Director, Major Gifts - San Francisco/Bay Area, Seattle or New York (US)

Inside Philanthropy, INC.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Inside Philanthropy, INC. seeks a Director of Major Gifts to spearhead fundraising initiatives and manage donor relationships. This role requires extensive experience in fundraising, with a focus on securing substantial contributions to support global programs. The ideal candidate will possess strong strategic thinking and interpersonal skills, leading a dedicated team while engaging with high-net-worth individuals.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in major gift fundraising.
• Experience managing or coaching frontline fundraisers.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the major gift program focusing on relationship management.
• Directly manage a team of three Major Gift Officers.
• Develop donor strategies in collaboration with colleagues.

Skills

Relationship Building

Fundraising

Strategic Thinking

Donor Engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Location:Bay Area,Seattleor New York

Position Status:Full Time

Salary Level:Starting salary for this role will be from $100,000.00 USD up to $120,000.00 USD annually, commensurate on experience and skillset.

Risk Level:XLevel 3?Level 2?Level 1

(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/orhigh levelof accountability.

Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.

Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary
The mission of the Resource Development (RD) department is to advance the organization’s strategic goals and support our worldwide team by raising flexible funds,profileand influence. The RD team encompasses several dozen dynamic professionals whopossessa wide range of skills. We are gift officers, direct response fundraisers, web developers,marketersand media relations strategists. We are database managers, digital specialists, creative designers,storytellersand teachers. Most of all, we are passionate about Mercy Corps’ mission and believe a better world is possible.

General Position Summary

Positioned within the High Impact Philanthropy department, the Major Gift teamplays a critical role in securing flexible, unrestricted funding to supportMercy Corps’global programs.Reporting to the Senior Director of High Impact Philanthropy, theDirector of Major Giftsleads a team of philanthropy officers and drives strategies to increase major giving across the United States. This role works closely with senior leadership to set ambitious fundraising goals, build revenue projections, and implement best-in-class practices.

A dynamicand strategicfrontline fundraiser,the Director leads byexample—managingapersonalportfolio of donors and prospectscapable of giving$100,000+, whilesettingthe standard for exceptionalrelationship buildingand successful donor engagement. This leader will guide the team in deepening relationships with high-net-worth individuals,identifyingnew opportunities to move donors up the giving pyramid, and driving innovative approaches to pipeline growth and revenue generation.

The Major Gift team is focused on securing unrestricted revenue to support Mercy Corps’ most urgent and strategic needs. As such, the Director must be skilled in articulating Mercy Corps’ global mission and making a compelling case for flexible, unrestricted support. This leader will coach frontline fundraisers on dynamic fundraising approaches—including legacy giving, multi-year commitments, and emerging giving vehicles such as donor-advised funds (DAFs) and cryptocurrency.The position calls fora high levelof social acumen and the ability to move comfortably within the realm ofhigh-net-worthindividuals.

Essential Job Responsibilities

LEADERSHIP

Lead the major gift program with a focus on best-in-class relationship management that deepens donor engagement, builds pipelines, and drives significant revenue growth.

Directly manage a team of three Major Gift Officers. Set annual revenue and performance goals, coach frontline fundraisers,and model effective moves management.

Collaboratewith the Development Operationsteamto provideforecasting,track revenue, and manage movement in and out of the major gift portfolio.

Partner with Donor Servicestobuild a robust donor communications and engagement program that enhances stewardship and retention.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Manage a portfolio of 30-50 donors and prospects capable of giving gifts of $100,000+, with a focus on securing unrestricted funding.

Generate new major gift leads and active prospect discovery in collaboration with the larger Resource Development team. Utilizenetwork mapping,research,engagementsandexecutive travel to growthemajor gift pipeline.This will be approximately 30% of your portfolio.

Set annual goals and develop personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for assigned donors. Prioritize highly personalized touch points, including face-to-face meetings, tailoredcommunicationsand programmatic engagement with Mercy Corps field teams.

Stay abreast of Mercy Corps’ priorities and mission, as well as key issues and trends in the international aid and development community andeffectivelycommunicate these to donors and prospects.

Collaborate with a Senior Account Manager to strategize, accurately track, and measure progress toward financial goals and other KPIs.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective,efficientand relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities thatbenefitMercy Corps as well as themselves.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.

Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.

Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members tosubmitreports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility

Major Gift Officer, East
Major Gift Officer, West
Leadership Giving Officer

Accountability

Reports Directly To:Senior Director, High Impact Philanthropy

Works Directly With:All members of theHigh Impact Philanthropyand Resource Development teams.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design,monitoringand evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

6+yearsofexperience in major gift fundraising, witha strong preference for candidates who have managed or coached frontline fundraisers.

Ability to develop and implement targeted donor strategies in collaboration with colleagues, program staff, and executive leadership.

Demonstrated success in relationship building, donor engagement, and upgrading gifts. Knowledge of how to run a successful major gift program preferred.

Understanding of and interest in Mercy Corps’ mission and/or international development and humanitarianassistance. Experience working for a global organization is a plus.

Knowledge of the philanthropic community inkey cities (Bay Area, Seattle, New York)andsignificant experiencesecuring 5- and 6- figure gifts.

Excellent communicationand presentation skills.

Strong interpersonal skills—empathetic, humble, confident, and persuasive.

Excellent organizational skills, with sharp attention to detail and processes.

Results-driven, highly organized, and able to manage multiple priorities.

Comfortable using CRMs and databases.

A valid driver’s license,abilityand willingness to travel asrequired.

Success Factors

Success in this role hinges on exceptional relationship-building, strategic thinking, and the ability to inspire and lead a high-performing team. The Director must bring strong emotional intelligence, communicate with clarity and confidence, create systems that lead to growth in revenue, and thrive in engaging high-net-worth individuals. A collaborative mindset, innovative approach, and passion for Mercy Corps’ mission are essential to deepening donor connections and driving lasting impact.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position will be based intheBay Area,Seattleor New York

Mercy Corps team membersrepresentthe agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and valuesat all timesand in all in-country venues.

Fostering a diverse and openworkplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective,efficientand relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Efficiency and Effectiveness

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and weremaincommitted to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis.We actively seek outdifferent backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discriminationon the basis ofrace, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals wecome into contact withthrough our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principlesregardingprevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASCand have signed on to theInteragency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere toMercy Corps Code of Conduct Policiesand values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conductelearningcourses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if youwitnessor experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([e-mail]).