Senior Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving

The Charleston Gaillard Center•Charleston, SC

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Charleston Gaillard Center is an 1,800-seat performance hall located in Charleston, South Carolina. The facility also contains 16,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting space, along with office and public spaces. The Charleston Gaillard Center is a non-profit 501c3 organization responsible for managing the facility. The Charleston Gaillard Center's mission is to provide the Lowcountry with a world-class performance hall, elegant venue space, and vibrant educational opportunities inspiring our dynamic community through the power of the performing arts. We seek to enrich the diverse community of Charleston with artistic and cultural experiences that are accessible and unique, and to serve as an education resource for generations to come. For more information about the Charleston Gaillard Center, please visit http://www.gaillardcenter.org. The Senior Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving, is a key leader at the Gaillard Center, overseeing a comprehensive portfolio of individual giving programs—including annual giving, major giving, and planned giving—responsible for raising $2M annually over the next few years. Reporting to the Vice President for Development, the Senior Director provides strategic leadership to advance the Gaillard Center’s mission, secure major and principal-level gifts, deepen donor engagement, and align donor-focused communications across programs. The Senior Director will manage a personal portfolio of donors focusing on securing 5- and 6-figure gifts. This position requires a dynamic leader energized by change management who can inspire teams, strengthen infrastructure, and drive sustainable growth and accountability. The Senior Director leads and mentors development staff, fostering professional growth, operational excellence, and a culture of high performance. As the Gaillard Center’s fundraising enterprise expands, the role will evolve to include additional team members and direct reports, laying the groundwork for a future comprehensive campaign. This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished development professional to shape the Gaillard Center’s philanthropic strategy, grow meaningful donor relationships, and make a lasting impact on one of the region’s premier arts institutions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or professional certification preferred.
10+ years of frontline fundraising experience, with a proven record of securing major ($25,000+) and planned gifts.
5+ years of supervisory experience leading and developing high-performing fundraising teams and director-level staff.
Strong strategic planning, project management, and analytical skills to drive results and optimize fundraising performance.
Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to convey complex ideas persuasively.
Proven relationship-building and donor stewardship skills, with experience using CRM systems to manage portfolios and track activity.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication, including persuasive presentations and donor engagement.
Strong strategic thinking, organizational, and analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable fundraising strategies.
Proven relationship-building skills, with the ability to motivate prospects and steward donors effectively.
Proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Spektrix) and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
Self-starter who works independently and collaboratively, handles confidential information with discretion, and can work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.
Must submit to a criminal background check.
Applicant must be eligible to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Experience in major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, and comprehensive campaigns preferred.
Knowledge of multi-channel fundraising and marketing strategies, including social media, digital, phone, and direct mail campaigns.

Responsibilities

Develop, execute, and continuously strengthen a comprehensive individual giving program focused on gifts up to $500,000, generating up to $2 million in annual revenue over the next few years.
In partnership with development operations, design and implement effective systems, processes, and prospect management practices to support sustained fundraising growth.
Manage and steward a portfolio of 50–75 major gift prospects with capacity between the 5- and 6-figure range, while coordinating the seamless transition of principal and transformational level gift prospects to the Vice President of Development.
Supervise and mentor development staff, including subdirectors and potentially annual giving or specialized donor-facing roles as the team evolves.
Maintain deep knowledge of fundraising strategies, financial planning considerations, and planned giving vehicles, including charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, life insurance, beneficiary designations, and bequests.
Partner with donors and their legal and financial advisors to structure, secure, and document current and planned gifts, including complex assets such as real estate, tangible property, and closely held stock.
Support the development of marketing, recognition, and stewardship strategies for planned giving donors.
Serve as a strategic thought partner in overall fundraising planning, providing regular pipeline, proposal, and progress reporting utilizing data and metrics to guide decision-making.
Help lead a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement during a period of organizational growth and transition.
Participate in hiring, onboarding, and professional development efforts, including coaching and performance feedback to support team success.