Director of Major Gifts
Position Summary
The Director of Major Gifts is a frontline fundraiser and strategic leader responsible for building and managing the organizations major and planned gifts program. Reporting to the Executive Director/CEO, this position manages a portfolio of 75 to 100 major gift prospects and donors, oversees planned giving, including donor-advised funds and endowments, leads The Giving Branch donor society and Legacy Society (Carnegie49), supports the annual gala, oversees gift acknowledgment for all individual donors, and supervises the Annual Giving Manager.
This role is central to the Foundations goal to grow giving to the Library by 50% by 2030.
Essential Responsibilities
Manage a portfolio of 75 to 100 major gift prospects and donors, executing individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans using a disciplined moves management approach.
Identify and qualify new prospects from donor files, board connections, and community relationships; craft compelling proposals, gift agreements, and impact reports.
Partner with leadership and board members to engage high-capacity donors; maintain accurate CRM records; and meet or exceed annual major-gift revenue goals.
Lead The Giving Branch, the organization's major donor society, developing strategy to grow membership, deepen stewardship, and plan cultivation and member events.
Develop collateral and communications that connect Giving Branch members to the mission and support retention and upgrades.
Oversee the planned giving program, including bequests, charitable gift annuities, IRA rollover gifts, and donor-advised funds.
Lead the Legacy Society and Carnegie49, managing membership, recognition, and the annual Carnegie49 brunch; in partnership with the Executive Director/CEO and Legacy Committee, develop a stewardship program for endowment donors.
Manage endowment donor relationships including gift agreements and annual impact reporting; identify and introduce planned giving conversations at the right moment in each relationship.
Supervise and mentor the Annual Giving Manager; collaborate to move mid-level donors into the major gifts pipeline and develop donor journey strategies across giving levels.
Support the annual gala as a key development liaison for donor cultivation, table management, sponsorship stewardship, and post-event follow-up.
Oversee gift acknowledgment for all individual gifts, ensuring timely, accurate, and mission-aligned acknowledgment and receipts.
Align major gift strategy with organizational priorities; support board engagement in fundraising; represent the organization at cultivation events and in the community.
Qualifications
Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in nonprofit management or related field preferred. Minimum of 7 years of frontline fundraising experience, with a track record of personally closing major gifts and managing a major-gift portfolio.
Experience: Experience with planned giving vehicles including bequests, donor-advised funds, and endowments; prior supervisory experience preferred.
Skills & Competencies: Exceptional relationship-building skills; ability to engage donors, board members, and community partners with warmth, discretion, and professionalism. Strong written and verbal communication skills; highly organized and self-directed with the ability to manage multiple priorities. Proficiency with donor CRM systems; CFRE credential a plus.
Genuine commitment to the mission and community served by LBPLF.
Work Environment
Full-time, exempt.
Hybrid work arrangements available.
Some evening and weekend hours required for donor events.
Local and occasional regional travel expected.
Why You Will Love Working Here
We Offer:
Medical, dental, and vision coverage, 100% employer paid.
SIMPLE IRA with a 3% employer match.
Team bonuses available based on Board-approved discretion.
Cell phone stipend.
Generous PTO including vacation, sick time, and paid holidays.
Flexible, hybrid work environment based in Long Beach.
Equal Opportunity Employer
LBPLF is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.
How To Apply
If you believe in the power of libraries to transform lives in Long Beach, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit a resume and cover letter to veronica@lbplfoundation.org. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.