Director, Major Gifts & Planned Giving

WNET • New York, NY

1d • $145,000 - $170,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Major Gifts & Planned Giving leads the strategy and execution of philanthropic initiatives that secure major and legacy gifts in support of WNET’s public media mission. This role builds and sustains meaningful relationships with individual donors, aligning philanthropic investment with impactful journalism, educational programming, and community service. The Director will collaborate closely with executive leadership, content and development teams, and ensures thoughtful stewardship that reflects public media values of trust, transparency, and public service, contributing to the organization’s long-term financial sustainability.

Requirements

• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills, with experience working closely with executive leadership, board members, and volunteers.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to articulate mission impact and philanthropic value propositions clearly and compellingly.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in major gifts, planned giving, or related philanthropic fundraising roles, preferably within nonprofit, public media, or mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and legacy donors, including closing significant gifts and building long-term donor relationships.
• Established donor and philanthropic connections in New Jersey and New York, with the ability to leverage regional networks to advance fundraising goals.
• Experience developing and executing comprehensive prospecting strategies.
• Experience leading or contributing significantly to capital campaigns, including donor strategy, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Proven ability to provide effective supervision, mentorship, and leadership to fundraising staff.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive major gifts and planned giving strategies to support the organization’s mission, long-term sustainability, and strategic priorities;
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major gift and legacy donors, building strong, trust-based relationships aligned with public media values;
• Lead prospect qualification efforts, working closely with the Prospect Development and Mid-level giving teams;
• Collaborate closely with the President/CEO, VP of Advancement, and senior leadership to align fundraising priorities with organizational goals;
• Partner with content, marketing, and development teams to effectively communicate the impact of philanthropy;
• Track, analyze, and report on major and planned giving performance, using data to inform strategy, forecast revenue, and strengthen donor stewardship;
• Working closely with Senior Leadership and external partners, lead all major and planned gifts aspects of an upcoming capital campaign;
• Other relevant duties, as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees