Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Leadership Giving

Breakthrough T1D; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 2,500,000 - 5,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

403(b) retirement plan

Flexible spending and commuter benefit

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Performance-based bonuses

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Breakthrough T1D is seeking a Senior Philanthropic Advisor (SPA), Leadership Giving, to manage a high-impact portfolio and lead $1M+ donor strategies. You will collaborate with the AVP to develop and advance complex gift opportunities while expanding the organization’s major gift program in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

The role requires strong relationship-building, strategic thinking, and the ability to travel up to 40%.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of major gift fundraising experience with demonstrated success closing gifts of $500,000+.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute principal gift strategies ($1M+).

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 100–125 donors and prospects in major gifts ($100K–$1M) and principal gifts ($1M+).
• Execute $100K–$500K gift strategies independently; manage $500K–$1M with AVP input.
• Develop and execute $1M+ gift strategies in partnership with the AVP.
• Achieve annual personal revenue goals (typical $2.5M–$3M initially; grow to $3M–$5M).
• Maintain a robust pipeline with 10–15 qualified $1M+ prospects at all times.
• Collaborate with AVP and participate in bi-weekly portfolio reviews.
• Lead multi-year donor relationships with high-net-worth individuals and families.
• Coordinate with Chapter Executives and philanthropic roles in field and national staff.
• Drive Planned Giving conversations within the portfolio and integrate blended gifts when appropriate.
• Promote CRM discipline and data-driven portfolio management across the team.
• Support strategic planning and leverage partners and volunteers to advance donor opportunities.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Relationship management

CRM Salesforce

Public speaking

Travel up to 40%

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

CFRE preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

As the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, Breakthrough T1D helps make everyday life with T1D better while driving toward cures. We invest in the most promising research to turn ideas into life-changing therapies and devices. We work with government, regulatory officials, and insurance companies to address issues that impact the T1D community - breaking through barriers that limit access to care worldwide. We provide resources and guidance that makes it easier to live and thrive with T1D. This is more than a moment - we're empowering a movement for the T1D community. Share your support and help educate and empower individuals facing type 1 diabetes.Our mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life changing breakthroughs to treat, prevent and ultimately, cure T1D and its complications. Always, we are guided by a single purpose: As we drive towards curing type 1 diabetes, we help make everyday life better for the people who face it .The Senior Philanthropic Advisor (SPA), Leadership Giving is a senior major gift officer who manages a mixed major and principal gift portfolio, operating with significant independence while engaging the AVP as a strategic thought partner on complex $1M+ gift strategies. The SPA is developing toward principal gift leadership and is expected to have a growing pipeline of $1M+ prospects — not just the capacity to solicit them, but the relationship depth and strategic sophistication to navigate multi-cycle, multi-partner cultivation processes.The SPA differs from the Philanthropic Advisor (PA) in independence of execution, gift complexity, revenue expectation, and depth of $1M pipeline development. The SPA does proactively initiate support and feedback from their AVP bringing fully formed strategy proposals to the AVP for partnership and refinement. The AVP is engaged as a thought-partner on $1M+ donor relationships.Core ResponsibilitiesPortfolio Management & Fundraising· Manage a portfolio of 100–125 donors and prospects spanning major gift ($100K–$1M) and principal gift ($1M+) capacity.· Execute all $100K–$500K gift strategies independently; manage $500K–$1M solicitations with AVP input as needed.· Develop and execute $1M+ gift strategies in active partnership with the AVP — the AVP should co-own all $1M+ strategy decisions.· Achieve annual personal revenue goal as assigned based on the potential of the portfolio. (Typically $2.5M-$3M in first year with growth to$3M–$5M).· Ensure consistent pipeline growth: at minimum 10–15 qualified $1M+ prospects in active cultivation at all times.AVP Partnership & Collaboration· Engage the AVP proactively and consistently as a thought partner on $1M+ strategies — bring draft strategy documents, relationship context, and specific decision points to the conversation.· Participate in bi-weekly portfolio review with AVP ensuring AVP visibility to principal gift opportunities.· Model the escalation culture for PA colleagues by demonstrating appropriate collaboration and involved with AVP for key donor opportunities.· Request AVP co-attendance or support at key $1M+ solicitation meetings rather than conducting these independently.Relationship Management· Build and sustain complex, multi-year relationships with high-net-worth individuals and families capable of $100K–$5M+ gifts.· Navigate multi-stakeholder donor environments (family foundations, advisor relationships, board-engaged donors) with increasing independence.· Partner with chapter Territory Executives and Philanthropic Engagement roles in the field, volunteer leaders, and national staff to develop and execute comprehensive donor strategies.· Lead Planned Giving conversations within the portfolio; develop blended gift strategies where appropriate. Ensure engagement of the AVP, Planned Giving in more complex planned gift opportunities.· Identify donors who have connectivity to or are decision makers for corporate prospects; partner appropriately with the Corporate Development team.Team Contribution & Peer Mentoring· Informally share expertise and strategy insights with colleagues; serve as a resource when senior perspective is helpful.· Contribute to team strategy sessions and portfolio review meetings as a senior voice and active participant.· Model CRM discipline and data-driven portfolio management for the broader team.Mission & Operations· Maintain deep expertise in Breakthrough T1D's mission, research portfolio, and investment priorities; communicate with authority to sophisticated donors and advisors.· Maintain accurate, timely CRM documentation; use portfolio analytics to inform strategy and report pipeline health to the AVP.· Participate in strategic planning processes as a senior contributor to regional and national pipeline development.· While providing proper visibility to the AVP, identify opportunities to leverage mission partners, campaign cabinet members and other key volunteers in the fundraising process.Qualifications· Minimum 8 years of major gift fundraising experience with demonstrated success closing gifts of $500,000+.· Experience in a matrixed, chapter-based organization or similarly complex structure preferred.· Demonstrated ability to develop and execute principal gift strategies ($1M+), with evidence of a qualified $1M+ pipeline.· Proactive, collaborative working style; models and welcomes active partnership with senior leadership on complex accounts.· Strong relationship management skills with donors, advisors, volunteers, and cross-functional staff.· Ability to develop and present complex, multi-asset gift strategies (outright, planned, blended).· Proficiency in Salesforce or comparable CRM; strong data discipline and analytical approach to portfolio management.· Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.· Ability to travel up to 40% of the time, including occasional evenings and weekends.· Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience ; advanced degree or CFRE preferred.Target Salary - $140k - $170kEssential Functions:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and infrequently up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.Benefits:Breakthrough T1D offers competitive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 403(b) retirement plan, voluntary benefits, flexible spending and commuter benefit accounts, an employee assistance program (EAP), life and disability insurance, performance-based bonuses, and generous paid time off. Benefits may vary by job level and full time or part time status.Additional information:Requests for medical, religious, and other exemptions will be considered on an individual basis. Breakthrough T1D will comply with all federal, state, and local laws.Breakthrough T1D supports a diverse and inclusive workforce.Breakthrough T1D is an Equal Opportunity Employer.All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.