Major Gifts Officer 
Job Title: Major Gifts Officer
Location: Flexible / Remote (with required travel)
Type: Full-time, exempt
Reports To: Director of Major Gifts
About the Shrine
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin, faithful to the message of the Blessed Virgin Mary, through her appearance on the American continent in 1531, serves the spiritual needs of those who suffer poverty in body and soul. It is a place of ceaseless prayer for the corporal and spiritual welfare of God’s children, especially those in most need. The Shrine welcomes thousands of pilgrims each year who seek spiritual growth, healing, and a connection with God through our liturgical, devotional, and educational offerings.
Position Summary
The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) is a primary field fundraiser for the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, dedicated to building relationships and securing major gifts that advance the Shrine’s mission. Reporting directly to the Director of Major Gifts, the MGO spends nearly all their time in direct donor engagement, identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding benefactors in their assigned region.
The ideal candidate is an articulate Catholic storyteller with a heart for the Church, a proven track record in major-gift fundraising, and the drive to meet clear, metrics-driven expectations.
Key Responsibilities
- Donor Engagement & Portfolio Management: Actively manage and cultivate a major-gift portfolio of 90-125 prospects.
- In-Person Visits: Conduct at least 10 in-person donor visits per month. This includes personal visits as well as collaborative “assists” (e.g., traveling alongside His Eminence, Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, executive staff, or fellow MGOs for high-level donor engagements).
- Proposal Delivery: Prepare, present, and deliver at least two major gift proposals per month (defined as multi-year pledges of $50,000+ or single gift asks of $20,000+).
- Revenue Generation: Meet individual annual fundraising goals of $900,000 to $1,200,000 (prorated for the initial onboarding period).
- Mission & Spiritual Representation: Serve as an authentic spiritual ambassador for the Shrine, integrating Catholic values into all benefactor interactions and ensuring that messaging honors the Shrine’s identity and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- Collaboration & Systems: Maintain meticulous donor records and activity tracking in the Shrine’s Salesforce CRM; collaborate effectively with development leadership and team members to maximize gift capacity and enhance the donor experience.
Key Qualifications & Requirements
- Faith & Mission Alignment: A practicing Catholic in good standing with sound knowledge of the Catholic faith and its practices, a mature spiritual life (especially in the Sacraments), a deep appreciation for the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and an affinity for the various liturgical forms of the Holy Mass.
- Fundraising Experience: A bachelor’s degree in business, communications, or a related field preferred, with 3–5+ years of practical development experience in a nonprofit or faith-based environment.
- Communication & Rapport: Superior oral and written communication skills; a compelling storyteller with a natural ability to build trust and rapport.
- Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with federal and state tax planning techniques favoring charitable giving (e.g., appreciated stock, donor-advised funds, planned gifts).
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions
- Remote Work & Travel: Remote position; frequent regional and national travel required for donor visits and attendance at major Shrine engagements.
- Shrine Presence: Ability to meet at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, WI, on a recurring basis for team retreats, meetings, and major liturgical events.
- Mobility & Logistics: Valid driver’s license and ability to operate a motor vehicle (including transporting executive staff for donor visits); ability to lift and transport event and correspondence materials weighing up to 25 pounds.
