Director, Major Gifts

About UsAgainstAlzheimer’s  

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, a 501(c)(3) organization, is engaged in a relentless pursuit to end Alzheimer’s, the sixth leading killer in America. Our work centers on prevention, early detection and diagnosis, and access to treatments regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity. To achieve our mission, we give voice to patients and caregivers while partnering with government, scientists, the private sector, and allied organizations—the people who put the “Us” in UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. 

About the Role of the Director, Major Gifts

The Director, Major Gifts, a key member of the development team reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), will be responsible for implementing strategies for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major individual and family foundation donors with a focus on creating and increasing sustainable revenue for the organization. A passionate frontline fundraiser, the Director, Major Gifts will help build and manage an evolving portfolio of donors and prospects giving (or with potential to give) between $5,000 and $100,000 annually. As part of a small team, the Director, Major Gifts will also partner with colleagues on digital fundraising campaigns. This director will work closely with the CDO and collaborate with the development, program, and communications teams to craft proposals, donor engagement communications, digital solicitations, touch points, and stewardship reports.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• In conjunction with the CDO and development team, execute organizational giving strategy and activity plan for major gifts.
• Participate in all aspects of the gift cycle including identification, qualification through research, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and appropriate donor recognition.
• Help build and implement a moves management process and portfolio; regularly research, qualify, and assign donors to portfolio; assist CDO in appropriate team assignments.
• Engage with individual and family foundation donors in a variety of personal ways, including face-to-face, to identify specific donor interests and deepen their connection to the organization; monitor prospect contacts to ensure positive and purposeful relationships.
• Develop strong alliance with Board Chair, other Board members, and champions to leverage their fundraising capacity.
• Manage and execute donor visits, prepare donor briefs, and define relationship management strategies.
• Collaborate with the CDO and Special Events Manager to implement donor cultivation and stewardship events across multiple regions, helping to ensure roles are understood and relationship management assignments are confirmed.
• Work both independently and collaboratively with staff and volunteers to regularly identify new donor prospects.
• Collaborate and support the development team in the overall team objectives and goals.
• Ensure collaboration among UsA2 departments so that donors are receiving consistent and appropriate messages.
• Set meetings and arrange opportunities for senior staff and Board to interact, cultivate, and solicit prospective donors.
• Prepare monthly reports on progress against annual goal.
• Actively record and upload interactions for all assigned donors into the donor database.

Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities 

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of seven years’ experience in developing and maintaining strategic, high-level major donor relationships and successfully identifying, soliciting, and securing five- to six-figure major gifts ; nonprofit health-sector experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing comprehensive strategies to grow and diversify individual major gift revenue.
• Strong work ethic and dedication to addressing a major medical and health justice challenge.
• Demonstrated experience writing clear and persuasive proposals.
• Exceptional interpersonal, relationship-building, written, and verbal communication skills with diverse stakeholders, including donors, organizational leaders, and team members at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to make sound judgments, assume responsibility, navigate challenging situations in a professional manner, and meet multiple deadlines.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; demonstrated awareness of, sensitivity to, and competence in communication with and about culturally and socioeconomically diverse populations.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively among small teams, in a complex, fast-paced organization serving multiple stakeholders.
• Knowledge of industry standards, current trends, and best practices.
• Proficiency with MS Office 365 products; familiarity with donor software and databases.

Location, Compensation, and Benefits: This is a full-time, salaried position based in the Washington, D.C., area. The UsAgainstAlzheimer's team currently works remotely, but this position requires availability for in-person meetings in Washington, D.C. The starting annual salary for this position is within the range of $125,000 to $140,000. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including the candidate's qualifications, specific skills, and experience. In addition, the benefits package includes 15 vacation days the first year (with subsequent increases), 12 paid holidays, sick leave, a 401k retirement plan with 5% employer match, and a choice of medical plans covering all or a portion of health, vision, and dental insurance.

Applications: Please email [email protected] with your resume and a cover letter describing your interest and experience relating to this position. Please note Director, Major Gifts in the subject line. APPLICATIONS WITHOUT A COVER LETTER WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s promotes a culture of inclusion and seeks talented staff from diverse backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected factor.