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Senior Major Gift Officer – School of Medicine
Wayne State UniversityUnited StatesRemotefull_timeVerifiedPosted 29 May 2026
💰 $90,000/yr($25,000/yr – $90,000/yr)
About the role
Senior Major Gift Officer – School of Medicine
Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Senior Major Gift Officer – School of Medicine 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 School of Medicine (SOM). 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 – School of Medicine.
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.)
% Time
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
Number of discovery qualifications 40%
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 school/college/unit-based colleagues as appropriate to support prospect strategies. 20%
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. 15%
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. 10%
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 interest in, Development and Alumni Affairs best practices and general operations. Understanding of trends and be
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