POSITION: Director of Major Gifts
STATUS: Full-Time/Exempt
DEPARTMENT: Development
REPORTS TO: VP & Chief Development Officer
DIRECT REPORTS: Annual Giving Manager, Corporate Partnership Manager
Position Concept
To serve the Mission, Vision, and Values of REH, Inc. while serving as a relationship-focused, forward-facing fundraising professional who excels in building meaningful connections with donors and prospects. This high-energy role requires a natural networker with a passion for the arts, someone who thrives on engaging with donors in social settings, including regular attendance at Ruth Eckerd Hall performances and events.
As a key representative of Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Director of Major Gifts will actively interact with members in the Dress Circle exclusive member lounge, cultivating relationships with high-capacity donors, deepening their engagement, and inspiring philanthropic support. To ensure alignment with overall development plans, the director of major gifts will supervise the corporate partnership manager and annual giving manager while working with the chief development officer and director of development operations on proposals and fundraising initiatives.
Essential Functions
Donor Engagement and Relationship Building
- Serve as a visible and engaging presence at Ruth Eckerd Hall performances, mingling with donors and guests in the Dress Circle private member lounge and other event spaces.
- Build authentic relationships with major donors and prospects, developing individualized cultivation and stewardship strategies to inspire significant contributions.
- Conduct in-person visits, phone calls, and personal communications to engage and solicit major gifts.
- In collaboration with leadership, host small gatherings or exclusive experiences, such as behind-the-scenes tours or donor dinners, to deepen donor connections and showcase their impact.
Team Leadership and Collaboration
- Supervise the annual giving manager and corporate partnership manager, providing mentorship, direction, and support to maximize their contributions to the overall fundraising strategy.
- Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer and Director of Development Operations on proposals, donor communications, and high-level strategies.
- Partner with the Events and Stewardship Manager to create memorable donor experiences and recognition opportunities.
Major Gifts Strategy and Goal Achievement
- Manage a portfolio of high-potential donors and prospects, identifying opportunities to grow relationships and secure transformational gifts.
- Develop and execute multi-year cultivation and solicitation plans for major gifts, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
- Expand the major gifts pipeline by identifying and researching new prospects and initiating engagement strategies.
- Monitor and evaluate donor activity, refining approaches to exceed fundraising targets.
Stewardship and Donor Recognition
- In close collaboration with the Director of Development Operations and the Donor Services Manager, ensure all major donors receive timely and personalized acknowledgments and recognition.
- Develop tailored stewardship plans for top donors, emphasizing their impact on Ruth Eckerd Hall’s programs, performances, and education initiatives, working closely with the Director of Development Operations and the Stewardship and Events Manager.
Qualifications
Education and Experiences:
- Bachelor's degree.
- Minimum of 5 years in fundraising, with demonstrated success in relationship-based major gift fundraising.
- Supervisory experience required.
- Demonstrated experience in non-profit fundraising and development.
- Effective communicator, a natural "connector" with a record of accomplishment of successfully increasing revenue and cultivating donors and community support.
- Experience identifying, building, and maintaining relationships with non-profit, government, community, private sector, and high-net-worth stakeholders.
- Experience in non-profit fundraising operations, communications, strategic planning, and resource management.
- Ability to work collaboratively with staff, board of directors, donors, sponsors, and other stakeholders.
- Passion for the organization's mission and values.
Skills
Demonstrated Skills or Knowledge:
- Ability to develop, analyze, and apply fundraising strategy.
- Strong collaboration, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Knowledge of financial management and budgeting.
- Ability to understand and communicate the big picture as well as the ability to develop and implement the required support system and details to achieve desired outcomes.
- Ability to communicate with and generate trust from a diverse group of people. Ability to present a positive image and communicate effectively via the telephone and in person.
- Proficient in the application of MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
- Competent in customer relations management software with the ability to learn fundraising and ticketing applications.
- Demonstrated commitment to the principles of teamwork and shared responsibility.
- Ability to multitask and meet simultaneous deadlines.
- Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate people, tasks, and projects for efficiency.
- Ability to handle confidential conversation, correspondence, and records.
- Ability to anticipate problems or to identify them before significant impact on service delivery, expenses, or revenues.
- Ability to exercise a degree of judgment in setting up records, maintaining accurate figures and establishing order of importance.
Physical Demands
- Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs.
- Ability to operate basic office equipment such as copiers, fax machines, telephones, computers, and printers.
- Ability to maintain good attendance is a condition of employment and a function of this position.
Other
- Ability to drive with a valid driver’s license and a safe driving record.
- Successful completion of a background check and drug screen.
Ruth Eckerd Hall is an equal opportunity employer, drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.
All applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, physical/mental disability, medical condition, military/veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, alienage or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. By completing this application, you are seeking to join a team of hardworking professionals dedicated to consistently delivering outstanding service to our patrons and contributing to the financial success of the organization and its employees. Equal access to programs, services, and employment is available to all qualified persons. Those applicants requiring accommodation to complete the application and/or interview process should contact a human resources representative .
