Major Gifts Officer

Position Description

The Count Basie Center for the Arts, in the ever-growing and beautiful downtown Red Bank, New Jersey, is seeking an experienced full time Major Gifts Officer to support the Development Department.

Organizational Background

Founded in 1926, The Count Basie Center for the Arts creates shared educational, artistic, and community experiences that ignite curiosity, understanding, and joy. Its responsive, inclusive programming reflects the diverse spirit and aspirations of its patrons, students, artists, and staff, welcoming them to participate as their most authentic selves.

Over the last decade, the Basie Center organization has grown to include two performances spaces (the historic Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre and The Vogel), Basie Center Cinemas, community theatre company Phoenix Productions, and the Grunin Arts & Education Building, home to all Turner Academy of the Arts programming, including the Count Basie Center Conservatory of Music.

Job Description

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is a frontline fundraiser responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of individual donors with the capacity to make gifts of $5,000 and above. The MGO plays a key role in advancing the Basie's mission and strategic priorities, including implementing strategies to increase contributions to the Basie Center Giving Circle, Century Club, and Planned Giving Program from high-net-worth individuals and family foundations.

This role requires availability for early morning, evening and weekend hours to accommodate events, shows, and cultivation opportunities on site and at community events. The MGO is a donor-centric professional who thrives in a fast paced, collaborative environment, working closely with all departments to ensure a unified, mission-driven approach to fundraising.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately major gift prospects and donors.
• Identify, research, qualify, cultivate, new and lapsed donors through moves management.
• Develop tailored cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies, briefings, proposals, reports and other materials to deepen donor engagement.
• Conduct a minimum of 8–10 meaningful donor contacts per month, including in-person meetings, phone calls, and personalized outreach.
• Secure major gifts ($5,000 and above) in support of the organization's mission and priorities including the Centennial Celebration.
• Integrate planned giving strategies and cultivate long-term relationships with key donors.
• Collaborate with CEO, senior leadership, board members, Development Team and other key stakeholders to leverage peer-to-peer solicitations and donor introductions to foster a culture of philanthropy.
• Prepare proposals, briefing materials, and impact reports in partnership with the Marketing team.
• Maintain accurate records in the donor database (e.g., Raiser's Edge), ensuring timely entry of interactions and proposals.
• Support and attend key fundraising, cultivation and stewardship events, including but not limited to the annual summer gala, winter gala, and centennial initiatives.
• Contribute to the overall fundraising goal and culture of philanthropy at the Basie.
• Represent the Basie Center at key shows, special events (in-house and through other nonprofit organizations), to build donor relationships, including cultivation at the donor lounge.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years of successful experience in major gift fundraising, preferably in the arts or similar nonprofit sector.
• Proficiency in building and managing relationships with high-net-worth individuals.
• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit and close major gifts, develop a pipeline of potential donors and manage a portfolio.
• Experience in planned giving and legacy programs preferred.
• Knowledge of New Jersey philanthropic landscape is desired.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including proposal writing and donor correspondence.
• Highly organized with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Comfortable working collaboratively and independently in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Familiarity with donor databases (Raiser's Edge or similar CRM) preferred.
• Passion for the performing arts and a commitment to the Basie's mission.
• Experience in closing four, five, six figure gifts and above.

This is a full-time, exempt position and eligible for The Basie's competitive benefits package that includes paid time off (personal, sick and vacation), insurance (health, dental, vision, life, long and short-term disability) and a 401(k)-retirement plan including company match. This position operates on a hybrid schedule that allows for remote work 2 days a week. The annual salary range is $65,000 - $75,000 commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates should apply on The Basie website at No phone calls please.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65, $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Dependent health insurance coverage
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Red Bank, NJ 07701