilities that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. The essential functions are listed in order of importance.)

Essential Functions % Time

Serve in the role of seasoned professional by providing expertise and guidance in identifying fundraising needs and priorities. Collaborate with the AVP and Sr. Director of Major Gifts, Dean, Department Chairs, and faculty. Develop major gift fundraising plans and strategies. Establish realistic and achievable timeline. Remain current with fundraising trends. 25%

Manage a prospect portfolio to achieve aggressive fundraising and contact goals annually. Establish and implement prospect qualification, cultivation, and solicitation strategies with

a particular focus on securing commitments of $25,000+. Engage university leadership and college-based colleagues as appropriate to support prospect strategies.

25%

Responsible for achieving annual fundraising goal and assisting in meeting unit and division goals; allocating and prioritizing time and resources to achieve the greatest return on investment. Performance and productivity will be measured on the following core metrics as determined annually:

Dollars raised for campaign gift commitments

Number of major gift solicitations of $25,000+

Number of major gift closures at $25,000+

Number of face-to-face prospect and donor meetings (in-person and virtual visits)

Number of meaningful, significant contacts each month 20%

Serve as seasoned resource with Development units (e.g., University-wide Philanthropy, Donor Experience, Planned Giving, and Prospect Development) as well as other university units to ensure operational efficiencies within the unit. 15%

Draft and negotiate gift and pledge documentation ranging from moderate to high complexity. Ensure timely routing of donor contributions to central development for processing. 10%

Perform other related duties as assigned. 5%

WORK CONTEXT

This grid characterizes the position scope.

Job Reports to: Senior Director/Chair

Leadership Accountability: Develops strategic plans and interprets policy

Supervisory Accountability: None

Organizational Accountability: None

Financial Accountability: Monitors expenditures

Customer Accountability: Interfaces with customers outside the S/C/D

Freedom to Act: Operates with significant autonomy

Unique duties:

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education Bachelor's degree

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in marketing, public relations, business administration or related field.

Experience Specialist (minimum 5 years of job-related experience)

Minimum five (5) to eight (8) years of experience working as a fundraising professional in direct major donor solicitations in excess of $25,000. Direct experience preparing proposals and conducting major gift solicitations required.

Higher education development and prior volunteer management experience preferred.

Professional understanding of, and in