Director, Major Gifts & Strategic Fundraising

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 189,000; Full time

Job summary

Classical California, the USC public media initiative, seeks a strategic Director, Major Gifts to lead major and mid-level giving across KUSC and KDFC. You will oversee a team of gift officers, acquire and steward high-net-worth donors, and shape multi-year donor journeys in collaboration with USC Advancement.

This hybrid role requires at least 7 years of fundraising experience, a track record in major gifts, and strong leadership.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of fundraising experience, preferably in public media or the arts.
• At least 3 years of experience in major donor fundraising and stewardship.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and online giving platforms.
• Strong writing, relationship-building, and project management skills.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and data-driven fundraising.
• Ability to travel regularly between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead multi-year strategies for major ($2,500+) and mid-level giving.
• Manage a personal portfolio of top donors and prospects, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Oversee portfolio segmentation, pipeline development, and moves-management practices.
• Lead donor events and experiences across Southern and Northern California.
• Supervise and coach gift officers; set goals and development plans.
• Partner with Development, Marketing, Finance, and USC Advancement on budgets, forecasting, and compliance.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Team leadership

Project management

Written communication

Data-driven decision making

Budgeting/Forecasting

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Salesforce

HubSpot

Online giving platforms

Job description

Classical California, the USC public media initiative, seeks a strategic Director, Major Gifts to lead major and mid-level giving across KUSC and KDFC. You will oversee a team of gift officers, acquire and steward high-net-worth donors, and shape multi-year donor journeys in collaboration with USC Advancement.

This hybrid role requires at least 7 years of fundraising experience, a track record in major gifts, and strong leadership.