Senior Director of Major Gifts

Senior Director of Major Gifts

When you join Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, you're becoming part of a mission that has uplifted our community since 1941. Every day, your work directly supports the most vulnerable individuals in Southern Nevada — offering dignity, hope, and critical services to people of all backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, or creed.

As one of the region's leading nonprofit service providers, we operate 16 impactful programs that reach more than 4,000 people each day. Our team serves across four essential areas — Family Services, Food Services, Immigration and Refugee Services, and Homeless and Housing Services — including the largest Meals on Wheels and Emergency Shelter programs in Southern Nevada. When you work here, you're not just doing a job; you're helping transform lives.

The Senior Director of Major Gifts is responsible for managing and growing Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada's major donor portfolio through disciplined, relationship-based fundraising. This role serves as the organization's lead frontline fundraiser, focused on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors to generate significant philanthropic support in alignment with agency priorities.

Reporting to the Vice President of Advancement, the Senior Director of Major Gifts owns the execution of the donor pipeline and fundraising process, with accountability for moving donors through a structured cultivation model, including point-of-entry engagement, follow-up, relationship building, and solicitation.

This position focuses exclusively on donor portfolios and fundraising execution and partners closely with the Vice President of Advancement and President/CEO to strengthen donor relationships and achieve revenue goals.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 125–150 current and prospective donors, with a focus on major gifts and long-term philanthropic relationships.
• Develop and implement individualized donor strategies for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, ensuring consistent movement through the fundraising pipeline.
• Execute a disciplined, relationship-based fundraising model (e.g., Benevon), including point-of-entry engagement (such as tours), structured follow-up, cultivation, solicitation, and expansion of donor networks.
• Meet and/or exceed individual fundraising goals, contributing significantly to the organization's overall private revenue targets.
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with donors, aligning their philanthropic interests with the mission and impact of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.
• Conduct regular donor meetings, site visits, tours, and personalized outreach to strengthen engagement and advance giving opportunities.
• Partner with the Vice President of Advancement and President/CEO on high-level donor relationships, including preparing briefing materials, supporting solicitations, and coordinating follow-up.
• Identify and qualify new prospects to expand the major gifts pipeline and ensure long-term sustainability of philanthropic support.
• Provide coaching and guidance to fund development staff, supporting their growth in donor engagement, pipeline management, and fundraising effectiveness.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records in the organization's database, including contact reports, strategies, and next steps.
• Create and maintain reports to track donor activity, pipeline movement, and progress toward fundraising goals.
• Collaborate with Marketing & Public Relations to ensure donor communications and materials effectively support relationship-building and fundraising efforts.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams to align donor engagement with programmatic priorities and impact.
• Support engagement opportunities such as tours and cultivation events as part of a broader donor strategy, not as standalone activities.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and laws; maintain accountability standards to donors; and adhere to ethical fundraising principles and professional standards.
• Protect all confidential information, company property, and electronic data. Comply with safety rules.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must have a high degree of initiative and positive can-do attitude.
• Excellent communication skills and demonstrated ability to write clearly and persuasively.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically.
• Strong partnership-building and planning skills.
• Effective communication skills and knowledge of database programs.
• Possess excellent oral and written communication as well as management skills.
• Exceptional financial, organizational and administrative skills.
• Sound judgment to ability to work autonomously.
• Prioritize work and meet necessary deadlines.
• Proficiency in computers and software including Microsoft Office.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a strong focus on major gifts and donor relationship management.
• Demonstrated success securing significant gifts (five- and six-figure level preferred).
• Proven ability to manage a donor portfolio and move prospects through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Experience implementing or working within a relationship-based fundraising model (Benevon or similar preferred).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility with donors and stakeholders.
• Experience working effectively with executive leadership, Board members, and volunteers in fundraising efforts.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining alignment with organizational strategy and leadership direction.
• Computer literate; knowledge of Word and Excel and experience with database software. Experience with Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Primarily works in office environment, but will also work throughout the agency and off site.
• Ability to communicate with donors, volunteers, board and co-workers.
• Ability to operate and use office equipment, especially computer, keyboard and mouse.
• Ability to continuously sit and/or stand. Ability to climb stairs as needed.
• May occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

CCSN is a drug free and equal opportunity employer. All employees must successfully complete a drug test and background check prior to employment.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.