Director of Individual and Major Giving

Responsibilities

• 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 efforts with broader fundraising strategy and institutional priorities
• Own moves management for individual and major gift portfolio; maintain timely and accurate records of all cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activity in Salesforce
• Set and track measurable portfolio goals, including visit targets, solicitation timelines, and revenue projections; report progress to the VP of Philanthropy
• Collaborate with the VP of Philanthropy on annual individual giving revenue goals and major gifts projections; contribute to departmental planning and reporting
• Work with the Development Manager to ensure portfolio donor records, wealth screenings, and contact reports are current and complete in Salesforce
• Represent JBF at cultivation events, donor meetings, and community gatherings; act as an ambassador, embodying JBF values, and communicating with professionalism

• 12 years minimum of frontline fundraising experience, with demonstrated success with individual giving/major gifts portfolios and closing mid‑size to large gifts
• Passion for food culture, culinary equity, and the JBF mission; ability to articulate a compelling case for philanthropic investment
• Exceptional relationship‑building skills and donor‑centered approach; ability to engage high‑net‑worth individuals meaningfully
• Strategic thinker, creative problem solver, and excellent communicator with strong relationship management skills
• Excellent attention to detail, conscientious work ethic
• Excellent ability to multitask, prioritize projects, and work efficiently and independently in a fast‑paced environment
• Experience with Salesforce or comparable CRM; experience with moves management or stewardship and cultivation, portfolio tracking, and donor pipelines
• Tech‑savvy, proficient in MS365, including Adobe Acrobat Pro,
• High energy and passion for the James Beard Foundation’s mission
• Ability to deal effectively with the diversity of individuals at all organizational levels
• Ability to travel domestically and attend evening events as needed

Demonstrates extensive frontline fundraising experience with a focus on individual and major gifts, including strategic donor engagement and relationship management. Proficient in utilizing Salesforce for moves management and donor tracking while effectively communicating the mission of the James Beard Foundation.