Director of Major Giving

Save the Sound

Director of Major Giving responsible for major donor fundraising and team management. Fostering relationships to support environmental goals of Save the Sound with a focus on high-capacity donors.

Posted 7/17/2026full-timeNew Haven • Connecticut • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $115,000 - $130,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in major gift fundraising, donor engagement, and stewardship, with a strong focus on cultivating high-capacity donor relationships and driving data-informed strategies for organizational sustainability. Proven ability to lead teams, set performance goals, and foster a collaborative culture while maintaining meticulous records and communication plans.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Major Gift FundraisingDonor EngagementTeam SupervisionCRM PlatformsData-Driven Pipeline Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Major Gift FundraisingDonor StewardshipProposal WritingData AnalysisPerformance Management

Soft Skills

Interpersonal SkillsCommunication SkillsOrganizational SkillsCollaborationAttention to Detail

Tools & Technologies

Microsoft Office SuiteCRM Platforms

Industry Keywords

Philanthropic LegacyFundraising StrategyDonor-Centered FundraisingCultivation EventsHigh-Capacity Prospects

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Drive all major donor ($1,000 and over) fundraising streams to achieve organizational individual giving goals creating giving strategies and opportunities that align with programs and projects
Supervise and guide the Major Gift team, ensuring that organizational major donor and team goals are achieved
Set performance goals, build team capacity, and foster a collaborative, high-performing culture focused on donor-centered fundraising
Personally cultivate and solicit a portfolio of 75-100 high-capacity prospects capable of making investments of $10,000 or more
Drive a data-informed pipeline strategy from identification through stewardship
Lead the organization’s planned giving strategy, engaging donors in meaningful conversations about philanthropic legacy
Grow the planned giving pipeline as a strategic priority for organizational sustainability
Help shape the vision for post-campaign fundraising and long-term philanthropic growth
Maintain prompt and accurate records of donor interactions and strategies in the organization’s CRM
Direct major donor communication plan: drafting, production and mailing of major donor appeals, impact reports, and other materials necessary for major donor fundraising
Design and oversee a calendar of major donor cultivation events

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in major gift fundraising, with proven success securing gifts of $100K+
Strong knowledge of and execution of best practices in major giving, donor engagement, and stewardship
Skilled in cultivating donor relationships aligned with organizational goals and donor interests
Superb written and verbal skills; able to craft compelling proposals and convey impact through data and storytelling
3-5 years experience in supervising teams and strong management skills, with a demonstrated ability to set strategy, manage performance, and build a collaborative team culture
Excellent interpersonal awareness and skills working with large and small teams
High degree of comfort communicating information to a wide range of audiences
Fluency with Microsoft office suite, CRM platforms and data-driven pipeline management
Highly organized with outstanding attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities at once
Committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and discretion
Preference for a candidate who lives in Fairfield or Westchester Counties as the majority of current major donors reside there
Willingness to travel regularly for donor meetings and cultivation events

Benefits

Comp & perks

company sponsored health insurance
dental and vision insurance
403(b) with company match after 1 year
life and long-term disability insurance
generous time off package
opportunities for professional development