Major Gifts Officer

Title: Major Gifts Officer

Reports to: CEO - Visionary

Classification: Exempt, Full-time

Pay Rate: $90,000 – $125,000

ABOUT METRO CARING

As one of Colorado's leading anti-hunger organizations, Metro Caring works with our community to meet people's immediate need for nutritious, culturally relevant food while building a movement to end hunger at its root. For over 50 years, we've been an innovative force in addressing hunger and its systemic causes, punching well above our weight through community-led programming, strategic innovations, community organizing and bold vision.

From our home in Denver's vibrant Uptown neighborhood—at the crossroads of Capitol Hill, Five Points, Cole, and Whittier—we operate a dignity-centered Fresh Foods Market where community members choose groceries based on their needs and preferences. Our work extends far beyond emergency food assistance to include nutrition education, asset-based community development, and community organizing. We're building food sovereignty: the recognition that access to healthy, nutritious food is a right, not a privilege.

Today, Metro Caring stands at a transformational moment. We're leading a $22.5 million capital campaign to develop Denver's first mixed-use project combining expanded anti-hunger services with 139 units of intergenerational affordable housing. This community-designed development, informed by over 1,100 surveys and guided by our Community Advisory Board, addresses the interconnected crises of hunger and housing insecurity that drive food insecurity in our community. We're not just adapting to change; we're creating it.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is a senior fundraising leader responsible for advancing Metro Caring’s major gifts strategy, capital campaign success, and long-term donor relationships. Reporting directly to the CEO – Visionary and working closely with the Development Director, this role leads moves management, donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts of $10,000 and above, with a strong emphasis on six and seven figure gifts. 

The MGO actively manages a robust pipeline—re-engaging lapsed donors, advancing long-standing prospects, and closing transformational gifts from individuals, donor-advised funds, and family foundations. We utilize the Benevon model as a framework for engagement (experience welcome, not required).

The ideal candidate brings warmth, confidence, a good sense of humor, and the courage to lead clear donor conversations. You are comfortable engaging the moveable middle, values aligned, persuadable donors; and inviting them into deeper partnership. You have a proven track record of closing significant gifts, work effectively with CEOs and boards, and know how to manage up in complex fundraising environments. You'll work collaboratively across our staff and volunteer team, engage board members and staff leaders strategically, and help position Metro Caring as an attractive investment for donors who want to make lasting impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Capital Campaign Leadership

• Lead major gifts strategy and execution for Metro Caring's $22.5 million capital campaign supporting our mixed-use affordable housing and expanded services development

• Work closely with the CEO - Visionary to identify, cultivate, and solicit leadership-level donors

• Develop compelling campaign materials that communicate both the vision and community-led nature of this transformative project with support of capital campaign consultants

• Coordinate, with campaign consultants, committees, and volunteers to achieve campaign milestones within timelines

• Track campaign commitments and ensure proper stewardship throughout multi-year pledge periods

• Integrate capital campaign efforts with ongoing annual giving to build sustainable donor relationships beyond the campaign

Major Gifts Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of 150+ major donors and prospects, with emphasis on gifts of $10,000 and above 

• Build and implement annual and long-range cultivation plans in partnership with the Development Director 

• Conduct high-level donor cultivation and make direct solicitations, engaging leadership and board members strategically as appropriate 

• Prepare and maintain accurate portfolio strategies, pipelines, and cultivation plans 

• Lead creative development of innovative gift proposals to inspire transformational giving

Strategic Fundraising

• Partner with the CEOs to align major gifts strategy with strategic plan goals, operating needs, and capital campaign priorities

• Collaborate with the Grants and Foundation Relations Manager to strengthen relationships with community foundations, philanthropy advisors, and donor-advised funds, creating pathways to major donor prospects

• Support the annual strategy and growth of the Roots to Rise Society, including member recruitment and special programming

• Participate in departmental portfolio reviews, maintain organized stewardship systems, and ensure timely updates to constituent records

• Participate in the annual organizational budgeting process, including income forecasting and pipeline development

• Utilize Benevon-informed engagement strategies to guide donor journeys while adapting approaches based on donor readiness, relationship history, and organizational priorities

Donor Stewardship and Recognition

• Design and implement donor solicitation and stewardship strategies for major gift prospects 

• Ensure timely, thoughtful donor acknowledgment and stewardship across all giving levels 

• Prepare high-quality proposals, presentations, case materials, and donor communications 

• Engage board members, executive ambassadors, and the Stewardship Committee in cultivation and fundraising efforts 

• Participate in fundraising events and provide regular progress updates to senior leadership

Events and Special Initiatives

• Support implementation of campaign-related events and cultivation activities

• Assist in identifying and soliciting major gift prospects for future organizational initiatives

• Serve on and lead, when appropriate, campaign and fundraising committees

• Help plan specific fundraising and cultivation events aligned with campaign phases and organizational priorities

Data Management and Reporting

• Prepare and monitor donor portfolio income projections, process metrics, and outcomes reports

• Utilize Salesforce to track and manage donor/prospect portfolio, monitoring progress toward fundraising goals

• Ensure timely, accurate pipeline and year-end forecasting

• Partner with Finance to support proper recording, stewardship, and analysis of major gifts and pledges 

• Leverage data and analytics to inform strategy and demonstrate impact

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

We’re seeking a senior fundraising professional who combines a strong record of major gifts success with deep alignment to Metro Caring’s values and community-centered approach. The ideal candidate brings both strategic expertise and relational leadership.

