Major Gifts and Foundation Relations Manager

L.E.A.P. Inc.•New Haven, CT

1d•$70,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a highly strategic, relationship-driven professional to join our Development and Communications team. The Major Gifts and Foundation Relations Manager will develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of individual major donors and foundation partners supporting LEAP's $7M annual budget. This role will manage a portfolio of 80-110 individual major donor prospects with a goal of generating $1.25M-1.7M annually plus manage relationships with 10-20 key foundation and corporate partners to support continued institutional funding, working in partnership with the grant writer. The position requires exceptional interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to craft compelling cases for support that inspire transformational philanthropy while collaborating across departments to ensure meaningful donor engagement and stewardship. Position Summary This is a full-time, 40-hour per week position requiring exceptional relationship management, strategic planning, communication excellence, and fundraising acumen. The role demands strong organizational abilities, emotional intelligence, comfort with modern technology—including AI tools and donor database systems—and the ability to balance individual donor cultivation with some foundation relationship management. The ideal candidate thrives in building authentic connections, excels at listening to donor interests and aligning them with organizational needs, and has a proven track record of closing significant gifts from both individuals and foundations. As a new position reflecting LEAP's growth and increasing focus on individual giving, this role offers a meaningful opportunity to help build and strengthen cross-team moves management systems that will serve the organization for years to come. Success requires comfort with metrics-driven goal setting, proactive initiative in cultivating donor relationships, and collaboration across the organization to create meaningful engagement opportunities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in nonprofit management, public administration, or related field preferred
Minimum 5-7 years of major gifts fundraising experience with proven track record of closing gifts of $25,000+
Demonstrated success cultivating and soliciting individual donors through personalized relationship building
Experience managing foundation relationships and collaborating on institutional proposals
Proven ability to manage multiple complex relationships and projects simultaneously
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with ability to craft compelling, personalized proposals and presentations
Proficiency with donor database systems (Raiser's Edge preferred), Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and presentation software (PowerPoint, Google Slides)
Experience with wealth screening tools and prospect research platforms
Familiarity with AI tools for prospect research, writing assistance, and data analysis
Strong research, data analysis, and project management capabilities
Outstanding interpersonal and relationship building skills with ability to connect authentically with diverse constituencies
Strategic thinking combined with disciplined execution and follow-through
High emotional intelligence and ability to listen deeply to donor motivations and interests
Cultural competency and commitment to working effectively in diverse communities
Self-motivated with ability to work independently and manage time effectively
Comfort with metrics-driven accountability and goal setting
Flexibility and adaptability in dynamic nonprofit environment

Nice To Haves

Experience in youth development, education, or social services sector preferred
Established relationships with Connecticut philanthropists and foundation funders preferred
Knowledge of New Haven community and nonprofit landscape preferred
CFRE certification or interest in pursuing professional development preferred
Experience working with Board members and volunteers on fundraising initiatives preferred

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of 80-110 individual major donor prospects and donors (gifts of $5,000-$25,000) with the possibility of managing some patron-level donors as the organization grows
Develop and implement personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each donor
Conduct 12-18 meaningful donor contacts through meetings, calls, site visits, and events per month
Participate in researching, qualifying, and adding new major gift prospects to portfolio through wealth screening and relationship mapping
Partner with Vice President of Development and Communications, Executive Director, Board members, and volunteers on solicitation strategy and execution
Set and track progress toward annual fundraising goal of $1.25 M-1.7M from individual major donors
Create compelling proposals and solicitation materials tailored to individual donor interests
Manage relationships with 10-20 key foundation and corporate partners
Serve as primary contact for assigned institutional funders, ensuring strong communication and stewardship
Create compelling presentations and proposals tailored to foundation interests and priorities
Collaborate on grant proposals and reports with support from the grants team
Attend strategic funder meetings and site visits to strengthen partnerships
Develop customized stewardship materials and impact reports for foundation partners
Identify opportunities to deepen existing foundation relationships and increase investment
Set and track progress toward annual goal of $300K - $800K from assigned foundation sources
Design and execute creative stewardship plans that deepen donor and foundation relationships and inspire continued support
Create tailored presentations, impact reports, and communications for major donors and foundation partners
Coordinate meaningful engagement opportunities including site visits, program observations, and volunteer activities
Develop personalized stewardship materials that demonstrate impact and connect funders to LEAP's mission
Ensure timely, authentic acknowledgment and recognition of all gifts in portfolio
Develop and implement comprehensive annual major gifts strategy aligned with LEAP's growth goals
Maintain accurate, detailed records in LEAP's CRM (Raiser's Edge NXT) including contact reports, giving history, and strategy notes
Track pipeline metrics and provide regular progress reports to leadership
Collaborate with communications team on materials supporting major gifts and institutional giving efforts
Collaborate with the development and communications team to streamline moves management systems
Conduct prospect research using traditional and AI-assisted tools as needed