Position Summary
The Major Gifts Officer manages a portfolio of individual major donors and prospects, driving cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that advance Skirball's annual fundraising goals and capital campaign priorities. This role is central to Skirball's campaign-year growth, working closely with the Director of Development, CEO, and volunteer leadership to identify new major gift prospects and deepen relationships with existing supporters as Skirball moves toward its 2029 core exhibition opening.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of 100 major donors and prospects, with individual giving capacity generally at the $10,000 and above level.
- Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each portfolio member, using moves management best practices.
- Conduct prospect identification and qualification, working with the development team to grow the major gifts pipeline in support of the capital campaign.
- Prepare briefing materials, giving proposals, and gift agreements for donor meetings and asks.
- Partner with the Associate Director of Development, CEO, and board members on high-level donor cultivation, including joint donor visits and campaign solicitations.
- Track all portfolio activity, moves, and gift commitments accurately in Skirball's donor database.
- Collaborate with Events, Programs, and Communications teams to ensure major donors are appropriately engaged and recognized across Skirball touchpoints.
- Support planned giving conversations and identify legacy gift opportunities within the portfolio where appropriate.
- Contribute to campaign progress reporting and pipeline forecasting for development leadership.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of major gifts fundraising experience, ideally within a cultural, arts, or capital campaign environment.
- Demonstrated track record of soliciting and closing five- and six-figure individual gifts.
- Strong relationship-building skills and comfort engaging high-net-worth individuals, board members, and volunteer leadership.
- Excellent written communication skills, including proposal and gift agreement drafting.
- Experience with moves management and portfolio strategy in a donor database (Altru or similar).
- Familiarity with Los Angeles philanthropic and Jewish communal landscape a plus.
- Ability to manage confidential and sensitive donor information with discretion.
- Passion for Skirball's mission and capital campaign vision.
About Skirball Cultural Center
Skirball Cultural Center is a museum and public gathering place in Los Angeles that explores the connections between Jewish heritage and the American democratic ideals of freedom and equality. Skirball is in the midst of a multi-year capital campaign supporting a reimagined core exhibition, with an opening planned for 2029, and is building out its development infrastructure to meet the moment.
Salary: $80,000+ depending on experience
Skills Required
- 5+ years of major gifts fundraising experience
- Demonstrated success soliciting and closing five- and six-figure individual gifts
- Strong relationship-building skills with high-net-worth individuals, board members, and volunteer leadership
- Excellent written communication skills, including proposal and gift agreement drafting
- Experience with moves management and portfolio strategy in a donor database such as Altru
- Familiarity with the Los Angeles philanthropic and Jewish communal landscape
- Ability to manage confidential and sensitive donor information with discretion
- Passion for Skirball's mission and capital campaign vision
What We Do
The Skirball Cultural Center is a Jewish educational institution and cultural center in Los Angeles, dedicated to exploring Jewish heritage and its connection to American vitality through exhibitions, programs, and educational initiatives.
