Description

The Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine is building a national fundraising presence, with strategic focus in Chicago, Dallas, and Miami. We seek a Development Officer with demonstrated success managing and closing major gifts in complex, mission-driven organizations.

About Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM)

Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM) is a newly established medical school in New Orleans created through a historic partnership between Xavier University of Louisiana—the nation’s only Catholic HBCU—and Ochsner Health, Louisiana’s largest nonprofit health system. XOCOM will be the only HBCU medical school in the Gulf South and the first HBCU allopathic medical school established in 50 years. The College is advancing toward accreditation and preparing for a 2027 opening, with priorities that include recruiting distinguished faculty, enrolling a highly competitive inaugural class, and securing the philanthropic investment required to ensure access, affordability, and long-term institutional strength.

Position Summary

The Development Officer is a frontline fundraising role responsible for generating philanthropic revenue in support of XOCOM’s strategic priorities. The role refines and manages a portfolio of individual major gift prospects while advancing select corporate and foundation relationships in coordination with Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health Development teams.

The incumbent will work collaboratively with the Development Operations & Administration Manager to ensure disciplined moves management, timely stewardship, and coordinated execution. The role will contribute to a culture of philanthropy by modeling strong donor engagement practices, collaborating with faculty and staff ambassadors, and reinforcing shared accountability for fundraising success across the institution.

The College is building a national fundraising presence, with particular interest in candidates connected to key philanthropic markets, with strategic focus in Chicago, Dallas, and Miami.

Portfolio Management & Donor Engagement 

• Manage and advance a portfolio of individual major gift prospects through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship; active prospect identification and portfolio building required.
• Develop and execute individualized donor strategies aligned with XOCOM’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Maintain active, relationship-based engagement with donors and prospects across geographies.
  Secure philanthropic support for institutional priorities, including capital, scholarships, student support, faculty recruitment, and programmatic initiatives.
  

Solicitation Strategy & Proposal Development 

• Develop solicitation strategies in partnership with Development leadership.
• Prepare cultivation, briefing, and solicitation documents and create gift agreements for confirmed gifts.
• Advance prospects toward timely and appropriate solicitations.
  

Institutional & Cross-Organizational Collaboration

• Partner with Development colleagues at Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health to advance aligned individual, corporate, and foundation fundraising opportunities.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy through partnering with colleagues, volunteers to inspire generosity from potential philanthropic partners.
  

Documentation, Reporting & Planning

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions and outcomes in the CRM system.
• Contribute to Development planning, forecasting, and campaign preparation efforts.
• Work collaboratively with the Development Operations & Administration Manager to ensure disciplined execution.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• 5–7 years of frontline fundraising experience with demonstrated success closing major gifts in complex organizations.
• Extensive experience personally managing and advancing a portfolio of major gift prospects, including direct involvement in solicitation strategy and closing gifts.
• Experience managing a donor portfolio using a disciplined moves management approach.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate with potential donors at all levels.
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with high-level prospects, donors, and volunteers.
• Comfort operating in a complex, matrixed environment.
• Must be flexible and available to work evenings and weekends as needed for events and programming.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly.
• Ability to operate independently with minimal onboarding or training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, academic medicine, or healthcare philanthropy.
• Proficiency working in start-up or growth-phase organizations.
• Strong emotional intelligence and leadership presence.
• Ability to remain flexible, resourceful, and thrive in a mission-driven environment.
• Familiarity and experience with national fundraising campaigns.
• Ability to make decisions independently and follow up.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience creating and managing a major gift donor portfolio in one or more major philanthropic markets.

**To be considered, please apply through the Xavier University of Louisiana website and include a brief (3–5 sentence) description of your personal role in securing a major gift.**