National Director, Principal Gifts

World Relief

National Director of Principal Gifts securing major philanthropic investments for World Relief. Leading donor engagement and relationship management for transformational philanthropy efforts.

Posted 5/21/2026full-timeRemote • Maryland • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $115,000 - $140,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Manage a national portfolio of 25-40 ultra‑high‑net‑worth donors and prospects with the capacity to make seven‑figure gifts.
Lead partners through the full principal gift engagement cycle—qualification, cultivation, solicitation, commitment, and stewardship—resulting in transformational philanthropy.
Design and execute customized, donor‑centric strategies that align partner passions with World Relief’s mission, strategies, and funding priorities.
Secure principal‑level outright gifts that advance national, global, and programmatic initiatives through accountability to lead indicator targets and revenue goals.
Integrate personal faith in Jesus Christ into donor relationships with authenticity, humility, and pastoral sensitivity.
Engage partners spiritually as appropriate, recognizing philanthropy as both a calling and an invitation into faithful Kingdom participation.
Demonstrate pastoral care and spiritual leadership in conversations with partners, particularly as they discern significant generosity.
Embrace and model World Relief’s fundraising values, including those articulated in Henri Nouwen’s The Spirituality of Fundraising, treating donors as partners—not means to an end.
Partner closely with the CEO, VP SED, and senior leaders in developing cultivation and solicitation strategies for top‑tier partners.
Prepare and deliver high‑impact proposals, briefings, cases for support, and stewardship reports appropriate for a principal gift audience.
Facilitate authentic, purpose‑driven interactions between partners and senior leaders that strengthen long‑term commitment.
Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on principal gift strategy, donor discernment, and philanthropic engagement.
Identify, qualify, and cultivate new principal gift prospects through national networks, referrals, peer fundraisers, board connections, and strategic events.
Build and manage a robust principal gifts pipeline with clear strategies, projections, and next steps.
Collaborate with prospect research and peer fundraisers to prioritize high‑capacity opportunities across regions and portfolios.
Help support the whole of the Strategic Engagement team through equipping frontline fundraisers to pursue principal gifts in their own portfolios.
Represent World Relief with excellence at national donor gatherings, small group experiences, and relationship‑building events.
Steward principal gift partners with integrity, transparency, and gratitude, reinforcing trust and long‑term partnership.
Maintain accurate donor strategies, records, and activity reports in accordance with organizational and database standards.
Participate in principal gifts portfolio reviews, forecasting, and goal‑tracking processes.
Collaborate across the Strategic Engagement Division to ensure donor engagement aligns with enterprise‑wide fundraising priorities and culture.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Mature and personal Christian faith
Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
Ability to affirm and actively live out World Relief's Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity and National Association of Evangelicals' For the Health of The Nation document
Demonstrated integration of personal faith into professional life with maturity, discernment, and grace.
Bachelor’s degree required
7–10+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, with a proven track record securing $1M+ gifts.
Experience engaging ultra‑high‑net‑worth individuals and partnering with senior executives and boards.
Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and storytelling skills.
Strategic and relational thinker with the ability to navigate complex donor journeys and long cultivation cycles.
Collaborative spirit with experience operating effectively in national or matrixed fundraising environments.
Proficiency with fundraising systems and tools (e.g., Raiser’s Edge NXT, Microsoft applications).

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive benefits package
Employee discount program
Health insurance
Retirement plans

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

fundraisingdonor engagementprincipal gift strategyprospect researchpipeline managementgoal trackingproposal writingstewardship reportingcultivation strategiessolicitation strategies

Soft Skills

interpersonal skillscommunication skillsstorytelling skillsstrategic thinkingrelational thinkingcollaborationpastoral careauthenticityhumilitydiscernment

Certifications

Bachelor’s degree