Senior Major Gifts Director — Hybrid

Scripps Research; Mountain House (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer contributed retirement plan

Health and welfare plans

Flexible spending accounts

Vacation and sick leave

Free on-site parking

Job summary

Scripps Research, a world-leading biomedical research institute in La Jolla, California, seeks a strategic Major Gifts Director to lead a portfolio of high-capacity donors and to secure seven-figure gifts. Reporting to the Executive Director of Development, you will shape gift strategies and engage senior leaders to advance institutional priorities.

This on-site role manages 50–75 prospects, develops transformational gift strategies, and collaborates with Gift Planning, Legal and Finance to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of major gift fundraising experience.
• Proven track record closing gifts of $1M+.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication.
• Ability to collaborate with senior leadership, faculty and donors.
• Experience with donor databases and CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge).
• Willingness to travel; on-campus role with 4 days on-site and 1 day remote.

Responsibilities

• Personally cultivate, solicit and close gifts of $1 million or more, including complex, multi-year commitments.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 50-75 major and principal gift prospects and donors with giving capacity of $1 million or more, securing philanthropic gifts that advance Scripps Research's strategic initiatives, research priorities, and institutional objectives.
• Develop and execute highly personalized, long-term engagement and solicitation strategies including multi-year commitments, naming opportunities, blended or structured gifts, in collaboration with institutional leadership and aligned with donor interests along with institutional priorities.
• Advance prospects through all stages of the fundraising cycle, from discovery and qualification through solicitation and stewardship.
• Identify and qualify new prospects through proactive outreach, research, referrals and participation in institutional events.
• Prepare proposals and coordinate with Gift Planning, Legal and Finance on gift agreements, pledge documentation and gift acceptance.
• Facilitate high-level meetings, site visits, and donor experiences.
• Support leadership engagement efforts by preparing briefing materials, talking points, and strategic guidance for donor meetings.
• Work closely with Advancement colleagues (prospect research, stewardship, gift planning, etc.) to advance the assigned portfolio and department objectives.
• Ensure timely and accurate documentation of prospect strategies, interactions, and outcomes in the institution’s database.
• Meet or exceed annual fundraising goals and performance metrics related to principal gift activity, prospect movement, and donor engagement.
• Maintain a proactive and strategic approach to pipeline development and portfolio management.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Donor relationship management

Strategic thinking

Communication

CRM Raiser's Edge

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Scripps Research, a world-leading biomedical research institute in La Jolla, California, seeks a strategic Major Gifts Director to lead a portfolio of high-capacity donors and to secure seven-figure gifts. Reporting to the Executive Director of Development, you will shape gift strategies and engage senior leaders to advance institutional priorities.

This on-site role manages 50–75 prospects, develops transformational gift strategies, and collaborates with Gift Planning, Legal and Finance to