Individual and Major Giving Director

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Job Title: Individual and Major Giving Director

Supervisor: Chief Development & Communications Officer

Job Status: Exempt/ Full Time 

Job Hours: 35 hours per week

Location: Hybrid schedule 4 days in the office (Midtown Manhattan) and 1 WFH

Salary: $125,000 - $150,000 annually*

*Candidates must have the required qualifications to be considered for the position. The salary offer will be determined based on the candidate’s relevant experience in the same or a comparable position, as well as their overall qualifications, skills, and additional preferred credentials. Consideration may also be given to the scope and complexity of the candidate’s prior responsibilities and demonstrated expertise.

About Encore: Widely known as Broadway's longest-running act of loving care , Encore’s mission is to improve the quality of life for older New Yorkers so they are not just surviving, but thriving. Through a robust array of programming, Encore takes a “no wrong door approach” to ensure older adults can age in place comfortably for as long as possible. Encore is recognized as one of the most respected and trusted nonprofit organizations providing services for older New Yorkers in New York City . Encore is on the cutting edge in the human service field and is a staunch advocate not only for older New Yorkers but also for the essential human service employees who serve as the City’s safety net. Do not miss this chance to work for a mission-oriented organization, which centers employees as its number one resource. 

About Position: The Individual and Major Giving Director will serve as a strategic fundraising partner to the Chief Development & Communications Officer (CDCO), working in close collaboration to develop and implement Encore's individual giving and major donor strategy. Reporting directly to the CDCO, this position will help translate organizational fundraising priorities into actionable plans, systems, and donor engagement strategies that drive revenue growth and long-term sustainability. 

The Individual and Major Giving Director will oversee the launch and growth of Encore’s major donor circle, the Encore Society , and build a pipeline of future donors through strategic initiatives such as research, moves management, monthly giving, and other strategies. The person will play a central role in systemizing donor engagement, deepening donor insights, and supporting leadership and board members in managing donor relationships with a focus on growing revenue.

Benefits: This position is a full-time position with benefits that include medical insurance (with Employee contribution), Dental & Vision plans with coverage beginning on the first day of hire, generous paid time off (vacation, personal days, sick days and earned floating holidays), 403(b) with 3% Employer Match after a year of employment, Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care and transit benefits. 

Individual and Major Donor Giving Strategy and Program Management:

· Partner closely with the Chief Development & Communications Officer to develop fundraising strategy, hit and exceed revenue goals, and advance organizational priorities related to individual and major donor philanthropy.

· Build and implement a comprehensive individual giving program, including annual, major, and other strategies;

· Develop and manage annual revenue goals and budgets for individual giving (small gifts, mid-level, and major donors);

· Create a multi-year donor pipeline strategy, including acquisition, retention, and upgrade pathways;

· Oversee and grow key programs, including monthly giving and donor societies (e.g., Encore Society);

· Other duties as assigned.

For example: Creating a portfolio of 150 qualified donors and prospects for the CEO, CDCO, and Board members, complete with individualized cultivation plans, recommended next actions, and solicitation strategies, then conducting monthly portfolio reviews to ensure donor engagement activity remains on track and opportunities do not stagnate.

Donor Research, Portfolios and Moves Management:

· Conduct and oversee donor research to better understand giving capacity, interests, and engagement opportunities;

· Create and manage donor portfolios and engagement strategies for the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Development & Communications Officer, and Board members, ensuring coordinated cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts;

· Implement and manage a moves management system to track cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities;

· Support and hold portfolio managers accountable for donor engagement goals, ensuring consistent progress;

· Provide strategic guidance, briefing materials, and talking points for leadership and board donor interactions;

· Other duties as assigned.

For example: Preparing a donor briefing for the CEO before a meeting with a long-time supporter that includes giving history, philanthropic interests, previous interactions, recommended talking points, anticipated questions, and a suggested ask amount tied to Encore's strategic priorities.

Encore Society:

· Manage and grow Encore’s major donor circle, the Encore Society;

· Develop and manage an annual Encore Society stewardship calendar, coordinating the execution of all member benefits, communications, recognition activities, and engagement opportunities in partnership with leadership and staff;

· Identify and segment Encore Society members and prospects based on giving history, engagement, interests, and capacity to develop tailored cultivation and stewardship strategies;

· Design and execute targeted donor engagement, recognition, and stewardship initiatives that deepen donor commitment and increase retention;

· Partner with leadership to identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors;

· Develop strategies to upgrade and retain Encore Society members, creating pathways for increased giving and long-term philanthropic investment

· Plan and execute meaningful donor engagement opportunities tied to the program;

· Track and analyze donor participation, retention, and giving trends to inform strategy and strengthen program performance

· Other duties as assigned. 

