Director of Major Gifts; East

Job Title

Director of Major Gifts (East)

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research ("the Foundation") is seeking top talent for its Director of Major Gifts (East) position. Reporting to the VP, Head of Major Gifts, this position plays a key role in advancing the Foundation’s major gifts strategy and supporting the overall goals of the Major Gifts team. This role empowers frontline fundraisers by providing strategic partnership, thought leadership, and structured management so they can focus more deeply on high-impact donor engagement.

This position leads a team of frontline fundraisers in their assigned territory, providing guidance, coaching, and support to help them achieve and exceed fundraising goals. In addition, this role stewards a select portfolio of major gift donors, collaborating closely with colleagues across Development and the broader Foundation to ensure coordinated and effective engagement of supporters. This position fosters a high-performing, collaborative team culture rooted in shared accountability, professional growth, and a commitment to excellence in donor relationships and fundraising outcomes.

In partnership with the VP, Head of Major Gifts, this leader works closely with fundraisers, ensuring clarity, alignment, and the support needed to drive exceptional donor engagement.

The successful candidate will bring a strong leadership presence, demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, and proven ability to drive bold multi-year strategies.

This position may be hybrid-flexible with the opportunity to work out of the Foundation’s office in New York City or based remotely within the Eastern region of the United States.

• Lead, support, and mentor a team of frontline fundraisers responsible for cultivating and soliciting major gifts, providing regular coaching, goal setting, and feedback that promotes growth, confidence, and long-term success
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture that emphasizes accountability, professional growth, and shared success
• Partner with the VP, Head of Major Gifts, to identify skill-building opportunities and strengthen team fundraising capabilities
• Provide advanced coaching on solicitation strategy, multi-year asks, and donor engagement planning, collaborating with staff to build on their existing strengths and expand their capacity for ambitious fundraising
• Model and cultivate a team culture rooted in excellence, continuous learning, and proactive and meaningful donor engagement
• Execute the Foundation’s major gifts strategy within assigned regions, ensuring alignment with overall goals for the Development business unit
• Support the VP in setting annual revenue targets, monitoring progress, and implementing course corrections as needed
• Guide team members in developing tailored donor engagement plans to deepen relationships and secure multi-year commitments
• Co-develop long-term regional fundraising strategies in partnership with frontline fundraisers that proactively identify growth opportunities and high-impact donor engagement
• Partner closely with the VP and regional fundraisers to shape regional approaches, contribute to enterprise-wide planning, and drive alignment with the Foundation’s multi-year fundraising goal

• Manage a portfolio of mid- to high-level major donors, leading personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities
• Demonstrate exceptional presence and skill in navigating complex donor conversations, including high-level, multi-year solicitations
• Engage directly with top prospects as needed, modeling best-in-class fundraising technique and reinforcing a culture of external relationship development
• Serve as a trusted partner and Foundation ambassador, effectively communicating the Foundation’s mission, impact, and funding priorities
• Collaborate across Development to ensure seamless donor experiences and accurate CRM tracking

• Support team budget management, ensuring resources are deployed efficiently to meet fundraising objectives
• Partner with internal stakeholders to develop compelling donor materials and campaigns
• Contribute…