Senior Director, Major & Principal Gifts

Senior Director, Major & Principal Gifts

Scripps Research, one of the world's leading biomedical research institutes, is seeking a highly strategic and relationship-driven Sr Director of Major & Principal Gifts to join our Philanthropy team. Reporting to the Executive Director of Development this position is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gift prospects and donors with the capacity to make gifts of $1 million and above.

The Sr Director will manage a portfolio of approximately 50-75 high-capacity prospects and donors and will play a critical role in advancing transformational philanthropy in support of institutional priorities and special initiatives. In addition to portfolio management, the Sr Director will partner with senior leadership and colleagues on special funding opportunities that may engage prospects outside of their assigned portfolio.

Responsibilities and duties include:

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 50-75 major and principal gift prospects and donors with a giving capacity of $5M+, securing philanthropic gifts that advance Scripps Research's strategic initiatives, research priorities, and institutional objectives.
• Develop and execute highly personalized, long-term engagement and solicitation strategies aligned with donor interests and institutional priorities, in collaboration with institutional leadership, including multi-year commitments, naming opportunities, and blended or structured gifts.
• Advance prospects through all stages of the fundraising cycle, from discovery and qualification through solicitation and stewardship.
• Facilitate high-level meetings, site visits, and donor experiences.
• Support leadership engagement efforts by preparing briefing materials, talking points, and strategic guidance for donor meetings.
• Work closely with Advancement colleagues (prospect research, stewardship, gift planning, etc.) to advance the assigned portfolio and department objectives.
• Ensure timely and accurate documentation of prospect strategies, interactions, and outcomes in the institution's database.
• Meet or exceed annual fundraising goals and performance metrics related to principal gift activity, prospect movement, and donor engagement.
• Maintain a proactive and strategic approach to pipeline development and portfolio management.

Requirements include:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in major gift fundraising, preferably in a complex research, healthcare, or academic environment.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing principal gifts (7-figure+)
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence high net-worth individuals.
• Proven ability to work effectively with senior institutional leadership, faculty, and donors in a collaborative and strategic manner.
• Strong strategic thinking and project management skills, with the ability to manage complex, long-term donor relationships.
• Experience using donor databases and CRM systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge).
• Willingness and ability to travel for donor meetings and events.
• While subject to change based on business needs, this is an on-campus position requiring a minimum of 4 days per week working onsite from our La Jolla campus, with flexibility to work 1 day per week remotely from home.

Compensation:

The expected hiring range for this position is $175,000 to $200,000/annually, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.

Comprehensive benefits include:

• Employer Contributed Retirement Plan – Depending on eligibility, employees receive an employer contributed retirement plan (no employee contribution required) and…