Major Gifts Officer for Catholic Schools

To support the Diocese of Phoenix in its mission to Encounter the Living Christ, the Major Gifts Officer for Catholic Schools is a mission-driven development professional who will lead fundraising efforts in support of Catholic schools across the Diocese, with a special focus on schools serving low-income communities and those with limited development capacity. This position is responsible for building and managing a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation donors, and will serve as the lead strategist for engagement with corporate partners interested in supporting Catholic education. Working in close collaboration with the Catholic Schools Office, school leaders, pastors, donors, and the Office of Mission Advancement (OMA), this position will spend a significant amount of time on school campuses, as well as at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, ensuring that every initiative is rooted in mission and designed for long-term impact.

Essential Job Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· Develop and manage a portfolio of major individual, corporate, and foundation donors supporting Catholic education, with a focus on underserved communities.

· Build strategic partnerships with corporations to secure philanthropic gifts, sponsorships, and in-kind support that align with the mission of Catholic schools.

· Design and implement personalized engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for both individual and corporate donors to increase donor retention and giving levels.

· Serve as a development resource and advisor to school leadership, providing hands-on support to schools with limited fundraising infrastructure.

· Partner with the diocesan Grants Manager to identify and pursue grant opportunities that align with the mission and priorities of Catholic schools.

· Collaborate with the Office of Mission Advancement team to promote diocesan campaigns and initiatives, including Night of Hope, Tax Smart Gifts, Legacy Giving, and Catholic Schools Support 365.

· Visit school sites regularly to build trust, assess needs, and support on-site fundraising initiatives and community events.

· Ensure that all fundraising activities align with diocesan mission, branding, and messaging standards.

· Maintain accurate and timely donor and sponsor data in Raiser’s Edge and contribute to impact reporting and analysis.

· Represent the Diocese of Phoenix and the Office of Mission Advancement at public events, meetings, and parish or corporate gatherings as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

· Deep understanding of and commitment to the Catholic faith and the mission of Catholic education.

· Strong knowledge of fundraising strategies, including major gifts, corporate partnerships, endowment-building, and planned giving.

· Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.

· Ability to work collaboratively with clergy, school leaders, colleagues, donors, and corporate partners.

· Strategic thinker with strong relationship-building and stewardship abilities.

· Proficient in Raiser’s Edge or similar donor management systems, and Microsoft Office Suite.

· Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

· Willingness to travel throughout the Diocese and maintain a flexible work schedule including some evenings and weekends.

Minimum Qualifications 

· Bachelor’s degree required; CFRE preferred.

· Minimum of 10 years of experience in fundraising, corporate partnerships, or nonprofit development (15 years without a degree).

· Active, practicing Roman Catholic in full communion with the Church.

· Proven experience cultivating major gifts and managing a diverse donor portfolio.

· Familiarity with Catholic school environments, culture, and mission preferred.

· Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred. 

Work Environment

· This position involves a hybrid work environment split between the Diocesan Pastoral Center and Catholic school campuses and requires the ability to travel regularly throughout the Diocese of Phoenix.

· Regular use of office equipment, including computers, phones, and printers.

· Occasional lifting of up to 35 lbs. for event or material support.

· Must have reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license.

Physical Demands

· This is largely a sedentary role; it requires frequent use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, and photocopiers and the ability to walk across school campuses, climb stairs, and set up/take down event spaces as needed.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.