Director, Philanthropy & Major Gifts

As the primary fundraising partner for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the IDSA Foundation supports a global community of clinicians, scientists, and public health experts working to solve the world’s most pressing infectious disease challenges, from global pandemics to antimicrobial resistance.

About the role

As Director of Philanthropy and Major Gifts, you will build and lead the next phase of the Foundation’s fundraising strategy across individual and major giving, planned and legacy giving, and family foundations. By growing the portfolio, you will secure the philanthropic support needed for IDSA to remain a leader in preparedness, research, and public health response. The Foundation has significant potential to grow its program by leveraging the impact of IDSA members, who played an essential role in safeguarding public health throughout COVID-19 and continue that work today.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development and supervising one direct report, you will craft the fundraising narrative, build systems and workflows to develop and manage a robust pipeline, and deepen donor and funder engagement to help increase overall philanthropic revenue from $2MM to $4MM by the end of 2027. You will work closely with Foundation leadership, physician leaders, Foundation Board members, and volunteers to identify prospects and guide them through cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and long-term engagement.

Responsibilities

• Achieve annual fundraising goals across major gifts, individual giving, and planned giving while strengthening a culture of philanthropy among IDSA members and non-member supporters.
• Build and grow a pipeline of major gift, planned giving, and physician prospects, nurturing opportunities for long-term philanthropic support.
• Expand relationships with family foundations, donor-advised fund holders, and other philanthropic partners whose interests align with the Foundation’s priorities.
• Increase Foundation Board engagement by encouraging personal giving, leveraging networks, and supporting strategic relationship development.
• Strengthen donor stewardship and recognition practices to deepen relationships, demonstrate impact, and increase retention.
• Lead pipeline strategy, performance tracking, and revenue forecasting to inform decision-making and strengthen accountability.
• Manage a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, developing and implementing individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Conduct donor visits and engagement activities to secure philanthropic support aligned with Foundation priorities.
• Lead planned giving and legacy giving efforts, identifying and cultivating prospects and developing communications and engagement strategies.
• Develop physician philanthropy strategies and engage members, Foundation Board members, alumni, volunteers, and physician leaders in philanthropic activities.
• Partner with Foundation Board members to support fundraising activities and donor engagement, preparing donor briefings, cultivation plans, and fundraising materials.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Grants Manager, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Develop cultivation strategies for family foundations and donor-advised funds, partnering with the Grants Manager to identify and advance philanthropic funding opportunities.
• Oversee donor stewardship and recognition programs, developing donor impact communications and ensuring consistent stewardship practices.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive fundraising experience, with demonstrated success securing major gifts and cultivating high-value donor relationships.
• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. CFRE credential is preferred.
• Experience developing donor strategies, managing prospect pipelines, and using moves management to advance relationships and achieve revenue goals.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, including developing compelling donor messaging and engaging senior leaders, board members, volunteers, and other stakeholders in fundraising efforts.
• Experience with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, or donor-advised funds is preferred.
• Experience supervising and developing staff and collaborating effectively across departments.
• Proficiency with donor databases and CRM systems, preferably Salesforce.

Work Environment

This position offers a remote working environment, with core working hours between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm ET. Candidates may reside anywhere in the continental U.S. except California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. Travel of up to 20% is required for donor engagement, IDWeek, and internal retreats and meetings.

Pay

The budgeted salary range is $132,500 – $169,600 (adjusted based on the employee’s geographic location) plus bonus potential.

Benefits

• Generous PTO
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending account
• 401(k)
• Short- and long-term disability
• Life and AD&D insurance

About the Infectious Diseases Society of America

IDSA is a community of over 13,000 physicians, scientists, and public health experts who specialize in infectious diseases. Our mission is to improve the health of individuals, communities, and society by promoting excellence in patient care, education, research, public health, and prevention relating to infectious diseases.