Director, Major Gifts (Relocation Assistance Available!)

MIT; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

MIT is seeking a Director of Major Gifts to execute the Whitehead Institute’s individual giving program. The successful candidate will manage a personal portfolio of major gift prospects and provide strategic leadership to ensure a high-performing fundraising team.

This role demands extensive fundraising experience and a collaborative approach to achieve institutional goals. Competitive compensation is provided, with pay ranging from $120,000 to $150,000 based on qualifications.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success in securing significant (six-figure+) gifts.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across communications, operations, and leadership teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage a personal portfolio of major gift prospects.
• Oversee implementation of annual and mid-level giving revenue strategy.
• Provide strategic leadership to staff supporting major gift programs.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

## Director, Major Gifts (Relocation Assistance Available!)Applylocations: Cambridge, MAtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted 3 Days Agojob requisition id: JR100595**Classification:**Exempt**Job Family:**Operations**Reports to:**Vice President External Relations**Job Description Summary:**OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES Execute Whitehead Institute’s individual giving program, including major gifts and annual/mid-level giving, with responsibility for managing direct reports, overseeing performance management, and developing a high-performing fundraising team. Focuses on revenue strategy, managing gift officer performance, maintaining disciplined portfolios, and driving measurable growth in individual philanthropy. Maintain a personal portfolio of major gift prospects and ensure consistent cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship practices across the team. Partner closely with Advancement leadership to ensure coordinated, data-informed fundraising aligned with institutional priorities. In partnership with the Vice President, External Relations, and Advancement leadership, contribute to the development of integrated, institution-wide individual giving strategies. Strategy development is collaborative across the Advancement team; help shape and lead implementation of individual giving priorities aligned with institutional goals.**CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES****Major Gift Program Management*** Manage a personal portfolio of major gift prospects.* Oversee full lifecycle (qualification through stewardship) strategies across portfolio.* Manage execution of portfolio size, contact frequency, and pipeline movement.* Conduct/participate in regular portfolio reviews and support moves management discipline.* Support gift officers in donor strategy development, preparation, and execution aligned with institutional priorities.**Annual & Mid-Level Giving Strategy*** Oversee implementation of annual and mid-level giving revenue strategy, including, retention and upgrade efforts, reactivation campaigns, and segmentation priorities.* Set annual revenue targets and track performance against goals.* Partner with Advancement leadership on appeal strategy, messaging, segmentation, deployment, and reporting, ensuring alignment with institutional goals.**Revenue Planning & Performance Management*** Track monthly and quarterly revenue performance.* Maintain accurate forecasting.* Develop annual revenue projections for individual giving.* Work with Operations to monitor and report on pipeline health, closed gifts, and retention and upgrade rates.* Ensure data accuracy and forecasting discipline in partnership with Operations & Analytics.**Team Leadership & Development*** Provide strategic leadership to staff supporting major gift, annual, and mid-level giving programs, including oversight of direct reports.* Drive a high-performance culture through clear goal-setting, metrics, and accountability standards.* Lead, coach, and develop staff in donor strategy, portfolio management, and long-term professional growth.* Oversee performance management, including conducting evaluations, delivering actionable feedback, and supporting career development.* Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and results-oriented team environment aligned with organizational priorities.**Cross-Functional Collaboration*** Partner with Institutional Narrative and Foundation Relations to ensure aligned messaging and funding priorities.* Coordinate with Constituent Engagement and Advancement Operations to support cultivation and stewardship efforts, and ensure accurate portfolios and reporting.* Contribute to advancement-wide planning and reinforce a coordinated, non-siloed approach across teams.**Other duties, as assigned.****REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS*** Bachelor’s degree required.* 10+ years of progressive fundraising experience.* Demonstrated success in securing significant (six-figure+) gifts.* Strong organizational and execution skills.* Clear communicator with strong interpersonal skills.* Ability to collaborate effectively across communications, operations, and leadership teams.**PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS*** Experience in annual and mid-level giving programs* Experience managing fundraising staff.* Experience in higher education, biomedical research, or similarly complex nonprofit environments.* Experience working within CRM-driven portfolio management systems.Whitehead provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the Institute reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, and internal peer equity. This pay range represents base pay only and does not include any other benefits or compensation.* Pay Range Minimum: 120,000* Pay Range Maximum: 150,000