Essential Experience and Skills

• At least 5 years of nonprofit major gifts fundraising experience, with demonstrated success closing six figure gifts ($100,000+)

• Proven experience leading or contributing significantly to capital campaigns, including donor cultivation, solicitation strategy, and timeline management

• Strong experience with Salesforce or similar CRM systems, using data to inform strategy, forecasting, and donor engagement

• Exceptional storytelling, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to connect mission, impact, and community leadership in compelling ways

• Experience working closely with CEOs and senior leaders, including preparing executives for donor engagement, supporting executive-level solicitations, and effectively managing up

• Comfort maintaining an active schedule of in-person and virtual donor meetings

• Strong organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail

Values and Approach

• Commitment to fostering an inclusive, welcoming environment that reflects Metro Caring’s values and community

• Deep dedication to community-centered fundraising that honors the leadership and lived experience of those most impacted by hunger and housing insecurity

• Understanding of the systemic causes of hunger and housing insecurity and the role philanthropy can play in long-term change

• High level of discretion, integrity, and ethical judgment in fundraising and relationship management

• Ability to work both independently and as a collaborative, engaged team member

• Entrepreneurial mindset for identifying resources, building partnerships, and generating community support

• Recognition that this role advances not only Metro Caring’s work, but the broader movement for food sovereignty and housing justice

• Strong relationship-building skills paired with the courage to ask, leading clear, values-based solicitation conversations with confidence and warmth

Strongly Preferred

• Familiarity with affordable housing development, community-led planning processes, or multi-year capital campaigns

• Experience raising seven- or eight-figure gifts and/or securing multi-year pledges

• Fundraising experience within organizations working at the intersection of multiple socio-economic justice issues

• Existing connections within Denver’s philanthropic community

IMPORTANT DETAILS

Location: Denver, CO

Time: Full time, with a 4-day, 32-hour work week. 

Compensation: $90,000 - $125,000 full-time, exempt, annual salary. 

Benefits: 

• Metro Caring currently operates on a four-day, 32-hour work week for full-time staff, with Fridays off. This position is primarily office based during standard business hours. Onboarding and initial training will take place fully in office, with the role requiring full-time, onsite work at the outset. As the employee becomes established in the position, a hybrid schedule may be considered. Occasional evenings and weekends are required to support and attend Metro Caring fundraising events and activities.

• 120 hours per year of paid time off, as well as paid sick leave, paid holidays, and paid family leave. 

• We also offer participation after 3 months of employment in our 401K retirement plan with a 5% employer-paid match. 

• Health insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Health Savings Account, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, and Short Term Disability all available. 

• Metro Caring supports flexible work schedules, and an organizational culture that centers on our mission and values, the pursuit of equity, continuous improvement, and community leadership in all we do.

• Relocation assistance available for candidates moving to the Denver area.

Reporting: This role will report to the CEO - Visionary

APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE

Our goal is to bring a new team member on board by April 6, 2026. 

Applications Open: This application should take about 20 minutes including submitting your resume and a few questions.

• Phone Interviews (30 minutes)

• Interviews with CEOs (1 hour): The virtual or in-person interview will dig into the details of your professional experience in relation to this role.

• Project (1 hour): If moving to the project phase, you will receive a project scope which will take about 1 hour to complete. 

• In-Person Final Interviews (2.5-3 hours): These will be with members of the team, as well as potentially members of the Board so that you can learn more about the organization and we can dig into any final questions to ensure mutual alignment. These will be in person in Denver.

• Reference Calls: Final candidates will share 3 professional references, and we will reach out to them for 15-minute phone calls.

• Final Offer Made by March 30, 2026. 

Ready to apply?

If you share our values and our enthusiasm for building a movement to end hunger at its root causes and champion food as a basic human right in solidarity with the community, we’d love to review your application! Instead of a cover letter, we ask you to submit your resume and answer three questions to share a bit more about you.

Importance of Inclusion and Belonging

Research suggests that individuals may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the listed qualifications. We encourage anyone who believes they have the skills, experience, and drive necessary to succeed in this role to apply. 

Metro Caring is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining an inclusive team. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and life experiences, especially those who represent communities and lived experiences served by Metro Caring. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute fully. 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.