Director, Major Gifts; Assistance

Position: Director, Major Gifts (Relocation Assistance Available!)
## Director, Major Gifts (Relocation Assistance Available!)Apply locations:
Cambridge, MAtime type:
Full time posted on:
Posted 3 Days Agojob requisition :
JR100595
** Classification:
** Exempt
* * Job Family:
** Operations
*
* Reports to:

** Vice President External Relations
** Job Description

Summary:

** OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES    Execute Whitehead Institute’s individual giving program, including major gifts and annual/mid-level giving, with responsibility for managing direct reports, overseeing performance management, and developing a high-performing fundraising team. Focuses on revenue strategy, managing gift officer performance, maintaining disciplined portfolios, and driving measurable growth in individual philanthropy.
Maintain a personal portfolio of major gift prospects and ensure consistent cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship practices across the team. Partner closely with Advancement leadership to ensure coordinated, data-informed fundraising aligned with institutional priorities.
In partnership with the Vice President, External Relations, and Advancement leadership, contribute to the development of integrated, institution-wide individual giving strategies. Strategy development is collaborative across the Advancement team; help shape and lead implementation of individual giving priorities aligned with institutional goals.
** CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES
**** Major Gift Program Management
*** Manage a personal portfolio of major gift prospects.
* Oversee full lifecycle (qualification through stewardship) strategies across portfolio.
* Manage execution of portfolio size, contact frequency, and pipeline movement.
* Conduct/participate in regular portfolio reviews and support moves management discipline.
* Support gift officers in donor strategy development, preparation, and execution aligned with institutional priorities.
** Annual & Mid-Level Giving Strategy
*** Oversee implementation of annual and mid-level giving revenue strategy, including, retention and upgrade efforts, reactivation campaigns, and segmentation priorities.
* Set annual revenue targets and track performance against goals.
* Partner with Advancement leadership on appeal strategy, messaging, segmentation, deployment, and reporting, ensuring alignment with institutional goals.
** Revenue Planning & Performance Management
*** Track monthly and quarterly revenue performance.
* Maintain accurate forecasting.
* Develop annual revenue projections for individual giving.
* Work with Operations to monitor and report on pipeline health, closed gifts, and retention and upgrade rates.
* Ensure data accuracy and forecasting discipline in partnership with Operations & Analytics.
** Team Leadership & Development
*** Provide strategic leadership to staff supporting major gift, annual, and mid-level giving programs, including oversight of direct reports.
* Drive a high-performance culture through clear goal-setting, metrics, and accountability standards.
* Lead, coach, and develop staff in donor strategy, portfolio management, and long-term professional growth.
* Oversee performance management, including conducting evaluations, delivering actionable feedback, and supporting career development.
* Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and results-oriented team environment aligned with organizational priorities.
** Cross-Functional Collaboration
*** Partner with Institutional Narrative and Foundation Relations to ensure aligned messaging and funding priorities.
* Coordinate with Constituent Engagement and Advancement Operations to support cultivation and stewardship efforts, and ensure accurate portfolios and reporting.
* Contribute to advancement-wide planning and reinforce a coordinated, non-siloed approach across teams.
** Other duties, as assigned.
**** REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
*** Bachelor’s degree required.
* 10+ years of progressive fundraising experience.
* Demonstrated success in securing significant (six-figure+) gifts.
* Strong organizational and execution skills.
* Clear communicator with strong interpersonal skills.
* Ability to collaborate effectively across communications, operations, and leadership teams.
** PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
*** Experience in annual and mid-level giving programs
* Experience managing fundraising staff.
* Experience in higher education, biomedical research, or similarly complex nonprofit environments.
* Experience working within CRM-driven portfolio management systems.

Whitehead provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the Institute reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, and internal peer equity.

This pay range represents base pay only and does not include any other benefits or compensation.
* Pay Range Minimum: 120,000
* Pay Range Maximum: 150,000
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