Senior Director, Principal Gifts & Strategic Fundraising

For our client, we are seeking a Senior Director, Principal Gifts & Strategic Fundraising to join the team of a leader in the Education, Government & Non-Profit space. This role will lead high-level fundraising efforts focused on principal gifts, strategic donor engagement, and advancement of major institutional priorities within a complex higher education environment. The position will partner closely with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to build meaningful donor relationships and secure transformative philanthropic commitments. The ideal candidate will bring a sophisticated, relationship-driven approach to managing a high-value portfolio and advancing interdisciplinary initiatives that support organizational impact. Location: Remote - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available Compensation: $165,000 – $170,000 annually Responsibilities Build and manage a robust portfolio of principal and leadership-level prospects. Proactively expand the major and principal gift pipeline. Personally solicit and close gifts of $1M+ with tailored strategies for complex opportunities. Lead the development of strategic initiatives for institutional priorities and interdisciplinary projects. Engage with the organization’s most important donors through personalized relationship management. Collaborate across the institution to ensure aligned donor strategies and efforts. Support senior executive leadership in managing the highest-level donor relationships and activities. Qualifications Bachelor's Degree and 10+ years of progressive fundraising experience, particularly in major and principal gifts. Successful track record of securing seven-figure commitments, ideally in higher education or complex institutions. Experience in building and managing a diverse donor portfolio at various gift levels. Proficiency with CRM systems for portfolio management and tracking, along with experience in prospect research and proposal development. Strong organizational skills and discipline in portfolio management. Benefits High-touch engagement with significant donors for personalized experiences. Opportunities for strategic leadership within an esteemed university environment. Collaboration with top leadership across various academic and administrative sectors. A focus on both professional growth and measurable success in fundraising. Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.