Overview
Major Gifts Officer Jobs in Boston, USA at Charles River Watershed Association
Reports to
:
Chief Development Officer
Location
:
Hybrid (Boston, MA) In-office presence required 3 days per week
The Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) is an internationally recognized leader at the forefront of climate resilience, environmental justice, and clean water advocacy. Based in Boston, we protect the 80-mile Charles River and its 308-square-mile watershed through science, advocacy, and the law. Having quadrupled our revenue over the past six years, we are preparing to launch our next ambitious five-year strategic plan.
We are seeking a relationship-driven Major Gifts Officer (MGO) to help drive our next phase of growth.
The MGO will manage a dynamic portfolio of 125–150 prospects, securing gifts of $10,000+ and building meaningful, long-term partnerships with donors. This is an ideal opportunity for a sophisticated communicator and proactive fundraiser who is energized by donor strategy and inspired to turn climate urgency into tangible local impact. Candidates can look forward to joining a high-performing, mission-driven team that holds polluters accountable while supporting the diverse community who hold the Charles near and dear.
If you are a goal-oriented fundraiser who leads with empathy, thrives in a collaborative culture, and is eager to build a best-in-class major gifts program, we invite you to partner with CRWA’s leadership and development team to protect and restore one of our region’s most vital natural resources.
Job Responsibilities
Major Gifts Strategy & Portfolio Management
Manage a portfolio of approximately 125–150 donors and prospects with the capacity to give $10,000 and above, moving them through the donor cycle (identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship).
Develop and execute tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies for major individual donors, family foundations, and institutional funders to increase annual, multi-year, and legacy commitments.
Conduct 10 to 15 meaningful donor interactions per month.
Prepare briefings, talking points, proposals, and donor materials for major gift meetings.
Track activity, projections, and engagement plans through CRWA’s donor CRM (Donor Perfect or similar CRM experience preferred).
Identify, research, and qualify new prospects to strengthen CRWA’s major donor pipeline.
Work with the Chief Development Officer to assess donor capacity, interest, and likelihood of giving.
Collaborate with program staff to understand programmatic priorities and translate them into compelling donor cases for support.
Partner with the Board Development Committee to identify new prospects and develop effective cultivation and solicitation strategies.
Donor Engagement & Stewardship
Lead stewardship plans for major donors, including personalized updates, site visits, impact reporting, and recognition opportunities.
Coordinate donor meetings, briefings, and tours of the Charles River and watershed with program staff.
Work closely with Development, Communications, and Program staff to stay informed on CRWA’s work and upcoming initiatives.
Partner with the Senior Development Manager on corporate relations and joint cultivation opportunities.
Support event-based donor cultivation, including CRWA boat tours, small gatherings, house parties, and the annual major donor events.
Data, Reporting & Operations
Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, projections, and strategies in the CRM.
Provide regular updates on portfolio progress, revenue forecasts, and donor pipeline health.
Ensure compliance with fundraising best practices and contribute to a culture of strong donor stewardship across the organization.
Qualifications and Qualities
At CRWA, we recognize that someone may excel in this role even if they don’t have every attribute listed below. We also recognize that the skills needed in this position may be gained from a variety of personal, educational, employment, and volunteer experiences. We take all of this into account when reviewing applications and if you think you’d be a great fit for this role, we encourage you to apply!
Demonstrated fundraising success in one-to-one solicitations and relationship building, specifically in…
Title: Major Gifts Officer
Company: Charles River Watershed Association
Location: Boston, USA
Category:
