Major Gifts Officer – Alumni Engagement

Location:Leonardtown, Maryland |
Start Date:Immediate |
Status:Full-Time (40 hrs/week)

About St. Mary's Ryken
St. Mary’s Ryken is a premier, coeducational, Catholic, college preparatory high school in Southern Maryland, serving approximately 700 students annually. As a Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School, SMR provides a rigorous academic environment grounded in faith, service, leadership, and character. With a strong alumni base, growing philanthropic support and a recently completed 10-year strategic plan, St. Mary’s Ryken is entering an exciting new phase of alumni engagement and fundraising through its upcoming capital campaign.

We are seeking a passionate, relationship-driven Major Gifts Officer – Alumni Engagement to join our Advancement team. This new, full-time position will play a pivotal role in building deeper alumni connections and growing philanthropic support through major gifts.
Reporting to the Director of Development
, the officer will manage a portfolio of alumni prospects, coordinate strategic alumni events in collaboration with the Events Manager, and travel regionally to visit alumni donors.

• Manage a portfolio of 80–150 alumni major gift prospects.
• Develop and implement personalized cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Conduct one‑on‑one meetings (in‑person and virtual) with alumni to build relationships and secure gifts of $5,000+ annually.
• Work closely with the Director of Advancement to set and achieve fundraising goals.
• Document all contact reports, strategies, and next steps in the donor CRM system.

• Partner with the Events Manager to coordinate and support:
  • On‑campus alumni events such as Homecoming, reunions, and donor recognition events.
  • Regional and off‑campus alumni gatherings aligned with major gift cultivation goals.
• Identify and recruit alumni hosts, speakers, or ambassadors to support events and outreach.
• Develop and grow an Alumni Association for graduates of St. Mary’s Academy, Ryken High School and St. Mary’s Ryken including social media presence.

• Travel to visit out‑of‑state alumni donors and prospects 4–6 times per year.
• Represent the school at regional alumni events, receptions, and affinity group gatherings.

This is an ideal opportunity for a mission‑driven advancement professional who:

• Has experience in major gift fundraising and/or alumni relations and alumni events.
• Enjoys building lasting relationships and connecting people to meaningful causes.
• Is excited to travel and meet alumni where they are.
• Works well on a small team and values collaboration, creativity, and initiative.

• 3–5 years of successful experience in development, alumni relations, or related field required; experience with major gifts preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust with alumni across generations.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a small team.
• Comfort with donor database systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Donor Perfect, or similar).
• Willingness to travel regionally and occasionally work evenings or weekends for events.

• Passion for education and mission‑driven work.
• Familiarity with independent or Catholic school advancement.
• Ability to represent the school with professionalism, warmth, and integrity.

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Travel and professional development support provided.
• Term Life Insurance (100% employer paid)
• Long Term Disability (100% employer paid)
• Medical and Dental Insurance (50% employer paid)
• SMR tuition assistance for dependents of full‑time employees starting year 1
• Tuition remission for 50% of graduate coursework.

Inquiries about the position may be directed to Director of Development Michele Minicozzi michele.minicozzi.