SENIOR MAJOR GIFTS MANAGER
Job Summary
The Senior Major Gifts Manager provides strategic leadership and day-to-day management for a team of Major Gifts Managers, ensuring they are equipped, supported, and accountable for delivering high-quality donor engagement and portfolio results.
Responsibilities
Directly supervise Major Gifts Managers, providing regular coaching, feedback, and performance support aligned with individual development goals and team priorities.
Lead onboarding and ongoing training for direct reports, in coordination with the Director of Strategic Initiatives and MG Ops team, to ensure consistent skill-building and role clarity.
Conduct regular 1:1 check-ins and team meetings to monitor workload, surface challenges, and promote accountability for portfolio metrics, pipeline health, and donor engagement targets.
Support performance management processes, including goal-setting, mid-year check-ins, and annual evaluations, in partnership with the Director of Strategic Initiatives.
Identify training gaps and resource solutions as needed, including field guide tools, peer learning, and external professional development.
Partner with the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Major Gifts team leadership to contribute to annual and multi-year workplan development, translating strategy into team-level priorities and action steps.
Track team progress against national Major Gifts team goals, flagging gaps, risks, and opportunities to leadership on a weekly basis.
Support the Executive and Deputy directors to coordinate and execute Board-related activities to influence/cultivate/steward Major Gift donors and prospects.
Prepare materials, talking points, and updates for Board-related meetings and reports as needed; ensure all is captured properly in Salesforce.
Ensure fundraising and operations teams are aligned in approach, due dates and actions needed.
Maintain visibility into the portfolios managed by direct reports, providing strategic guidance on prioritization, re-engagement, and pipeline advancement.
Partner with the MG Operations Specialist to ensure data quality, Salesforce accuracy, and gift processing workflows are consistently followed across the team.
Monitor complex gift activity (DAFs, stock, family foundation contributions) managed by direct reports and escalate as needed to ensure timely stewardship and acknowledgment.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience in a nonprofit environment
6–8 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, or philanthropy operations, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or team lead role
Demonstrated ability to manage and develop staff, including coaching, performance management, and training facilitation
Experience supporting major gifts strategy at a national or multi-regional level
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex priorities for a range of internal audiences
Proficiency in Salesforce or comparable CRM; strong attention to detail in data management and pipeline tracking
Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high standards of quality and discretion
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree in nonprofit management, communications, public administration, or a related field
Experience working with or supporting Board member engagement in a philanthropic context
Familiarity with complex gift vehicles (DAFs, stock, family foundation contributions)
Experience in a mid-to-large humanitarian or international development organization