Director of Major Gifts

Upwardly Global • San Francisco, CA

87d • $135,000 - $155,000

About The Position

The Director of Major Gifts will be a key member of our development team, responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major donors annually to secure significant contributions at the $50,000+ level to support Upwardly Global’s mission. This is a new position for Upwardly Global reflective of the continued growth and development of its individual giving program. The Director of Major Gifts leads the strategy, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of a portfolio of major and principal gift donors in alignment with Upwardly Global’s mission and ambitious revenue goals. This role is a major driver in achieving the organization’s goal of $25M+ in annual fundraising, ensuring the major gifts pipeline is deep, diverse, and productive. We seek an extraordinary individual who is not just highly professional, organized, and resourceful, but also self-motivated and eager to make a significant impact. If you thrive in an environment where your skills and initiative are valued and want to be part of a team that is dedicated to making a difference, this role is perfect for you!

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a strong focus on donor prospecting, gift solicitation and donor relationship management
• At least 7 years of frontline fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting and securing five & six figure gifts
• Strong existing HNWI donor relationships in the SF Bay Area and nationally
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to articulate the organization’s mission and impact effectively and build relationships with stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Proficient in donor CRM database systems and fundraising software (Salesforce)
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously with limited supervision
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required; SharePoint preferred
• Passion for UpGlo’s mission is essential

Responsibilities

• Research and qualify potential mid-level and major donors through qualitative and quantitative data
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with individual donors, inclusive of National Leadership Council members, and secondary connections of current and past Board members
• Partner with the Communications Team to create personalized communication plans, including regular updates, impact reports, and invitations to events, to keep donors informed and engaged
• Collaborate with the Development Associate to collate and interpret quantitative data to inform strategies
• Support with developing meeting agendas, fundraising proposals and pitch decks
• Ensure that major donors receive personalized cultivation, recognition, reporting, and relationship management to sustain loyalty and growth
• Track donor satisfaction, engagement metrics, feedback loops, and address donor concerns proactively
• Manage a personal portfolio of high-capacity donors, prospects, and lapsed donors, executing comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
• Lead and accompany senior leadership, board members, and partners in donor visits, proposals, and asks
• Draft compelling proposals, briefing memos, gift agreements, and case statements tailored to major donors
• Partner with senior leadership (CEO, CRO, Board) to define major gift goals, campaign priorities, and multi‑year plans
• Develop and refine investment strategies for donors at the major / principal gift level (e.g., $100K+, $1M+)
• Oversee segmentation, portfolio assignment, capacity modeling, and goal-setting methodologies for major donors
• Assist in planning and executing donor engagement opportunities to strengthen donor relationships
• Represent the organization at community events, meetings, and networking opportunities to enhance donor engagement
• Recruit & train a high-performing major gifts team (i.e officers & associates)
• Collaborate with programming, finance, communications, and data intelligence to ensure donors see impact, are informed, and feel engaged
• Own the major gifts revenue target (a multi-million-dollar segment of the $25M overall)
• Monitor pipeline health (including but not limited to: number of proposals, ask amounts, conversion rates, average gift size, retention)
• Provide regular reporting to leadership about major gift performance, forecast, and risk mitigation

Benefits

• Paid time off policy
• Hybrid or remote work schedule
• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• Short-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Retirement plan with employer match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree