Director of Major Gifts in New York at Jobgether

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director of Major Gifts based in the United States.

This is a senior fundraising leadership role focused on building and expanding a major gifts program from the ground up. You will lead the acquisition, qualification, cultivation, and solicitation of high-net-worth donors, with a strong emphasis on developing new relationships. Working closely with executive leadership, Board members, and development teams, you will help unlock significant untapped philanthropic potential. The role combines frontline fundraising with strategy, team leadership, pipeline development, and donor engagement. You will manage a substantial personal portfolio while building systems that make prospecting and moves management scalable. Success will be measured by new donor acquisition, major gift revenue, pipeline growth, and the development of a more diversified individual giving program.

• Source, qualify, cultivate, and convert new major donors at the $10K+ level, personally managing relationships from initial discovery through solicitation and close.
• Build and maintain a disciplined prospecting engine using wealth screening, Board and peer referrals, network mapping, event follow-up, donor-advised fund and family foundation research, and annual or mid-level donor upgrades.
• Develop re-engagement strategies for lapsed and dormant donors and identify opportunities to increase giving among existing supporters with untapped capacity.
• Manage a personal portfolio of high-net-worth donors and prospects, securing six- and seven-figure commitments through tailored solicitation strategies.
• Partner with senior revenue leadership to establish and maintain clear qualification standards, including donor visits, pipeline velocity, moves management, and acquisition targets.
• Represent the organization externally with credibility and authenticity, communicating its mission, programs, results, and broader impact to sophisticated philanthropic audiences.
• Lead the major gifts and individual giving program across strategy, prospect development, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with annual giving and stewardship leaders to create a coherent donor journey from first contribution through transformational giving.
• Build, supervise, and coach frontline fundraising and donor engagement staff, fostering a culture focused on pipeline development and new relationship acquisition.
• Work closely with Development Operations to strengthen Salesforce, pipeline reporting, forecasting, prospect research, and relationship-management processes.
• Collaborate with the CEO, Board, Finance, Communications, and Program teams to expand philanthropic networks and align fundraising priorities with organizational impact.
• Partner on donor stewardship, recognition, events, briefings, and campaigns designed to create meaningful engagement and additional qualification opportunities.
• During the first 90 days, assess the existing pipeline, evaluate prospects above $10K, develop a qualification plan for 40 new prospects, complete an initial 20 discovery visits, and establish a multi-year individual giving growth plan.
• Within the first 12 months, target approximately $2M in personally closed revenue from a portfolio of 100–125 households, with at least 70% expected to come from new major-gift donors, while moving 20 new prospects into active cultivation and securing 10 six-figure commitments.
• Help build a repeatable qualification and prospect management engine that can continue operating effectively as the fundraising program scales.
• Work toward long-term individual giving growth from approximately $2M to $10M, supported by a more diversified donor base and a documented seven-figure prospect pipeline.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising or comparable relationship-based revenue work, including at least 5 years focused on major or individual giving.
• Demonstrated success acquiring new major donors rather than primarily managing inherited portfolios, with the ability to explain how relationships were personally sourced, cultivated, and closed.
• Proven experience personally closing gifts at the six-figure level, with seven-figure fundraising experience or a credible path to achieving it.
• Experience building a major gifts pipeline from a limited prospect base, including prospect identification, qualification, moves management, and portfolio development.
• Demonstrated experience managing, developing, and coaching frontline fundraisers, with evidence of improved team performance.
• Strong command of CRM-driven pipeline management and data-informed portfolio decisions; Salesforce NPSP experience is preferred.
• Ability to build trust and communicate effectively with high-net-worth individuals, executives, Board members, and other sophisticated stakeholders.
• Strong strategic judgment, relationship-building skills, and the ability to move prospects from initial engagement through major gift solicitation.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to connect donor motivations to measurable program and policy impact.
• Genuine interest in work focused on immigration, economic mobility, workforce inclusion, or related social-impact issues, with the ability to discuss these topics thoughtfully and respectfully.
• Campaign fundraising experience, particularly during a quiet phase, is helpful but not required.
• Existing networks within technology, finance, immigrant-serving philanthropy, or family foundations are advantageous.
• Lived or professional experience related to immigration, resettlement, or workforce development is helpful.
• Candidates are evaluated primarily on demonstrated fundraising results and acquisition experience rather than credentials alone.

Benefits:

• Salary of $135,000–$145,000, depending on experience.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• 160 hours of paid time off.
• 72 hours of sick leave.
• 16 hours of health and wellness time.
• Birthday PTO.
• Organization-wide paid closure from December 24 through January 1.
• 12 weeks of gender-inclusive paid parental leave.
• Dedicated travel and donor cultivation budget.
• Access to prospect research and wealth-screening tools.
• Active support from executive leadership and Board members for donor meetings.
• Remote position within the United States.
• Approximately 30% travel expected.
• Full-time, exempt position.