Major Gifts Officer in St Paul, Minnesota at Minnesota Historical Society

JOB TITLE: Major Gifts Officer

OPEN TO: This job is open to current MNHS staff.

LOCATION: History Center - 345 W Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102

COMPENSATION: Typical starting range $70,449.60 - $75,878.40 annually

STATUS & HOURS: Full-time, regular (approximately 2080 annual hours) position.

BENEFITS: Eligible to participate in State Employee Group Insurance Program and a retirement program with employer contribution. Generous vacation and sick time accruals with additional paid holidays.

DESIGNATION: Bargaining Unit AFSCME Local 3173

POSTING DATE: May 22, 2026

DEADLINE DATE: May 29, 2026

TO APPLY: Interested applicants must apply online at the Minnesota Historical Society’s career center at www.mnhs.org/jobs and include a resume and cover letter by the application deadline date.

DESCRIPTION: This position exists to secure major current and planned gifts from individual donors for the Annual Fund, special projects, and endowment. The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) works closely with donors and prospects, establishing a rapport that encourages, supports, and sustains their desire to create a philanthropic relationship with the Society while representing the Society’s mission, goals, and philosophies with the highest professional standards.

SUMMARY OF WORK: 1) Manage 80 to 120 prospects in the Society’s Donor Development Program (DDP). (DDP prospects are individuals considered likely candidates for a $25,000+ current or a $50,000+ planned gift within four to five years of being placed in the program); 2) Provide ongoing stewardship for assigned donors – those who have completed the DDP program and those donors for whom the MGO is designated their primary contact within the Development Office; and 3) Meet with assigned long-time MHS members donors to assess their capacity for the DDP program – both their level of interest in the Society and their capacity for philanthropic giving.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree plus six years program experience or equivalent OR an advanced degree plus five years program experience or equivalent.

• Three years of related fund-raising experience within a related non-profit environment.

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office, Google, and development software.

DEMONSTRATED SKILLS IN OR KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Problem Solving.

• Ability to handle sensitive and problematic situations tactfully and successfully.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated effectiveness working with donors.

• Extensive knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations related to fund-raising.

• Knowledge of the current trends in fund-raising activity.

• Outstanding ability to cultivate relationships and strong personal solicitation skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team while independently carrying out institutional objectives.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Experience developing effective work plans for attaining fund-raising goals.

Should you have questions with the application process, email humanresources@mnhs.org or call MNHS Job Line at 651-259-3181.

At MNHS, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on diversity for the benefit of our employees, our products and services, and our community. The Minnesota Historical Society believes that an inclusive culture among our team members is critical to our success as a historical society and museum, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The Minnesota Historical Society is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and employer.