Major Gifts Officer

Goshen College is a Christian liberal arts institution that prepares students to thrive in life, leadership and service. We strive to model an inclusive community committed to transformative justice, peace, and sustainability. A respect and appreciation of the Anabaptist- Mennonite faith perspective and practices, and a commitment to the mission, vision, core values and community standards of Goshen College, are important for teaching and administrative faculty members.

Position Summary:

The Major Gifts Officer plays a pivotal role in building philanthropic relationships that advance Goshen College’s mission and strategic priorities. This full-time role manages a portfolio of current and prospective donors, serving as a trusted ambassador of the college to help individuals and organizations fulfill their values through impactful giving.

The successful candidate will join the advancement team—major giving, annual fund, alumni relations and communications and marketing—to support the President and Goshen College’s strategic plan in successfully completing a historic comprehensive campaign. As part of a dynamic Advancement team, the Major Gifts Officer will lead personalized engagement strategies to secure gifts for annual funds, endowments, scholarships, capital projects and planned giving. Success in this position requires a deep commitment to authentic relationship-building, regular travel to meet with donors nationwide and active collaboration with colleagues across departments.

As a member of the Institutional Advancement team, you will help shape the future of the college by connecting the generosity of our supporters to life-changing opportunities for students and faculty. This is more than a job—it’s a calling to make a difference through meaningful relationships.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of around 100 major gift prospects and donors and grow those relationships through discovery, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Travel locally and nationally (approximately 25–50% of time) to visit donors and attend events.
• Achieve prospect management activity metrics, including annual goals, by aligning donor passions with institutional priorities.
• Partner with the VP for Institutional Advancement and Advancement colleagues to shape strategy and donor engagement plans.
• Research and evaluate donor interests and giving capacity; prioritize outreach accordingly.
• Represent Goshen College at Advancement and campus-wide events, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Maintain accurate records and activity tracking in the donor CRM (Jenzabar).
• Contribute to a culture of joyful giving at Goshen College and a collaborative and mission-driven team culture that values creativity, learning and accountability.
• Effectively steward donor relationships in a manner that requires the highest standards of professional conduct, confidentiality, ethics and relational standards.
• Provide support for marketing, educating and creating greater awareness of planned giving options to the college’s constituency.
• Commit to ongoing learning and professional development to continue to grow in fundraising and donor relations best practices.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of three years of experience in fundraising, sales, client relations or marketing. Five years of experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree
• Able to travel locally and in an assigned territory nationally up to 50% of total time.
• Commitment to Goshen College’s mission, vision and values, including an appreciation for the Anabaptist-Mennonite faith perspective
• Demonstrated success in relationship management and persuasive communication, and ability to manage the full donor lifecycle: discovery through stewardship
• Technological fluency, including CRM systems and productivity tools
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Sensitivity, flexibility and adaptability to balance diverse donor audiences
• Highly self-motivated, organized, strategic thinker and team player
• Preferred: Familiarity with Goshen College alumni and donor communities; experience with planned giving or campaign fundraising; proven ability to secure five- and six-figure gifts

Benefits Overview

• Health insurance (employee premium 100% covered)
• Retirement plans
• Tuition discounts
• Dental, vision, life and LTD insurance
• Free employee membership to campus Recreation-Fitness Center
• Flexible Spending Account
• Paid holidays and sick leave
• Discounted lunch meal program in dining hall

How to Apply

Required:

• Complete the online Application Form
• Submit a Letter of Application
• Submit your Resume
• Submit a list of three professional references with contact information
• Official graduate and undergraduate transcripts and background check will be required prior to hire.

Please be sure to provide all required materials noted below, as incomplete applications may not be considered. Application materials may be attached to the Application Form or sent electronically to hr@goshen.edu. Goshen College will not be sponsoring candidates for this position.

Review of applications will begin Aug. 11 and it will remain open until the position is filled. 

E-Verify Statement of Participation

Goshen College participates in E-Verify. If you are hired, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Goshen College Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement Goshen College is an equal opportunity employer, committed to enhancing diversity across the institution. Goshen College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or any legally protected status. As a religious institution, Goshen College expressly reserves its rights, its understandings of, and its commitments to the historic Anabaptist identity and the teachings of Mennonite Church USA, and reserves the legal right to hire and employ individuals who support the values of the college. To protect the welfare and provide for the safety of the students, employees, visitors, and resources of Goshen College, background checks are conducted by the Office of Human Resources on all new and re-hired employees.

About Goshen College

Goshen College is a nationally-ranked college and Hispanic-Serving Institution in Indiana renowned for its distinctive hands-on, real-world educational opportunities, and its commitment to creating positive change in the community and the world. The college offers over 65 undergraduate areas of study; as well as best-in-class graduate programs in nursing, business administration, social work and environmental education. This caring, safe and diverse campus prides itself on providing excellent academic programs that connect arts with sciences, and theory with practice — exposing students to multiple perspectives and encouraging them to think deeply, live creatively and lead purposefully. The college is located in the City of Goshen in the heart of Elkhart County, within several hours of Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit. Residents of Goshen enjoy a culturally diverse small-town atmosphere with an active arts community, a vibrant and entrepreneurial downtown, the Maple City Greenway network of bicycle paths and affordable housing prices. Learn more at goodofgoshen.com.

Contact HR

Human Resources
Goshen College
1700 S. Main Street
Goshen, IN 46526-4795

E-mail: hr@goshen.edu
Telephone: (574) 535-7111