Details Department: Philanthropy ServicesSchedule:  Full Time, DaysLocation:  Remote with approximately 50% travel required
Benefits

Paid time off (PTO)
Various health insurance options & wellness plans
Retirement benefits including employer match plans
Long-term & short-term disability
Employee assistance programs (EAP)
Parental leave & adoption assistance
Tuition reimbursement
Ways to give back to your community

 

Benefit options and eligibility vary by position. Compensation varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, performance, location and salary range at the time of the offer.

Responsibilities

Summary: The Principal Gift Officer (PGO) is a senior, highly experienced fundraising professional responsible for securing transformative philanthropic investments from high net worth individuals and families in support of Ascension Foundation’s mission. The PGO builds and manages a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, delivering personalized strategies for cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. The PGO moves seamlessly within influential circles, serves as a trusted partner to donors offering strategic tailored engagement opportunities that reflects a deep understanding of donors’ philanthropic interests, financial vehicles and desired impact. This role blends intellectual agility, relational sophistication, emotional intelligence, and financial fluency to drive multi-year major and principal gift commitments. It requires a high degree of independence and frequent travel.

 

The Ascension Philanthropy Services team reports to the national philanthropy team in Ascension System Office. 

 

Core Responsibilities:

Report to the Senior Director, Philanthropy Strategy and proactively engage the Vice President, Strategic Philanthropy and President, Ascension Foundation, to build a new portfolio of donors capable of multi-million-dollar contributions.Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward a new portfolio of high-capacity donors using customized, multi-year engagement strategies.Build trusted, long-term relationships with high net worth donors and their families, serving as a key advisor and thought partner in their philanthropic journeys.Provide exceptional, high-touch service by preparing donors for key conversations, addressing inquiries with discretion, and ensuring a seamless engagement experience.Demonstrate fluency in complex giving vehicles (e.g., donor-advised funds, appreciated stocks and assets, charitable trusts, wills, and annuities) and advise donors on strategic giving opportunities, working seamlessly with teams inDevelopment Operations, Legal and Finance to ensure proper execution of gift agreements.Collaborate closely with Foundation, clinical, and operational leaders to align donor interests with Ascension’s mission and strategic funding priorities.Partner with the Development Operations team to research and qualify prospects, assess capacity, and maintain pipeline hygiene in the CRMPartner with the Development Communications team to create compelling proposals, case statements, customized funding collateral, and stewardship materials that reflect the impact and value of donor investments.Design and coordinate curated, intimate, mission immersion events and donor experiences designed to engage, recognize, and deepen relationships with principal donorsPartner with the Director, Development Operations to track portfolio activity, analyze donor engagement outcomes, and provide regular reports to leadership to inform strategy and forecasting.Serve as liaison and coordinator to the Ascension Foundation Board and Philanthropy Council, facilitating communications and supporting board and council member involvement in major giving efforts.Advise leadership on fundraising trends, donor insights, and philanthropy sector developments to inform strategy and resource planning.High degree of independence and frequent travel.Other duties as assigned.
Requirements

Education:

High School diploma equivalency with 2 years of cumulative experience OR Associate's degree/Bachelor's degree with 1 year of experience OR 5 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required.2 years of leadership or management experience preferred.
Additional Preferences High school diploma/GED with 7-10 years of applicable major and principal gift experience and a proven track record of securing 7-figure gifts, years of experience, or Associate's degree, or Bachelor's degree.Master's degree preferred.

Key Attributes:
Strong verbal and written communication skills, effective collaborator, strong relationship building skills, influence, innovative mindset, creative, inclusive, excellent attention to detail, strong grasp of and commitment to best practices in all areas of development, self-motivated, independent thinker, ability to organize multiple tasks simultaneously with close attention to detail and deadlines, proficiency with Google applications especially Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets and Slides, and development databases, Raiser’s Edge preference, proven track record of securing 7-figure gifts regularly, preferably in health equity, health, higher education, economic empowerment or social justice nonprofits

Why Join Our Team

Ascension associates are key to our commitment of transforming healthcare and providing care to all, especially those most in need. Join us and help us drive impact through reimagining how we can deliver a people-centered healthcare experience and creating the solutions to do it. Explore career opportunities across our ministry locations and within our corporate headquarters.

 

Ascension is a leading non-profit, faith-based national health system made up of over 134,000 associates and 2,600 sites of care, including more than 140 hospitals and 40 senior living communities in 19 states.

 

Our Mission, Vision and Values encompass everything we do at Ascension. Every associate is empowered to give back, volunteer and make a positive impact in their community. Ascension careers are more than jobs; they are opportunities to enhance your life and the lives of the people around you.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

 

For further information, view the  EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.

 

As a military friendly organization, Ascension promotes career flexibility and offers many benefits to help support the well-being of our military families, spouses, veterans and reservists. Our associates are empowered to apply their military experience and unique perspective to their civilian career with Ascension.

 

Pay Non-Discrimination Notice

 

Please note that Ascension will make an offer of employment only to individuals who have applied for a position using our official application. Be on alert for possible fraudulent offers of employment. Ascension will not solicit money or banking information from applicants.

 

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