Major and Planned Gifts Officer
Posted on June 5, 2025
About Peconic Land Trust
Since 1983, the Peconic Land Trust, a nonprofit charitable organization, has worked collaboratively with landowners, communities, municipalities, and partner organizations to protect over 14,000 acres of land on Long Island, NY – more than 7,000 acres of farmland, many miles of trail systems, and over 6,000 acres of preserves and natural lands that protect watershed, shorelines, wildlife habitat, scenic vistas, land sacred to indigenous people and historic resources.
Position Summary
We are seeking a skilled major gifts officer to help achieve our major/planned gift fundraising goals. As an integral member of the Development team, this position is responsible for cultivating and soliciting a portfolio of approximately 70 donors/prospects committed to land conservation. The successful candidate needs to be skilled at building strategic relationships, analyzing data and executing strategies, along with effectively stewarding donors. This position will also partner on fundraising for venture and stewardships projects.
Reporting to the VP of Development, this position will be a trust builder and strong collaborator with exceptional listening/communication skills and a passion for connecting with and understanding donor’s needs, goals and interests to align with the Trust’s initiatives.
Job Responsibilities
Some essential responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Fundraising Strategy and Implementation:
- Play a lead role in the design and direction of the individual major gift fundraising program ($2,500+) including an overall strategy to leverage our Councils and increase donor giving levels.
- Work with staff/board to develop strategies and programs for researching, identifying, cultivating, and attracting new sources of financial support.
- Solicit donors via personal visits (face to face and virtual), phone and written communications for general operational, programmatic, and planned gifts.
- Increase the number of planned gift donors and bequests and regularly steward them
- Steward donors by making thank you calls, writing personal thank you notes, and sending gift impact reports and updates.
- Partner to develop donor stewardship events, activities, and partnerships.
- Utilize our database and research tools to build proposals for current/new donors and private/family foundation donors
Essential Qualifications
- Minimum of 6–8 years of fundraising major/planned gifts and donor management experience.
- Bachelor’s degree or at least 8 years of above experience.
- Must have demonstrated success in strategic thinking to achieve fundraising goals and manage high-level donor relationships in a nonprofit setting.
- Excellent analytical, writing, listening and oral presentation skills.
- Discretion and good judgment with the ability to gain trust and confidence from donors.
- Experience with fundraising databases, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to work effectively as a productive team member
- Ability to use an analytical and organized approach to problem solving and workflow management.
- Efficient, well organized, and able to produce high quality and quantity of work.
- Detail orientation; able to juggle competing priorities.
- Valid NYS Driver’s License with ability to commute to Southampton weekly.
Preferred Qualification
- Knowledge of Long Island and New York City philanthropic and corporate communities a plus.
- Experience with Salesforce a plus.
- Knowledge of land conservation a plus.
Position Specifics
- Hybrid position with at least 1-2 days a week in the Southampton, NY office after 90 days.
- Full-time, exempt position working at least 35 hours per week Mon-Fri to include some evenings and occasional weekends.
- Local travel by car regularly, NYC and tri-state travel by train, car or ferry, along with air travel out of state when needed.
We Offer:
- Starting salary $70k–$87k. The exact amount is commensurate with experience, knowledge and skills and may vary above or below the range, as permitted by applicable law.
- Subsidized medical, voluntary dental and vision, FSA and company funded HRA.
- Company paid profit profit-sharing pension plan.
- Annual bonus and salary increase potential.
- Generous paid time off.
- Employee contributed 403b plan.
- Kind and supportive culture.
Peconic Land Trust is an equal opportunity employer.
How to Apply
Please email resume and interests to hr@peconiclandtrust.org.