Director of Major Gifts and Family Giving

About the role

The Director of Major Gifts, Individual and Family Giving is a senior fundraising leader responsible for building and leading CCDH’s major gifts program focused on individuals and family foundations.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and oversee a comprehensive major gifts strategy focused on individual and family philanthropy to meet and exceed annual revenue goals.
• Lead, mentor, and expand a team of fundraising professionals, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Manage a personal portfolio of major donors and prospects, leading all stages of donor strategy, cultivation, and solicitation to secure significant multi-year commitments.
• Serve as the primary liaison to program and communications teams, ensuring donor engagement aligns with CCDH’s research, advocacy, and impact initiatives.
• Establish and track measurable goals and metrics for annual fundraising targets and team progress, adjusting strategy as needed.
• Act as an ambassador of CCDH’s mission and values in high-level donor interactions and public engagements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Up to 10 years of progressive fundraising experience in nonprofit organizations, including:
• 5 years of leadership experience managing a team of Major Gift Officers or equivalent.
• Demonstrated personal success leading the cultivation, solicitation, negotiation, and closure of five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts from individuals and family foundations.
• Proven ability to independently drive donor strategy and close complex major gift commitments, rather than serving solely in a supporting or collaborative fundraising role.
• Experience working with mission-driven, policy, advocacy, or research-focused institutions.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and execution expertise, with an ability to meet ambitious goals.
• High emotional intelligence, discretion, and professionalism in donor interactions.

Qualifications

• Seasoned development professional with deep experience leading major gifts fundraising efforts and a passion for advancing social justice, digital integrity, and democracy.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and growth mindset.
• Confident relationship-building and storytelling skills.
• Strong personal track record of securing major philanthropic investments.

Benefits

• $95,000-130,000 salary range.
• 20 days annual leave plus federal holidays and a Birthday Bonus Day off.
• Sick leave and enhanced parental leave policies.
• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance, fully covered by the company at no cost to you, provided through CareFirst via BlueCross BlueShield.
• 401(k) with company matching up to 6% of contributions.
• $3,000 annual training budget, prorated based on your start date.
• Mental health support through access to qualified counsellors.
• Equipment budget provided from your start date.