Director of Major Gifts

American Jewish World Service (AJWS); San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Health benefits

401(k) match

Flexible Spending Account

Commuter Benefits

Workplace flexibility

Job summary

AJWS's Development Division is seeking a Director of Major Gifts to lead a portfolio of high-level donors and supervise a team of three fundraisers. Reporting to AVP for Development, you will collaborate with executives to expand and diversify the donor base and drive revenue growth.

The role requires a strategic, collaborative approach, strong donor relations, and the ability to travel nationally and internationally, with a focus on securing six- to seven-figure gifts and building long-term

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7 years of major gifts experience.
• Experience managing development professionals and maintaining strong relationships internally and externally.
• Proven success securing major gifts from individuals through face-to-face solicitation.
• Track record of creating and implementing strategic fundraising initiatives, resulting in significant revenue growth.
• Proven ability to articulate funding needs clearly, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally as needed.
• Experience working effectively with senior leaders, board members and high-level donors.
• Understanding of fundraising for human rights or international causes preferred

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of high-level donors and prospects.
• Establish trust, maintain strong relationships, and develop partnerships with AJWS stakeholders.
• Speak and write articulately about AJWS's mission, policies, culture, values, history, and programs.
• Manage and motivate a team of major gifts fundraisers composed of two Associate Directors, Major Gifts, and one Senior Development Officer, Major Gifts, ensuring accountability for meeting fundraising goals.
• Develop clear short-term and long-range fundraising plans for themselves, and the major gifts team.
• Identify prospects, funding opportunities, and strategies to achieve annual and longer-term development goals
• In collaboration with development operations, manage the major gifts revenue budget and review regular reports tracking progress.
• Maintain best fundraising and operational practices, camaraderie, shared accountability, and clearly defined goals, as well as increase the effectiveness and cohesion of the major gifts team.
• Stay abreast of philanthropic, economic, social, and community trends related to AJWS.

Skills

Major gifts

Team leadership

Fundraising strategy

Donor relations

Communication writing

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Development Division at AJWS is responsible for raising the revenue that supports AJWS's grantmaking and advocacy. The Division includes Institutional Giving, Major Gifts and Planned Giving, Development Operations, and Donor Engagement. Members of the Division partner closely with Communications and Marketing, Programs, Finance and Administration, and People and Culture teams, as well as the Executive Office and Board of Trustees, instilling a culture of philanthropy across the organization. The Major Gifts team is responsible for cultivating, stewarding, and soliciting donors at the $10K+ level. Every team member of the Development Division contributes to achieving our annual fundraising goal.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Development, the Director of Major Gifts will manage a portfolio of high-level donors and supervise a team of three major gifts fundraisers. Serving as a member of the Development Division’s senior leadership team, this role will collaborate closely with the VP and AVP for Development and other divisional directors on planning, overseeing, and executing a major gifts program for AJWS. The Director will partner closely with the Executive Office, Board of Trustees, and key stakeholders to expand and diversify the donor base and drive significant revenue growth.

Role Overview

Portfolio Management & Donor Relations (40%):

• Manage a portfolio of high-level individual donors and prospects.
• Establish trust, maintain strong relationships, and develop partnerships with AJWS stakeholders.
• Speak and write articulately about AJWS's mission, policies, culture, values, history, and programs.
• Manage and motivate a team of major gifts fundraisers composed of two (2) Associate Directors, Major Gifts, and one (1) Senior Development Officer, Major Gifts, ensuring accountability for meeting fundraising goals.
• Develop clear short-term and long-range fundraising plans for themselves, and the major gifts team.
• Successfully identify prospects, funding opportunities, and strategies to achieve annual and longer-term development goals
• In collaboration with development operations, manage the major gifts revenue budget and review regular reports tracking progress.
• Maintain best fundraising and operational practices, camaraderie, shared accountability, and clearly defined goals, as well as increase the effectiveness and cohesion of the major gifts team.
• Stay abreast of philanthropic, economic, social, and community trends related to AJWS.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7 years of successful major gifts experience or related experience with complex and dynamic mission-driven non-profit organizations.
• Significant experience managing and motivating development professionals and maintaining strong relationships internally and externally.
• Demonstration of sophisticated, collaborative, and strategic approach to major gift fundraising and proven success securing major gifts from individuals through face -to-face solicitation.
• Track record of creating and implementing strategic fundraising initiatives, resulting in significant revenue growth.
• Proven ability to conceptualize and describe funding needs, both verbally and in writing, in a way that is compelling.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally as needed.
• Experience working effectively and respectfully with senior leaders, including the President, board members and high-level donors.
• Understanding of fundraising for human rights or international causes preferred

Compensation and Benefits

• AJWS is committed to a salary framework that aligns with our culture and values. The

compensation range reflected is in alignment with our framework and individual pay

decisions will vary based on skills and experience while still allowing for growth.

• Paid Time Off: 15-22 Federal and religious holidays off each year in addition to generous

vacation and sick days;

• Full health benefits coverage with minimal contribution by employees;
• 403(b): 4.75% company match (Safe Harbor);
• Flexible Spending Account and Commuter Benefits;
• Workplace flexibility and generous leave policy.