Senior Director of Major Gift and Capital Giving

Catholic Charities Boston; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Catholic Charities Boston seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven Senior Director of Major Gift and Capital Giving to lead multi-year fundraising strategies and expand major and leadership giving. You will personally manage a portfolio of high-net-worth donors and collaborate with a team to drive transformational philanthropy.

This senior leadership role requires strategic thinking, donor cultivation, and the ability to guide campaigns and long-term engagement while partnering with Board members

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with 7+ years of fundraising or development experience.
• Proven success managing a portfolio of major and high-net-worth donors.
• Experience securing major, multi-year, and transformational gifts.
• Experience across multiple fundraising streams including annual, capital, planned giving, and events.
• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leadership to design and implement multi-year strategies to grow major, leadership, and transformational giving.
• Foster a results-oriented, collaborative team culture with high-level donor engagement.
• Provide strategic direction to grow the major gifts portfolio and align plans with priorities.
• Lead major giving initiatives including capital campaigns, project-based fundraising, and endowment growth.
• Personally manage and grow a portfolio of high-net-worth donors through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop long-term engagement plans for existing and prospective donors and track progress.

Skills

Donor relations

Major gifts

Strategic fundraising

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

About Us

Catholic Charities Boston is a leading provider of comprehensive emergency assistance and long-term economic empowerment for families and individuals. Rooted in a faith mission, we welcome people regardless of faith and circumstance. We address key issues facing our communities, providing food, shelter, resources, affordable childcare, and advocacy while creating pathways to job and housing security. Our goal is to break the cycle of poverty by helping individuals and families overcome immediate crises and build sustainable futures.

https://www.ccab.org

Catholic Charities is seeking a dynamic, relationship-driven fundraising leader to serve as Senior Director of Major Gift and Capital Giving. This is a highly visible, frontline leadership role for an experienced development professional who is passionate about advancing mission-driven work and inspiring transformational philanthropy. This position will play a critical role in expanding major and leadership giving to support Catholic Charities’ vital social services and educational programs. This position is ideal for a strategic thinker and collaborative leader with a proven track record in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-net-worth individuals and transformational donors. The Senior Director will help shape and execute ambitious multi-year fundraising strategies while personally managing a portfolio of high-capacity donors. This is an outstanding opportunity for a seasoned fundraiser who is ready to lead at a higher strategic level while remaining deeply engaged in donor relationships.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Senior Vice President for Advancement to design and implement multi-year strategies to significantly grow major, leadership, and transformational giving.


• Work with Advancement team members to foster a results-oriented, collaborative team culture focused on high-level and personalized donor engagement.


• Provide strategic direction to elevate and expand the major gifts portfolio, aligning fundraising plans with Catholic Charities’ organizational priorities.


• Lead major giving initiatives, including capital campaigns, project-based fundraising, annual giving strategies, and endowment growth.


• Personally manage and grow a portfolio of high-net-worth donors and prospects through personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.


• Develop long-term engagement plans for existing and prospective donors, continuously assessing progress and outcomes.


• Lead and grow the current team of three fundraisers to create relationships and secure major gifts from existing donors and prospects.


• Set standards and goals for team visits, outreach, meetings, and tours of programs.


• Secure increased annual commitments and transformational investments in alignment with agency funding priorities.


• Implement a best-in-class donor stewardship and recognition program to ensure meaningful donor engagement and retention.


• Work closely with Board members, senior leadership, program leaders, and advisory groups to identify, cultivate, and solicit key donor prospects.


• Identify and research prospects for major and transformational gifts, including potential board and leadership candidates.


• Foster a collaborative, results-oriented culture across the Advancement team, integrating strategies across individual giving programs.


• Mentor and support other Advancement team members.


• Serve as a compelling ambassador for Catholic Charities, clearly and passionately communicating our mission, impact, and funding priorities.


• Partner with Advancement and Communications teams to develop high-quality donor materials, proposals, reports, and briefing documents.


• Represent Catholic Charities at high-profile events and within the broader nonprofit and philanthropic community to expand visibility and support.


• Track and analyze portfolio performance, providing insights and reporting on progress toward fundraising goals.


• Work is performed in a Catholic Charities office and remotely with driving required to attend appointments and meetings.


• In-person attendance at internal and external events, training and meetings.


• Occasional evening and weekend work are required for donor meetings and events.


• Local travel for donor visits, meetings, and organizational events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years of progressive experience in fundraising or development.


• Successfully managed a team of 3 or more employees. Demonstrated success managing a portfolio of major and high-net-worth donors.


• Proven ability to secure major, multi-year, and transformational gifts.


• Experience across multiple fundraising streams, including annual, capital, planned giving, and events.


• Exceptional relationship building, communication, and presentation skills.


• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with a results-oriented mindset.


• High emotional intelligence, professionalism, and discretion.


• Proficiency with donor CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge preferred) and Microsoft Office tools.


• Experience working closely with boards and senior leadership.


• Passion for mission-driven work and commitment to Catholic Charities’ mission of serving people of all faiths.


• Always maintain professional and confidential boundaries


• Valid Massachusetts driver’s license and reliable transportation for local travel.


• Occasional evening and weekend work are required for donor meetings and events.