Grace Nakamura
Major Gifts Officer, CFRE · Minneapolis, MN
Summary
CFRE-certified major gifts officer with 9 years in nonprofit development across education and human services. Manages a portfolio of 140 donors capable of $10K+ gifts, raised $2.8M last year against a $2.4M goal, and closed three first-time gifts of $100K or more.
Experience
Major Gifts Officer, Northstar Children's Foundation
Feb 2021 – Present
Minneapolis, MN
- Manage a portfolio of 140 prospects and donors at the $10K-$250K level; raised $2.8M in FY25 against a $2.4M goal, 117% of target.
- Moved 38 donors through the moves management cycle in Raiser's Edge NXT (identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship), completing 160 donor visits a year.
- Closed 3 first-time gifts of $100K+ and a $500K multi-year pledge for the early literacy campaign, partnering with the executive director and board members on asks.
- Rebuilt donor stewardship with impact reports and site visits, raising major donor retention from 68% to 81% and upgrading 22 donors.
Development Manager, Annual Fund and Events, Lakeshore Community College Foundation
Jun 2017 – Jan 2021
Duluth, MN
- Raised $1.1M a year through the annual fund, direct mail, email and an annual gala of 350 guests, growing total event revenue 24% in three years.
- Wrote and managed 12 foundation and corporate grant proposals a year with a 58% success rate, securing $620K.
- Launched a monthly giving program that grew to 410 donors and $180K in annual recurring revenue; segmented appeals in Blackbaud to lift email response 31%.
Skills
Major gifts and moves management · Donor cultivation and stewardship · Prospect research and screening · Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT · Capital and campaign fundraising · Grant writing · Planned giving basics · Annual fund and monthly giving · Gala and event fundraising · Donor retention analysis · Board and volunteer solicitation · Case for support writing
Education
B.A. in Communications, University of Minnesota Duluth, 2016
Certifications
- Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)
- AFP member