United Way of Greater Los Angeles (UWGLA) is home to the change makers and justice seekers. We're individuals from various walks of life making collective steps towards a better future for our community. Our focus is on bringing about real and sustainable change by unleashing the collective power of people to open minds, unite diverse communities, and convert compassion into action for a more just, inclusive, and thriving L.A. County. Together, we make tangible impact on some of our region's most pressing challenges by expanding educational opportunity, advancing economic mobility, strengthening community resilience, and helping people thrive. For us, being 'united' isn't just in reference to our organization but to our hope for the future of Los Angeles. Regardless of race, gender, orientation, or self-identification - we do our part as one by making room for all.
Our Development department advances United Way's mission by building a coalition of donors, connectors, and advocates who believe in the power of collective action to create a stronger, more equitable, and more prosperous Los Angeles. Our success is measured by the strength of our partnerships and the resources we mobilize to advance our mission. At our core, we are passionate advocates who believe that the support we inspire today directly shapes how far we can go tomorrow in building a stronger Los Angeles.
We are inviting natural connectors and disciplined closers with a passion for turning one-on-one relationships into lasting philanthropic partnerships to apply for our Major Gifts Officer role.
You'll build real relationships with a portfolio of major and mid-level donors, spotting the right moments to deepen their investment, guiding donors toward giving society membership, and reactivating lapsed supporters, all driving meaningful growth of individual giving revenue.
You will have the unique opportunity to see your work translate directly into students completing programs, families gaining financial stability, and neighbors recovering from crisis, knowing every gift you close helps fund real outcomes across Los Angeles.
Major Gifts ($10k+)
Personally initiate and cultivate one-to-one relationships with assigned major donors and prospects to deepen their connection and long-term loyalty to UWGLA
Secure new and increased gifts from portfolio donors for the annual campaign and longer-term Impact Plan initiatives
Design customized engagement plans for assigned donors and high-capacity prospects in collaboration with the Development team
Represent UWGLA to external contacts with high giving capacity, initiating dialogue on philanthropic values and priorities where appropriate
Major Donor Giving Society (Tocqueville)
Identify donors within your portfolio who show $10,000+ capacity and add them to the Tocqueville prospecting list
Draft and deliver personalized upgrade proposals and Impact Plan briefings for donors approaching the Tocqueville threshold
Coordinate donor invitations and follow-up for Tocqueville roundtables, cultivation events, and graduation/awards ceremonies, integrating planned giving and Legacy Society options into cultivation conversations where appropriate
Mid-Level Leadership Giving ($1,000–$9,999)
Manage a portfolio of Leadership-level donors, tracking capacity, giving history, and moves-management stage for each
Execute the upgrade ask cadence for Leadership donors, moving them incrementally toward Tocqueville-level giving
Source new Leadership-level prospects from board referrals, workplace campaigns, WalkUnitedLA participants, and event attendee lists
Donor Stewardship
Draft personalized thank-you letters, impact updates, and stewardship reports for assigned donors, using approved templates as a base
Implement a personalized recognition plan for each assigned donor, drawing on the Leadership and Tocqueville stewardship calendars
Coordinate with other Development sectors and Marketing & Communications to ensure a consistent, well-represented donor experience
Lapsed Donor Reactivation & Reporting
Reactivate lapsed Leadership-level donors through segmented, Impact Plan-driven outreach
Track reactivation outcomes and portfolio performance, providing statistical summaries and market segment analysis as requested
Flag donors ready for major gift ($100,000+) qualification, and log research, contact reports, and CRM data across all portfolio tiers
Other responsibilities as assigned
Secure $1M in major gift revenue
Build and actively steward a pipeline of 125 qualified prospects
Retain 80% of current donors within assigned portfolio