Job title:        Major Gifts Officer

Status:           Full-time

Division:        Fund Development

Location:       Chicago, Illinois


The position is responsible for identifying new donors and cultivating and developing relationships with current and prospective individual major donors in order to build donor support of the organization’s mission and to build the group’s impact on the community. The Major Gifts Officer works to recognize and engage donors through strategy development, coordination with senior staff, strategic collaboration with volunteers and oversight of prospect research and management.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Manages relationships with a portfolio of major donors.
  • Develops and implements strategies for the identification of new donors, and for the cultivation and stewardship of current donors through appropriate personalized outreach initiatives.
  • Implements fundraising strategies from individuals through major gift campaigns, personal cultivation/solicitation, planned giving vehicles and special events designed for individual donors.
  • Creates and oversees major gifts strategic plan, policies and procedures, in coordination with the Senior Manager of Fund Development, that are essential for a comprehensive major gifts initiative.
  • Develops and manages the major gifts annual operational and revenue plans in conjunction with IRUSA’s annual budget.
  • Coordinates and liaises with other Fund Development team members and executive management regarding relationship building and donor cultivation events, including briefings, private and public presentations, and special events to provide a source of targeted funding.
  • Contacts and meets with prospective donors through personal visits, spending approximately 50% of time meeting with active and prospective donors and attending events outside the office.
  • Works closely with executive management and fund development staff to ensure that major donors are acknowledged in a personal and time-sensitive manner.
  • Writes and/or edits proposals, reports, acknowledgements, briefings, and letters to donors and prospects, pledge reminder letters and other documents.
  • Maintains and provides accurate records of all donor-related activities.
  • Serves as a well-informed representative and advocate for IRUSA.
  • Performs other related duties as necessary.  


Qualifications and Competencies:

  • Bachelor’s degree (CFRE - certified fundraising executive certificate preferred)
  • Minimum 5 years successful fundraising experience for nonprofit organization(s).
  • Must excel in working with high net-worth individuals, families and businesses, and have the ability to compel investment in IRUSA’s mission.
  • Demonstrated successful experience and effectiveness in prospect identification, relationship building and donor solicitation.
  • Strong ability to communicate (written and orally) persuasively and strategically, and with tact, and diplomacy as necessary.
  • Ability to lead face-to-face meetings and the confidence to solicit funding using effective and appropriate language.
  • Experience in writing effective proposals, summaries, and reports and updates for fundraising purposes.
  • Strong collaborative skills and ability to contribute to team environment.
  • Confident and proficient user of MS Office.
  • Strong research skills along with proficiency in database and membership management.
  • Ability and desire to work independently and collaboratively to accomplish goals and projects.
  • Understanding of key international and national current events/political issues that affect humanitarian, aid and development work.
  • Experience in using Raisers Edge or similar fundraising database application.
  • Meets and interfaces with prospective large external donors.
  • Liaises with consultants and external contacts to progress and facilitate corporate giving and like strategies.
  • Must be eligible to work in the United States.


At Islamic Relief USA we are committed to safeguarding and protecting all individuals we come into contact with through our work. IRUSA representatives must adhere to its organizational values: Sincerity, Excellence, Compassion, Social Justice, and Custodianship. In accordance with these values, IRUSA operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Code of Ethics, and Anti-Harassment and Discrimination.