For example: Designing and implementing a year-round stewardship plan for Encore Society members that includes exclusive mission-focused experiences, personalized impact reports, donor recognition opportunities, and leadership engagement designed to increase retention and annual upgrades.

Volunteer Engagement and Giving Pipeline Development:

· Partner closely with the Volunteer Engagement Specialist to integrate fundraising strategy into Encore’s robust volunteer program;

· Develop and implement strategies to convert volunteers into donors, creating a clear pipeline from engagement to giving;

· Identify segmentation opportunities within the volunteer base (e.g., long-term volunteers, corporate volunteers, high-capacity individuals) to tailor cultivation approaches;

· Design and execute targeted volunteer-to-donor engagement campaigns, including appeals, stewardship communications, and special recognition opportunities;

· Collaborate on shared engagement touchpoints (events, communications, recognition efforts) that deepen volunteers’ connection to Encore’s mission and increase philanthropic participation;

· Track and analyze volunteer giving trends and engagement metrics to inform strategy and improve conversion and retention;

· Ensure strong coordination between volunteer and development data systems to support holistic relationship management;

· Other duties as assigned. 

For example: Working with the Volunteer Engagement Specialist to identify long-term volunteers with strong affinity for Encore's mission and creating a personalized engagement campaign that includes donor education, impact stories, and cultivation events designed to encourage first-time giving.

Direct Response and Annual Giving:

· Oversee the organization’s direct mail program, including planning, writing, and execution of appeals;

· Develop and manage an integrated annual appeals calendar (mail, email, and digital campaigns);

· Collaborate with Communications to align messaging and branding across campaigns;

· Analyze campaign performance and continuously optimize strategy;

· Other duties as assigned.  

For example: Developing a year-end fundraising campaign that combines direct mail, email, and digital outreach around the impact of our home-delivered meals and older adult services, resulting in increased donor participation and year-over-year revenue growth.

Donor Systems and Infrastructure :

· Build and strengthen Encore’s individual giving infrastructure, ensuring scalable systems and processes;

· Systemize donor engagement across the organization, including standardized touchpoints, communications, and stewardship practices;

· Improve donor tracking and relationship management within the CRM (e.g., DonorPerfect), ensuring accurate and actionable data;

· Establish workflows to ensure timely gift acknowledgment, follow-up, and stewardship;

· Develop dashboards and reporting systems to track donor trends, revenue performance, and engagement metrics;

· Other duties as assigned. 

For example: Implementing standardized donor stewardship workflows within DonorPerfect that trigger acknowledgments, follow-up reminders, cultivation activities, and stewardship reports, ensuring a consistent donor experience across the organization. Creating executive dashboards that track donor acquisition, retention, pipeline movement, campaign performance, and major gift activity, allowing leadership to make informed, real-time fundraising decisions.

Reporting and Performance Management:

· Produce regular reports on individual giving/major donor performance, including revenue, retention, acquisition, and pipeline development;

· Provide insights and recommendations to leadership based on donor data and trends;

· Partner with Finance to ensure accurate reconciliation and reporting of contributions;

· Other duties as assigned. 

For example: Producing quarterly fundraising performance reports highlighting donor retention trends, portfolio activity, and revenue forecasts, then presenting recommendations to leadership to address risks and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Cross Functional Collaboration:

· Partner with Development, Communications, and Finance to align strategies and systems;

· Support leadership and Board engagement in fundraising activities;

· Contribute to broader departmental planning and special projects as needed;

· Other duties as assigned. 

For example: Coordinating with the CEO, CDCO, and Board members to prepare for strategic donor meetings, ensuring participants understand donor interests, organizational priorities, relationship history, and clear next steps following each interaction.

Qualifications: 

· Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience;

· 5+ years of experience in fundraising, with a focus on individual giving/Major Donor Giving preferred;

· Experience working with donor databases (DonorPerfect or similar CRM strongly preferred);

· Demonstrated experience with donor strategy, portfolio management, or moves management systems;

· Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into strategy;

· Excellent writing and communication skills, especially for donor-facing materials;

· Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously;

· Ability to work collaboratively and support senior leadership and board members;

· Interest in nonprofit work and/or aging services a plus;

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience launching or managing donor societies or major gift programs;
• Experience with direct mail and multi-channel fundraising campaigns;
• Familiarity with prospect research tools (e.g., DonorSearch, WealthEngine);
• Experience building or scaling fundraising systems and infrastructure;