Lead Major Gifts Director; Midwest and Mountain Territories

Lead Major Gifts Director (Midwest and Mountain Territories)

The Lead Major Gifts Director (Midwest and Mountain Territories) manages a robust portfolio of high-value donors and prospects with a focus on raising $4M to $10M annually from high five-figure to low seven-figure contributions.

About Us: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de‑risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson’s and their families.

We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 300 full‑time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem‑solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Position Summary: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its Lead Major Gifts Director in the Midwest and Mountain regions. Reporting to the VP, Head of Major Gifts, this role will manage a robust portfolio of high‑value donors and prospects with a focus on raising $4M to $10M annually from high five‑figure to low seven‑figure contributions.

This seasoned fundraiser will independently lead strategy, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of their portfolio, driving results through thoughtful donor engagement and strategic planning.

This role calls for a strong frontline fundraiser who can confidently own complex donor relationships and tailor strategies for a diverse portfolio within the assigned territory. The Lead Major Gifts Director will collaborate cross‑functionally, including occasional engagement of executive leadership and influence peers by modeling best practices and actively mentoring other frontline fundraisers. They will represent the Foundation with credibility, integrity, and energy—bringing our mission to life through donor partnerships.

This individual’s fundraising portfolio will be based in the Midwest and Mountain regions of the United States and will be expected to travel to this area on a bi‑monthly basis.

Primary

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Own and grow a portfolio of major donors, primarily in the high five‑figure to low seven‑figure range, with a focus on securing six and seven‑figure gifts.
• Develop and execute strategic fundraising plans tailored to each donor, incorporating bespoke engagement, compelling cases for support and meaningful stewardship.
• Serve as a frontline fundraiser and external ambassador, confidently articulating the Foundation’s mission, goals, and science‑driven strategy.
• Partner cross‑functionally with internal teams, including Research, Programs and Communications, to deliver donor‑centric experiences and content.
• Maintain accurate records of donor activity in Salesforce; track progress to revenue goals and continuously identify new opportunities for engagement or upgrades.
• Serve as a peer leader and mentor as well as a thought partner…