Director of Major Gifts

About the role

Reporting to the Director of Advancement, the Director of Major Gifts is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding leadership and major gifts of $25,000 and above from alumni, parents, grandparents, friends, foundations, and other supporters of Gill St. Bernard's School. The Director of Major Gifts works closely with the Head of School, Director of Advancement, Assistant Head of School for Strategy and External Engagement, trustees, and other school leaders to develop and implement individualized strategies for prospects and donors, fostering enduring relationships built upon an understanding of each donor's interests, passions, and philanthropic priorities.

The Director of Major Gifts will play a foundational role in expanding and formalizing the School's major gift program, helping to build the systems, processes, donor strategies, and philanthropic culture necessary to support ambitious fundraising goals and future campaign initiatives. Success in this role will be measured by donor engagement, portfolio movement, solicitations, gifts secured, the growth of the major gift pipeline, and the overall advancement of the School's fundraising capacity.

Responsibilities

• Identify and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors capable of making significant philanthropic investments in Gill St. Bernard's School, including five-, six-, and transformational gifts.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership and major gift donors.
• Develop individualized donor strategies and moves-management plans.
• Partner with the Head of School, Director of Advancement, Assistant Head of Strategy and External Engagement, trustees, and volunteers on significant cultivation and solicitation efforts.
• Build a disciplined major gift pipeline that increases donor engagement, philanthropic investment, and long-term fundraising capacity.
• Prepare proposals, briefing materials, and donor communications that inspire support and deepen engagement.
• Help establish best practices, metrics, systems, and reporting structures that strengthen the effectiveness of the major gifts program.
• Identify, qualify, and develop prospects capable of making transformational investments in the School's future.
• Support campaign readiness and help position GSB for future comprehensive fundraising initiatives.
• Partner across Advancement, Admissions, Marketing & Communications, Finance, and academic leadership to align philanthropic opportunities with institutional priorities.

Performance expectations include:

• Build and qualify a robust portfolio of major gift prospects and donors.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 90–120 major gift prospects and donors.
• Conduct approximately 125–150 substantive donor meetings annually.
• Develop and maintain written donor strategies and moves-management plans.
• Submit 20–25 major gift proposals annually.
• Increase the number of qualified prospects, active solicitations, and leadership-level donors.
• Build greater discipline around prospect management, pipeline development, and fundraising forecasting.
• Contribute meaningfully to annual fundraising, endowment growth, campaign readiness, and planned giving efforts.
• Help create the infrastructure and fundraising culture necessary to support future capital, endowment, and comprehensive campaign initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in major gift fundraising, advancement, development, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and closing significant charitable gifts.
• Experience managing donor portfolios and moves-management systems.
• Knowledge of Raiser's Edge or comparable constituent relationship management platforms.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• High degree of professionalism, initiative, discretion, and emotional intelligence.
• Independent school, higher education, or nonprofit fundraising experience preferred.

About Gill St. Bernard's School

Founded in 1900, Gill St. Bernard's School (GSB) is a PS–12 independent school rooted in the values of courage, integrity, respect, compassion, and excellence. Set on a remarkable 208-acre campus in Gladstone, New Jersey, GSB provides an educational experience that is both ambitious and deeply human. Students are challenged academically, artistically, athletically, and personally within a community where relationships matter and where being known is considered essential to growth.

Education at GSB extends beyond the classroom. Through rigorous academics, meaningful mentorship, leadership opportunities, athletics, the arts, experiential learning, and the unique resources of Home Winds Farm, students develop the skills, character, and confidence needed to thrive in college and beyond. Today, Gill St. Bernard's serves families from throughout northern and central New Jersey who seek a school where students are both deeply challenged and deeply known.

Gill St. Bernard’s School is one of only a handful of New Jersey independent schools to offer preschool through grade 12 on a single campus. Founded in 1900, and home to approximately 600 students, the school is situated on a 208-acre campus with collegiate-like facilities including more than 20 buildings, a performing arts center, a turf field, tennis courts, a working farm, and a two-acre garden and orchard. The campus is conveniently located just north of I-287 and Route 206 in Gladstone, NJ, easily accessible from Morristown, Summit, and Bridgewater.

The school is a diverse community rooted in the values of courage, integrity, respect, compassion, and excellence, committed to the belief that education takes place not only in the classroom, but on the stage, in the studios, on the fields, and wherever faculty, staff, and students interact. The school firmly believes in lifelong learning and supports the development of individual and collective talents.

Gill St. Bernard's School believes that relationships matter, that students deserve both challenge and support, and that schools can transform lives when they combine high expectations with deep care. The school is guided by its strategic framework, Depth, Purpose, and Possibility, and is investing in the future while remaining grounded in the values that have defined the School for more than a century.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plan coverage.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a company match.
• Generous paid time off including vacation, sick, and personal days.

Pay

Compensation range: $85,000 - $105,000. Further consideration may be given to candidates with significant experience, education, or certifications.