JOB DESCRIPTION

Director of Major Gifts

Location: New York, NY

Reports To: Interim Fundraising Coordinator

Supervises: Senior Individual Giving Associate, Individual Giving Associate, Volunteer Program Manager, Volunteer Associate, Sr. Database and Systems Coordinator

New York Common Pantry (NYCP) is a leading force in combating hunger across NYC and Westchester. We practice a “Whole Person” approach through an array of programs that promote health and self-sufficiency by amplifying the dignity of everyone we serve.

Amid an exciting period of growth and development, we are seeking a Director of Major Gifts to strengthen our Development team. This pivotal role offers the opportunity to lead the creation and rapid expansion of our major gifts program from its inception. As a key member of our Individual Giving team, the ideal candidate will focus on building enduring relationships and securing substantial donations from our most impactful donors, aligning major gifts with our broader giving goals to advance our mission.

We are searching for a professional with a proven track record in major gifts, who is eager to apply their expertise in cultivating and strategically expanding our major gifts program. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to innovation and teamwork, which are crucial as they will lead and mentor the volunteer and individual giving team.

This role is designed for someone who is driven to propel our organization to new heights, leveraging their experience in major gift fundraising to make a lasting impact.

This full-time, exempt role is based at our East Harlem Pantry and includes a hybrid work model, requiring travel to meet with donors across the Tri-State. Leading a dedicated team of four, the Director of Major Gifts is at the forefront of advancing NYCP’s mission through strategic donor engagement and stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Directly oversee and expand a diverse portfolio of 75-100 donors, strategically elevating mid-level donors to major donor status through personalized engagement strategies and meticulous relationship building.

• Collaborate with the Executive Director, Senior Director of Finance, and Development Committee to develop annual fundraising goals, outline fundraising plans, and related activities.

• Collaborate with the Deputy Executive Director and the Managing Director of Programs to help inform needs to identify donors with specific interests.

• Design and implement strategic plans to cultivate, strengthen, and acknowledge relationships with prospects and donors promptly and personally, ensuring high donor satisfaction and long-term engagement.

• Oversee the Senior Individual Giving Associate, Individual Giving Associate, and Sr. Database and Systems Coordinator.

• Collaborate with the Senior Individual Giving Associate, Individual Giving Associate, and Sr. Database and Systems Coordinator on strategic planning to enhance team effectiveness and improve donor engagement strategies.

• Utilize Raiser’s Edge NXT to systematically track, analyze, and report on donor activities and interactions, maintaining system integrity and functionality to support strategic decision-making in major gifts cultivation and solicitation.

• Serve as the primary contact for major donors (annual gifts >$9,999), managing recruitment, engagement, direct solicitations, and building strong relationships through calls and in-person meetings.

• Facilitate gift planning and stewardship with the Board, ensuring effective communication and support for Board members’ fundraising efforts.

• Prepare compelling written proposals, informational materials, and support documentation for fundraising initiatives, assisting the Executive Director and Board in drafting giving policies, donor agreements, and naming-rights proposals.

• Leverage existing fundraising events as opportunities to cultivate relationships with current and prospective donors, enhancing engagement and fostering a community of support.

• Guide the strategic expansion of the volunteer program across four sites, in partnership with the Volunteer Program Manager and Volunteer Program Associate, to enhance community involvement and support for NYCP's mission.

• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.

• Commitment to serving communities in need and passion for advancing NYCP’s mission and work.

• A minimum of five years of development experience is required, with a track record of securing six to seven-figure gifts.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with an eye for detail.

• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.

• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the diplomacy, poise, and collaborative approach required to build strong relationships with board members, volunteers, major donors, and colleagues across departments.

• Exceptional strategic thinking and leadership skills, with a proven ability to foster innovation, navigate and adapt to change, and guide teams through evolving fundraising landscapes to achieve ambitious goals.

• Proficient in using MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.

• Experience with fundraising CRM, Raiser’s Edge a plus.

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to reflect the current job accurately, management reserves the right to revise the job or require other or different tasks to be performed as assigned. This description does not constitute a contract of employment, and NYCP may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.

New York Common Pantry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to you without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, medical condition or disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.

Pay:$105,000 - $119,000

Benefit:

• Paid time off, including Vacation, Personal, and Sick

• Medical, Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan, Dental, and Vision insurance

• Paid Holidays

• 403(b) Retirement Account

• Employer Paid Life Insurance, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability

• Pre-tax Transit benefits

• Voluntary Pet Insurance