Director of Individual & Major Gifts

Director of Individual & Major Gifts

PERFORMANCE PROFILE SOURCE:
Individual Contributor

DEPARTMENT:
Development

REPORTS TO:

Chief Development Officer (CDO)

FLSA Status:
Exempt

WORKER CATEGORY:
Full-Time

EMPLOYMENT FUNCTION:
Professional

The Director of Individual & Major Gifts serves as a strategic front-line fundraiser responsible for developing, implementing, and growing the organization’s individual and major gifts program to secure increased philanthropic support. This leader manages a robust portfolio of high-net-worth individual donors and prospects, leads donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, and designs strategies to advance annual, major, and campaign gifts. In partnership with senior leadership, marketing, and volunteer committees, the Director aligns fundraising strategies with the organization’s mission, ensuring donor engagement, recognition, and measurable impact on organizational goals.

This role often partners cross-functionally and requires strong analytical, communication, and relationship management skills to deliver sustained revenue growth and strategic donor engagement efforts.

• Develop and execute comprehensive individual and major giving strategies that drive revenue growth, expand the donor pipeline, and increase annual and campaign gifts.
• Set ambitious goals and performance metrics; regularly analyze results and refine strategies for donor acquisition, retention, and gift upgrades.
• Partner with leadership, campaigns, volunteer committees, and marketing to align fundraising priorities, donor messaging, and case-for-support materials with organizational objectives.
• Apply advanced project management skills to organize, prioritize, and execute complex fundraising initiatives, ensuring that all donor strategies, campaigns, and stewardship activities are delivered on time, within scope, and drive superior results across multiple projects and deadlines.

• Build, manage, and steward an expanding portfolio of individual and major donors, proactively advancing relationships through personalized outreach, meetings, proposals, and events.
• Design, contribute to, and implement creative donor engagement initiatives such as annual campaigns, giving societies, and donor recognition opportunities.
• Collaborate with and mentor staff, volunteers, or interns supporting donor engagement and research activities.
• Ensure every donor receives a timely, personalized acknowledgment of their gift and is consistently engaged through follow-up communications that highlight the tangible impact of their support, including impact updates, thank-you notes, and invitations to exclusive events, so each donor feels genuinely valued and connected to the organization’s mission.

• Oversee donor tracking, moves management, and progress reporting using established CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce or similar).
• Prepare and present regular reports, dashboards, and revenue forecasts for leadership and team performance scorecard.
• Use data analytics and research to identify prospects, refine cultivation tactics, and prioritize high-impact donor relationships.

• Partner with marketing, campaigns, and events teams to integrate donor experiences into signature fundraising events (galas, golf tournaments, community performances, cultivation gatherings, program tours, etc.).
• Identify opportunities for exclusive donor events and personalized stewardship touchpoints, ensuring every donor interaction reinforces campaign and organizational priorities.

• Collaborate with program, finance, and communications teams to leverage impact data, storytelling, and outcomes for donor proposals and engagement.
• Represent the BGCCF at community, donor, and networking events, serving as a visible ambassador to enhance relationships and organizational reputation.
• Support capital campaigns, planned giving, and legacy giving initiatives in collaboration with internal partners and external advisors.

• Uphold the highest…