Senior Major Gifts Manager

The Senior Major Gifts Manager is a key leadership role responsible for advancing a comprehensive major gifts strategy to secure significant philanthropic investments from individual donors, foundations and legacy planning prospects. This role provides strategic oversight for the major gift’s portfolio, leads high value cultivation and solicitation activity and contributes to organizational revenue growth through sustained relationship development.

In collaboration with the Director, Philanthropy & Development, the Senior Major Gifts Manager oversees the full major gifts lifecycle, mentors staff involved in donor engagement and ensures best practices, metrics and reporting are consistently maintained. The Major Gifts Manager will be reporting to this position.

This position typically works 37.5 hours per week and is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement.

• Truly rewarding work; contribute to lasting, positive change for individuals and our community
• Flexible schedules and a hybrid work arrangement to help our employees manage work and life
• A supportive team environment and opportunities for professional development
• Comprehensive benefits
• Onsite fitness and childcare facilities

• Lead the development, execution and evaluation of the organization's major gifts strategy
• Manage a high-value portfolio of 75–100 major and legacy donors, driving cultivation, solicitation and stewardship to secure multi-year commitments
• Identify and qualify new prospects by leveraging research tools, wealth screening and network relationships
• Develop tailored donor engagement plans, including planned giving approaches (DAFs, wills, endowments, legacy campaigns)
• Set and monitor annual revenue targets, forecasting and pipeline development
• Serve as a senior relationship manager for top-tier donors and prospects, ensuring exceptional stewardship and retention
• Partner with the Donor Relations and Stewardship Officer to develop stewardship strategies, reporting mechanisms and recognition assets for major donors
• Represent the organization at donor meetings, community events and strategic philanthropic presentations
• Provide guidance and informal leadership to philanthropy team members involved in mid-level giving, donor engagement, or prospect research
• Support the Director in building a culture of philanthropy across teams, ensuring alignment of messaging and donor experience
• Collaborate with Communications, Marketing, Programs, and Finance to create compelling cases for support, impact reporting and campaign materials
• Conduct prospect analysis and prepare briefing notes, strategy documents, and donor profiles
• Track and report on revenue, pipeline health, activity metrics and donor movement through CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge NXT)
• Contribute to special events and appeals, capital campaigns and other strategic initiatives

• Post-secondary education from a recognized university or college
• Preferred Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) designation (or enrollment in a program leading to this designation)
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in major and legacy gifts
• Proven experience managing a portfolio of high-value donors and securing major and/or legacy gifts of $50,000+
• Experience leading, mentoring, or supporting staff and/or volunteers in a fundraising environment

• Strategic thinker with strong relationship building skills and a donor centric mindset
• Advanced ability to develop and execute complex solicitation strategies
• Strong negotiation, communication and presentation abilities
• Proficiency with donor management systems and Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point
• High level of professionalism, discretion and ability to manage confidential information

We encourage candidates to apply even if they do not meet every qualification listed, as we value transferable skills, lived experience, and a willingness to grow.

If you want to change lives, we want to hear from you.

Deadline: until a suitable candidate is found.

Apply today by submitting your resume, cover letter, and salary expectations.

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YW Calgary is committed to providing an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace where all employees, volunteers and clients feel valued and respected, whatever their race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, ancestry, or place of origin.