Senior Director of Major Gifts

Position Overview

Are you ready to play a pivotal role in a dynamic and fast-paced environment? The Director of Major Gifts will be a key member of our development team, responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major donors annually to secure significant contributions at the $50,000+ level to support Upwardly Global’s mission. This is a new position for Upwardly Global reflective of the continued growth and development of its individual giving program.

The Director of Major Gifts leads the strategy, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of a portfolio of major and principal gift donors in alignment with Upwardly Global’s mission and ambitious revenue goals. This role is a major driver in achieving the organization’s goal of $25M+ in annual fundraising, ensuring the major gifts pipeline is deep, diverse, and productive.

We seek an extraordinary individual who is not just highly professional, organized, and resourceful, but also self-motivated and eager to make a significant impact. If you thrive in an environment where your skills and initiative are valued and want to be part of a team that is dedicated to making a difference, this role is perfect for you!

Responsibilities

Co-create & implement a new major gift program for Upwardly Global, informed by prospect research and current prospect lists.

Co-create & implement a donor solicitation strategy for identified major gift prospects.

Work with the National Leadership Council to provide guidance on their giving and increase their corporate giving. In this position, the Director will work closely with the Upwardly Global staff member currently managing this group.

Implement and operate a donor stewardship program of the Major Gifts portfolio.

Maintain accurate donor profiles on Salesforce.

Support the tracking and assessment of major gift fundraising metrics, informed by SF data inputs.

Donor Qualification and Research (20%)

Research and qualify potential mid-level and major donors through qualitative and quantitative data.

Donor Cultivation, Solicitation and Stewardship (70%)

Cultivate and maintain relationships with individual donors, inclusive of National Leadership Council members, and secondary connections of current and past Board members.

Partner with the Communications Team to create personalized communication plans, including regular updates, impact reports, and invitations to events, to keep donors informed and engaged.

Collaborate with the Development Associate to collate and interpret quantitative data to inform strategies.

Support with developing meeting agendas, fundraising proposals and pitch decks.

Stewardship & Retention

Ensure that major donors receive personalized cultivation, recognition, reporting, and relationship management to sustain loyalty and growth.

Track donor satisfaction, engagement metrics, feedback loops, and address donor concerns proactively.

Manage a personal portfolio of high-capacity donors, prospects, and lapsed donors, executing comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.

Lead and accompany senior leadership, board members, and partners in donor visits, proposals, and asks.

Draft compelling proposals, briefing memos, gift agreements, and case statements tailored to major donors.

Partner with senior leadership (CEO, CRO, Board) to define major gift goals, campaign priorities, and multi‑year plans.

Develop and refine investment strategies for donors at the major / principal gift level (e.g., $100K+, $1M+).

Oversee segmentation, portfolio assignment, capacity modeling, and goal‑setting methodologies for major donors.

Assist in planning and executing donor engagement opportunities to strengthen donor relationships.

Represent the organization at community events, meetings, and networking opportunities to enhance donor engagement.

Recruit & train a high‑performing major gifts team (i.e. officers & associate). Ensure consistent metrics for prospect pipeline, moves management, solicitation conversion, and gift size growth.

Collaborate with programming, finance, communications, and data intelligence to ensure donors see impact, are informed, and feel engaged.

Metrics & Accountability

Own the major gifts revenue target (a multi-million-dollar segment of the $25M overall).

Monitor pipeline health (including but not limited to : number of proposals, ask amounts, conversion rates, average gift size, retention).

Provide regular reporting to leadership about major gift performance, forecast, and risk mitigation.

Knowledge and Skills Required

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field preferred.

Minimum of 10 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a strong focus on donor prospecting, gift solicitation and donor relationship management.

At least 7 years of frontline fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting and securing five & six figure gifts. Strong existing HNWI donor relationships in the SF Bay Area and nationally.

Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to articulate the organization’s mission and impact effectively and build relationships with stakeholders.

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Proficient in donor CRM database systems and fundraising software (Salesforce).

Ability to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously with limited supervision.

Strong attention to detail.

Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required; SharePoint preferred.

Passion for UpGlo’s mission is essential.

Work Environment / Physical Requirements

Requires the ability to travel locally and regionally.

Must be available to occasionally work evening events and weekend sessions (when / if needed).

Must have reliable transportation depending on region.

Benefits

Benefits include a paid time off policy, hybrid or remote work schedule, medical / dental / vision insurance, short-term disability insurance, life insurance, and retirement plan with employer match.

Salary Range

Salary Range Transparency : $135,000-$155,000

Equal Opportunity Statement

Upwardly Global is deeply committed to building a workplace where inclusion is not only valued but prioritized. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment.

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