Senior Principal, Principal Gifts- Remote

American Cancer Society; Boston (MA); Remote; USD 190,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

American Cancer Society is seeking a Senior Principal Gifts fundraiser to secure $5M+ gifts, partnering with leadership and volunteers to drive transformational philanthropy. This remote role supports strategic donor engagement across the United States, leveraging cases for support and customized solicitation strategies.

Ideal candidates will have 10+ years in major gifts, CFRE preferred, and a track record of closing seven- or eight-figure gifts, with strong relationship-building and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred.
• CFRE certification preferred.
• 10+ years of fundraising experience with a track record of 7–8 figure gifts.
• Experience building donor pipelines and securing major gifts.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 15–20 high-net-worth individuals and foundations for $5M+ gifts.
• Partner with ACS leadership to align priorities and craft donor-centered strategies.
• Develop cases for support, funding proposals, and stewardship materials.
• Engage senior leadership and volunteers to cultivate and solicit transformational gifts.
• Utilize donor management systems (e.g. Salesforce) to track performance against KPIs.

Skills

Donor relationships

Major gifts

Fundraising strategy

CRM systems

Proposal writing

Stakeholder leadership

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

CFRE certification

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

At the American Cancer Society, we're working to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Our employees and 1.3 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We are a culture comprised of diverse backgrounds and experience, to better serve our communities.

The people who work at the American Cancer Society focus their diverse talents on our lifesaving mission. It is a calling. And the people who answer it are fulfilled.

The Senior Principal, Principal Gifts serves as a senior fundraiser with a focus on securing gifts at the $5M+ level. This position aligns organizational strengths and donor passions in ways that ignite transformational philanthropy, helping donors achieve their philanthropic goals while advancing the ACS vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Designed to be entrepreneurial and collaborative, this role works with leadership, volunteers, and staff across the organization to create and implement personalized donor strategies that lead to long‑term partnerships and deep impact investment.

Senior Principals engage with ACS Inc. and ACS CAN board members, members of the ACS Executive Team and other ACS mission staff and are expected to work with these high‑level stakeholders to identify new macro‑level prospects, deepen donor engagement and facilitate successful macro‑level solicitations. In addition, Senior Principals work with assigned department leaders to develop, expand, and refine cases for support, supporting materials and strategy documents for use by the Principal and Foundation Relations Teams, as well as by other fundraisers in the field. Finally, all Senior Principals are expected to understand and execute upon all phases of the ACS All in Against Cancer Campaign and special initiatives as requested by the CEO, CDO and other ACS senior leaders.

Remote role based anywhere in the United States

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Strategic Portfolio Management and Fundraising (60%) Manage a portfolio of 15-20 high‑net‑worth individuals and private foundations, and select corporations to qualify, cultivate, solicit, close, and steward principal gifts of $5M+.
• Enterprise Alignment and Collaboration (20%) Partner across ACS leadership and enterprise teams to stay aligned on mission priorities and emerging opportunities. Translate organizational strategy into compelling, donor‑centered engagement and solicitation strategies.
• Resource Development(5%) Assist in the development of principal giving materials and resources, including cases for support, funding proposals, and stewardship strategies that elevate consistency, clarity, and impact of donor engagement.
• Executive Engagement(5%) Engage senior leadership, national board members and key volunteers to strengthen donor relationships and support cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of transformational gifts.
• Strategy & Metrics: (10%) Utilize donor management systems (e.g. Salesforce) to track, measure, and analyze performance against KPIs.

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum Degree Required: Bachelor's Degree
• Preferred Degree: Master's Degree
• Certificate(s) or License(s): Preferred CFRE
• Years of experience: At least 10 years of professional fundraising experience, with a proven track record in successfully closing 7 and 8-figure gifts.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY:

• Demonstrated success in building a donor pipeline and securing major or principal gifts ($1M - $10M+)
• Exceptional ability to build and sustain high‑trust relationships with ultra-high‑net‑worth individuals, family foundations, and institutional partners
• Experience curating personalized cultivation and stewardship strategies for principal giving donors
• Proven experience working in highly matrixed environments, with the ability to influence across teams, functions, and senior leadership without direct authority.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft high‑impact proposals, briefings, and donor narratives.
• Excellent interpersonal skills discretion and professionalism with the ability to manage sensitive relationships and confidential information.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and, at times, project management tools.
• Actively seeks opportunities to learn and demonstrates knowledge of relevant landscapes (social, political, fundraising, etc.) with an ability to apply to this work.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Travel, including evening and weekend work required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Work setting is in typicalofficeand/or home‑basedoffice.

The starting rate is $190,000 to $225,000. The final candidate's relevant experience/skills will be considered before an offer is extended. Actual starting pay will vary based on non‑discriminatory factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, skills, specialty, and education.

ACS provides staff a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills. Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits. We are a proud equal opportunity employer.