Director, Principal Gifts

Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top-ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program.

Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Cali
-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe. If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.

Scripps Research, one of the world’s leading biomedical research institutes, is seeking a highly strategic and relationship-driven Director of Principal Gifts to join our Philanthropy team. Reporting to the Sr. Executive Director of Principal Gifts this position is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding principal gift prospects and donors with the capacity to make gifts of $5 million and above, with a primary geographic focus on the West Coast.

The Director will manage a portfolio of approximately 50 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 Director will partner with senior leadership and colleagues on special funding opportunities that may engage prospects outside of their assigned portfolio.

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 50 principal gift prospects and donors with 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.
• Details of established essential functions for this position will be addressed/discussed during the interview process.

• 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…