Assistant Director, Major Gifts

NADAP Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

NADAP is seeking an Assistant Director of Major Gifts to shape its individual philanthropy strategy, expand relationships with high-net-worth individuals and foundations, and increase unrestricted support. You will work closely with the CEO and Senior Director of Development to create new opportunities and build systems for sustainable fundraising growth.

As a strategic fundraiser, you will cultivate, solicit, and steward a diverse donor base, manage priority prospects, and collaborate on

Qualifications

• 7+ years of fundraising experience with major gifts leadership.
• Proven success securing five- and six-figure gifts and building major gifts programs.
• Experience partnering with CEOs, Boards, and volunteers.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and strategic planning skills.
• Experience with fundraising CRMs and data-driven portfolio management.
• Comfort incorporating AI-enabled research, writing, analytics into workflows.
• Knowledge of the New York philanthropic community preferred.
• Willing to attend occasional night/weekend events.
• Willing to work a hybrid schedule with up to 2 remote days/week.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute NADAP's multi-year major gifts strategy.
• Manage a portfolio of 100–150 high-capacity prospects.
• Lead cultivation, solicitation, stewardship for $1,000–$100,000+ gifts.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on complex solicitations and transformational gifts.
• Prepare donor briefs, proposals, stewardship plans, and events.
• Use CRM for moves management, forecasting, and donor segmentation.
• Evaluate digital fundraising technologies to improve donor engagement.
• Produce donor proposals, impact reports, stewardship materials, and campaign messaging with teams.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Major gifts leadership

Relationship building

Communication

AI-enabled fundraising

CRM & data analytics

Portfolio management

Tools

EveryAction

Job description

Description

Position Summary

This is an opportunity to build a major gifts program. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development and working in close partnership with the CEO, the Assistant Director of Major Gifts will help shape NADAP's individual philanthropy strategy, expand relationships with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and philanthropic advisors, and meaningfully increase unrestricted support. The successful candidate will be a strategic fundraiser who enjoys creating new opportunities, building systems, and collaborating with executive leadership. While an existing donor network is welcome, equal value will be placed on candidates with a demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new philanthropic relationships.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
• While this is an individual contributor role, this position will help develop and execute NADAP's multi-year major gifts strategy.
• Build a sustainable pipeline capable of generating $500,000+ annually in unrestricted individual giving over time.
• Identify new philanthropic markets, family foundations, donor-advised fund opportunities, and leadership giving prospects.
• Major Gift Fundraising
• Personally manage a portfolio of approximately 100–150 high-capacity prospects.
• Lead cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and multi-year giving strategies for gifts of $1,000–$100,000+.
• Partner with executive leadership on complex solicitations and transformational gifts.
• Board & Executive Engagement
• Develop engagement strategies leveraging the Board, Advisory Board, CEO, and senior leadership.
• Prepare donor briefings, proposals, stewardship plans, and cultivation events.
• Data, Technology & AI
• Use Every Action (or similar CRM) to manage moves management, forecasting, reporting, and donor segmentation.
• Leverage AI and modern fundraising technology to enhance prospect research, wealth intelligence, donor communications, portfolio optimization, briefing preparation, and strategic decision-making while maintaining thoughtful human relationship management.
• Evaluate emerging digital marketing and fundraising technologies that improve productivity and donor engagement.
• Communications
• In collaboration with the Senior Director of Development, marketing, and our partners and influencers, produce compelling donor proposals, impact reports, stewardship materials, and campaign messaging.

Salary: $115,000–$125,000, with annual performance bonus up to $10,000

Company Overview

Since 1971, NADAP has helped New Yorkers overcome barriers to health, employment, recovery, and economic stability. Serving over 35,000 individuals annually across New York State, NADAP delivers workforce development, care management, health insurance enrollment, behavioral health navigation, and other services that address the social determinants of health. As the organization continues to diversify beyond its historic government funding base, philanthropy is becoming an increasingly important driver of innovation, growth, and long‑term sustainability.

Program Overview

This is an opportunity to build a major gifts program. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development and working in close partnership with the CEO, the Assistant Director of Major Gifts will help shape NADAP's individual philanthropy strategy, expand relationships with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and philanthropic advisors, and meaningfully increase unrestricted support. The successful candidate will be a strategic fundraiser who enjoys creating new opportunities, building systems, and collaborating with executive leadership. While an existing donor network is welcome, equal value will be placed on candidates with a demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new philanthropic relationships.

Requirements

• 7+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience; major gifts leadership preferred.
• Demonstrated success securing five- and six-figure gifts and building or expanding major gifts programs.
• Experience partnering with CEOs, Boards, and influential volunteers.
• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and strategic planning skills.
• Experience with fundraising CRMs and data-driven portfolio management.
• Comfort integrating AI-enabled research, writing, analytics, and productivity tools into fundraising workflows.
• Knowledge of the New York philanthropic community preferred.
• Passion for advancing health equity, workforce development, recovery, and economic opportunity.
• Able to attend occasional night and weekend events with advance notice.
• Able to work a hybrid schedule; up to 2 remote days/week.