Major Gifts Officer

Job description

Mozilla Foundation is a non-profit building a better technology future — powered by people, open by design, fueled by imagination. We deliver people-first alternatives to today’s extractive systems. We build side by side with developers, innovators and advocates, united in the belief that a better technology future is not only possible — it’s ours to create! Team Major Gifts are becoming a load-bearing part of how Mozilla Foundation funds its mission — and that revenue doesn't materialize on its own. Someone has to build real relationships with donors capable of giving at the $50,000 to $1M+ level, and turn those relationships into closed gifts rather than a portfolio that's always “warming up.” That's this role. As Major Gifts Officer, you'll sit within Mozilla Foundation's Development team and work closely with the VP of Development, program staff, and Mozilla's executive leadership to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major donors. You'll be the person personally accountable for moving a donor from interest to a signed commitment — translating Mozilla's work on digital rights, internet health, and technology policy into the kind of tailored, compelling case that moves people to give, and to keep giving. Job responsibilities Here’s what you’ll likely be focused on for the first 6 months: • Get up to speed on Mozilla's existing major gift portfolio and pipeline in Salesforce, and start building relationships with current donors. • Move existing prospects who are already in active cultivation toward a solicitation. • Partner with prospect research to identify and begin qualifying new major gift prospects for your portfolio. • Help plan and deliver a stewardship touchpoint or donor event that deepens an existing major donor relationship. • Start shaping a tailored proposal or impact story, drawing on input from program and executive staff, for one of your priority donors. As a Major Gifts Officer at Mozilla Foundation, you will… • Personally solicit and close five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts from donors capable of giving at the $50,000–$1M+ level. • Move donors from interest to a signed commitment on a timeline that actually progresses, rather than leaving a portfolio perpetually “warming up.” • Help the major gifts program consistently hit its revenue targets. • Manage a portfolio of major donor relationships, systematically advancing prospects through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. • Keep every meaningful donor interaction documented in Salesforce, so relationship history is accurate and the next move is always clear. • Design and deliver stewardship activities and donor events that keep major donors genuinely engaged after their gift. • Build a growing base of donors who renew and increase their support over time, rather than one-time gifts that don't come back. • Partner with prospect research to continuously identify and qualify new major gift prospects for your portfolio. • Help build and strengthen the pathways that convert annual donors into major giving. • Keep the pipeline growing faster than it depletes, so future revenue isn't riding entirely on today's named relationships. • Translate Mozilla's programs and technical work into compelling, tailored proposals and impact stories that move donors to give. • Bring executive leadership, program staff, and a donor's own interests together into a single, compelling case for support. • Deploy senior leaders towards the right donor relationships at the right moments. Your Professional Profile: • A track record in major gift fundraising, preferably in technology, advocacy, or public interest organizations. • Demonstrated success personally soliciting and closing five-, six- and/or seven-figure gifts directly with high-net-worth individuals — not just managing or growing a portfolio someone else built. • The ability to conceive, plan, and execute a major gifts program, and to build, prioritize, and systematically manage a portfolio of donor relationships from identification through stewardship. • Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the credibility to earn trust from donors and colleagues in a values-driven organization. • The ability to translate complex technical concepts into compelling philanthropic opportunities, with strong proposal writing and presentation skills. • Command of donor cultivation strategy and moves management. • Comfort with CRM systems and disciplined donor database management. • The focus to manage a full portfolio without losing sight of what matters most, and the initiative to move toward hard conversations — including the ask — rather than waiting for someone else to go first. We Are Excited To See Any Additional Experience With: • An understanding of digital rights, internet health, or technology policy. • Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) fluency — comfort identifying and discussing DAF giving opportunities within a portfolio. • Experience with data-informed prospecting, such as wealth screening or predictive analytics tools. • Awareness of planned and bequest giving as a growing part of the philanthropic landscape. How We Work A few things that are true about how we work at Mozilla Foundation: • Move toward the hard thing: you name problems directly and give clear, actionable feedback, and you don't wait for someone else to go first. • Stay curious and current: you pay attention to what's happening in philanthropy and in the communities Mozilla serves, and bring what you learn back to the team. • Work in the open: you default to sharing work in progress and documenting your reasoning, not just your results. • Focus and finish: you manage a full portfolio without losing sight of what matters most, and you see relationships through rather than letting them stall. • Flex with purpose: you adapt your approach as donors, priorities, and context change, while staying anchored to the mission. • Lead with care: you hold high standards for the work while treat