Director of Major Gifts

Phillips Academy seeks a strategic, collaborative, and results-driven Director of Major Gifts to lead a growing major gifts program. The Director of Major Gifts is responsible for the overall strategy, management, and execution of the major gifts program, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors and prospects capable of making gifts ranging from $100,000 to $5 million. Reporting to the Director of Academy Advancement, this role includes personal portfolio management as well as the supervision of five Major Gift Officers and a leadership prospect program. The Director also oversees a Development Associate and two administrative staff.

As a key member of the Development Leadership team, the Director of Major Gifts works closely with peer Directors, including Annual Giving, Family Giving, Advancement Initiatives, Donor Relations, International and Gift Planning to ensure coordination amongst individual giving programs.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

The successful candidate will bring strong leadership and experience in the following areas:

• Defining overall strategy and providing day-to-day management of the major gifts program.
• Managing a personal portfolio of major gift donors and prospects.
• Supporting and mentoring a team of five Major Gift Officers to achieve individual and team goals.
• Developing and leading cultivation and stewardship opportunities and events for high-level donors.
• Supporting the Head of School and key volunteers in engagement and solicitation strategies, including participation in meetings and events as appropriate.
• Collaborating closely with Advancement colleagues to align strategies across donor programs.
• Driving long-term donor engagement strategies with a focus on alumni, parents, and other key stakeholders.
• Fostering a team culture centered on professional growth, collaboration, and accountability.
  
  

Minimum Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 6–8 years of development experience in major gifts or a related fundraising field.
• Demonstrated success in managing high-level donor relationships and closing six-figure gifts.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with the ability to lead a team through both personal action and strategic guidance.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a fast-paced advancement environment.
• Familiarity with the values and mission of independent or private education is preferred.
  
  

The Successful Candidate Will Possess

• Proven knowledge of major gift best practices, including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Ability to engage alumni and parent constituencies in a meaningful and strategic way.
• Sensitivity to the role of gift planning, alumni engagement, and volunteer involvement in successful fundraising programs.
• Strong planning and program management skills.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and integrity.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Direct supervision of five Major Gift Officers.
• Management of a Development Associate and two administrative staff.
  
  

Travel—including overnight travel—is required, both locally off-campus as well as out of state.

Night and weekend work is required for events and donor engagements, both on campus and off, including out of state.

For a full list of responsibilities and qualifications, please refer to the attached job description

To be considered for this position a cover letter is required.

The Academy provides competitive benefits, and salary is commensurate with experience.

Phillips Academy is committed to equal employment opportunity and solicits applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, disability (with or without a reasonable accommodation), genetic information, veteran/military status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Any offers of employment will be contingent upon successful CORI/SORI and fingerprinting background checks as well as unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.