Director of Individual and Major Giving

About The James Beard Foundation

JBF is a vital cultural institution with deep roots honoring and advancing the culinary arts industry. JBF’s mission is to celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability. As a 501(c)(3) national non‑profit organization, JBF brings its mission to life through the annual James Beard Awards, industry and community‑focused initiatives and programs, advocacy, partnerships, and events across the country.

The Development Team is responsible for generating over $7 million in philanthropic support in FY27, with a goal to grow to $10 million annually by FY29‑30. All members of the Development team work to cultivate and support a culture of philanthropy within the organization and represent JBF externally in front of current and prospective donor audiences.

The Director of Individual and Major Giving is a frontline fundraiser and key member of JBF’s Development team. Reporting to the Vice President of Philanthropy, this role manages a portfolio of individual donors and major gift prospects, with responsibility for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts across giving levels—with particular focus on building JBF’s major gifts pipeline.

The Director leads individual giving strategy, partners with the VP on high‑level donor relationships, and works closely with the Development Manager, who provides operational and administrative support across the department.

• Manage a portfolio of individual and major gift donors and prospects; lead all phases of the donor cycle, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Partner with the VP of Philanthropy to identify, qualify, and advance major gift prospects ($10,000+); prepare briefings, donor profiles, and talking points for high‑level meetings and asks
• Develop and execute strategies to upgrade mid‑level donors into the major gifts pipeline; identify Patron Program members and Greens donors with major gift potential
• Oversee the Young Professionals Committee to ensure they have the direction and collateral they need to act as JBF ambassadors, helping to raise awareness and funds throughout the country

• Develop and implement a personalized stewardship plan for individual and major gift donors, including touchpoints, impact reporting, and recognition
• Develop compelling, tailored solicitation materials and proposals for major gift prospects; collaborate with the VP of Philanthropy and other senior staff on high‑level gift asks
• Draft and edit donor correspondence, acknowledgements, case‑for‑support narratives, and other communications that advance individual and major gift relationships
• Coordinate with the Development Manager to ensure donor communications calendars, acknowledgements, and stewardship materials are executed on schedule

• Lead proactive prospect research to identify and qualify individual major gift prospects; build and maintain a robust pipeline of donors with capacity at the $10,000+ level
• Prepare in-depth donor profiles, wealth assessments, and briefing materials in advance of cultivation meetings, events, and solicitations
• Conduct regular wealth screenings and philanthropic interest assessments; match prospects to JBF funding priorities and engagement opportunities

• Assist the Development Manager and VP of Philanthropy in managing the Patron Program, with a focus on identifying Patron‑level donors with major gift potential and developing upgrade strategies to advance them into major giving conversations
• Leverage cultivation events, Annual Gala, and Patron Program gatherings as opportunities to deepen relationships with major gift prospects and donors
• Serve as the primary liaison with the James Beard Young Patrons; build and steward relationships with Young Patron members to deepen engagement and cultivate pathways toward major giving
• Partner with the VP of Philanthropy and Director of Institutional Giving to align individual giving…