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

Mercy Corps; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Director of Major Gifts to lead their fundraising efforts. This role is crucial for securing unrestricted funding to support vital global programs. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional relationship-building skills, a strategic mindset, and a passion for philanthropic work. As a leader, you will manage a team of fundraising professionals, engage with high-net-worth donors, and implement innovative strategies to enhance donor relationships. Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to making a significant impact in communities worldwide and drive the mission forward with your expertise in major gift fundraising.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in major gift fundraising preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills essential.
• Ability to manage and coach frontline fundraisers.

Responsibilities

• Lead major gift program and manage a team of Major Gift Officers.
• Build and maintain relationships with high-net-worth individuals.
• Develop personalized donor strategies and stewardship plans.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Emotional intelligence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Experience in international development

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Location:

Bay Area, Seattle or New York

Position Status:

Full Time

Salary Level:

Starting salary for this role will be from $90,000.00 USD up to $120,000.00 USD annually, commensurate on experience and skillset.

Risk Level:

Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of 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.

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, profile and influence. The RD team encompasses several dozen dynamic professionals who possess a wide range of skills. We are gift officers, direct response fundraisers, web developers, marketers and media relations strategists. 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 team plays a critical role in securing flexible, unrestricted funding to support Mercy Corps’ global programs. Reporting to the Senior Director of High Impact Philanthropy, the Director of Major Gifts leads 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 dynamic and strategic frontline fundraiser, the Director leads by example — managing a personal portfolio of donors and prospects capable of giving $100,000+, while setting the standard for exceptional relationship building and successful donor engagement. This leader will guide the team in deepening relationships with high-net-worth individuals, identifying new 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 for a high level of social acumen and the ability to move comfortably within the realm of high-net-worth individuals.

Essential Job Responsibilities

LEADERSHIP

1. 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.
2. Directly manage a team of three Major Gift Officers. Set annual revenue and performance goals, coach frontline fundraisers, and model effective moves management.
3. Collaborate with the Development Operations team to provide forecasting, track revenue, and manage movement in and out of the major gift portfolio.
4. Partner with Donor Services to build a robust donor communications and engagement program that enhances stewardship and retention.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

1. Manage a portfolio of 30-50 donors and prospects capable of giving gifts of $100,000+, with a focus on securing unrestricted funding.
2. Generate new major gift leads and active prospect discovery in collaboration with the larger Resource Development team. Utilize network mapping, research, engagements and executive travel to grow the major gift pipeline. This will be approximately 30% of your portfolio.
3. Set annual goals and develop personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for assigned donors. Prioritize highly personalized touch points, including face-to-face meetings, tailored communications and programmatic engagement with Mercy Corps field teams.
4. Stay abreast of Mercy Corps’ priorities and mission, as well as key issues and trends in the international aid and development community and effectively communicate these to donors and prospects.
5. 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, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
2. Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
3. Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports 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 the High Impact Philanthropy and 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, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

1. 6+ years of experience in major gift fundraising, with a strong preference for candidates who have managed or coached frontline fundraisers.
2. Ability to develop and implement targeted donor strategies in collaboration with colleagues, program staff, and executive leadership.
3. Demonstrated success in relationship building, donor engagement, and upgrading gifts. Knowledge of how to run a successful major gift program preferred.
4. Understanding of and interest in Mercy Corps’ mission and/or international development and humanitarian assistance. Experience working for a global organization is a plus.
5. Knowledge of the philanthropic community in key cities (Bay Area, Seattle, New York) and significant experience securing 5- and 6- figure gifts.
6. Excellent communication and presentation skills.
7. Strong interpersonal skills—empathetic, humble, confident, and persuasive.
8. Excellent organizational skills, with sharp attention to detail and processes.
9. Results-driven, highly organized, and able to manage multiple priorities.
10. Comfortable using CRMs and databases.
11. A valid driver’s license, ability and willingness to travel as required.

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 in the Bay Area, Seattle or New York. Mercy Corps team members represent the 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 values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace 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, efficient and 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 we remain committed 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 out different 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 discrimination on the basis of race, 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 we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency 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 to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

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