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Assistant Director of Development for Major Gifts

Eastern Oregon University | La Grande, OR

Posted Date 3/23/2026
Description Posting Details

Position Information

Position Title
Assistant Director of Development for Major Gifts

Full or Part Time
Full Time

FTE
1.0

Position Type
Regular

Posting Number
20110657C&A

Position Summary Information

Job Description Summary

The Major Gifts Officer (MGO), reporting to the Director of Development, is responsible for driving philanthropic support for Eastern Oregon University through the EOU Foundation. This role focuses on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors and corporate partners to advance University and Foundation priorities.

The MGO manages a portfolio of current and prospective donors, playing a strategic leadership role in fundraising campaigns, special events, stewardship initiatives, and donor engagement activities. Through active outreach and relationship-building with donors, alumni, friends of the University, trustees, and community leaders, the MGO helps strengthen the culture of philanthropy across the institution.

Depending on organizational needs, the MGO may be assigned to support specific University programs or initiatives. In all efforts, the Major Gifts Officer serves as a key ambassador - communicating shared values and demonstrating the impact, mission, and vision of Eastern Oregon University to inspire meaningful investment.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising & Portfolio Management: Manage a portfolio of 125-175 major gift prospects, leading all stages of donor engagement, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, while implementing annual fundraising strategies measured by dollars raised, qualified visits, and solicitations made.

Relationship Building & Donor Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, alumni, community leaders, and University stakeholders. Represent the University and Foundation with professionalism by effectively communicating mission, impact, and shared values, and strategically engage senior leadership, trustees, deans, faculty, and volunteers to support major gift initiatives.

Campaigns, Programs & Collaboration: Contribute to fundraising campaigns, stewardship initiatives, and signature events while coordinating fundraising efforts for assigned program or geographic areas. Collaborate with development staff to ensure high-quality donor experiences and cohesive, well-aligned fundraising activities across departments.

Prospect Research & Data Integrity: Identify and qualify new prospects through research, networking, and data-driven methods, ensuring continuous growth of the donor pipeline. Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all donor interactions, proposals, and portfolio activities in Raiser's Edge.

Gift Coordination & Compliance:Prepare and support donor proposals and related materials, ensuring coordinated solicitation efforts across University units. Maintain knowledge of gift policies, tax regulations, and planned giving options, and exercise authority to evaluate and initially accept gifts in accordance with Foundation policies.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Communications, Business, Marketing, Sales, Economics, History, English, Interdisciplinary Studies, Liberal Arts, or a related field.
  • Successful experience in philanthropic development, including a proven track record of successful solicitations from individuals and private and public foundations.
  • Two (2)-Five (5) years of related professional experience in fundraising, development, or community or public relations.
  • Excellent communication skills in both verbal and writing.
  • Experience working with diverse groups of people.
  • Ability to manage, organize, and coordinate multiple tasks and events.
  • Must satisfactorily complete EOU criminal and credential background check. Having a criminal history is not an automatic bar to employment.
  • In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Eastern Oregon University will not sponsor applicants for employment visas.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's degree in Communications, Business, Marketing, Sales, Economics, History, English, Interdisciplinary Studies, Liberal Arts, or a related field.
  • Higher education experience in development and public relations.
Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicant must provide:
  1. Letter of application (which should include why this position is attractive to the applicant, how it meets the applicant's professional goals, and what attracts the applicant to EOU);
  2. Complete curriculum vitae (resume);

Candidates are encouraged to review the values and principles of Eastern Oregon University https://www.eou.edu/institutional-effectiveness/values-and-principles/.

Only complete files of qualified applicants will be reviewed.

Eastern Oregon University - Oregon's Rural University! - is a respected public, higher education institution of academic excellence. Outstanding faculty and staff thrive and together fulfill their career ambitions to serve students from all walks of life.

The Eastern Oregon University main campus is on a beautiful, quaint campus nestled in a remarkably scenic, high elevation valley populated by wonderful, community-minded citizens that have balanced work-life flexibility. Take a virtual tour of Eastern Oregon University https://www.eou.edu/visitor/.

EOU offers a very attractive package of State of Oregon public employee benefits including:
  • Paid holidays (10 days/year)
  • Paid sick time-off (12 days/year)
  • Paid vacation (22 days/year)
  • Individual and Family Healthcare Insurance (95%+ employer-paid medical, dental, vision)
  • Oregon Paid Leave benefits (up to 12 paid weeks)
  • Federal FMLA and State of Oregon Family Leave (OFLA) benefits (up to 12 weeks paid/unpaid)
  • Employer-paid life insurance
  • Relocation assistance
  • Discounted tuition benefits for employees and eligible dependents
  • For more details, see Prospective Employees https://www.eou.edu/hr/prospective-employees
Eastern Oregon University is an EEO Employer and welcomes applications from women, members of historically underrepresented minority groups, US Veterans, and persons with disabilities. EOU is committed to providing equal opportunity in its recruitment, admissions, educational programs, activities, and employment without illegal discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or any status as protected by state or federal law.

Salary
$57,795-$77,467 DOQ

Posting Detail Information

Open Date
03/23/2026

Close Date

Open Until Filled
Yes

First Day of Application Review
04/17/2026

Quick Link to Posting
https://eou.peopleadmin.com/postings/3377
Salary57,795.00 - 77,467.00 Annual

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