Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving

The client seeks a dedicated Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving to lead major donor fundraising and planned giving efforts in support of the organization’s mission. In this role, you will strategically cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donors, aligning philanthropic priorities with broader strategic goals. You will work to strengthen relationships with stakeholders and build durable, partnership-oriented engagement. You will assist in identifying, cultivating, and steward major gift prospects (gifts of $25,000-plus) and manage a portfolio through regular contact and personalized engagement strategies. The role also includes planning and coordinating donor engagement opportunities such as site visits, tours, and recognition events, with a hospitality-centered approach. You will prepare timely acknowledgments, reports, and communications for major gift donors while ensuring donor experiences are handled professionally and with strong interpersonal skills. You will provide project management oversight for donor-related facility initiatives and campus development opportunities, collaborating with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment between donor expectations and institutional needs. Responsibilities include drafting high-quality reports, proposals, and presentation materials for donors, leadership, and board members, and maintaining accurate records in donor management systems. The role requires a bachelor’s degree (an advanced degree may be preferred), along with three to five years of professional experience in fundraising, project management, commercial development, or related fields; experience with donor database systems is preferred, and strong written and oral communication, relationship-building, and multi-priority coordination skills are essential.