National Director of Principal Gifts

POSITION SUMMARY

The National Director of Principal Gifts is a senior‑level fundraising leader responsible for securing transformational philanthropic investments—typically $1 million and above—from ultra‑high‑net‑worth partners nationwide. Reporting to the Vice President of Strategic Engagement, this role plays a critical part in advancing World Relief’s mission by cultivating deep, trust‑based relationships with donors who feel called to invest significantly in God’s work in the world’s greatest crises. This role serves as both a front‑line principal gifts officer and a strategic partner to executive leadership, collaborating closely with the CEO, senior leaders, and board members. The National Director invites partners into bold expressions of generosity by faithfully stewarding relationships, articulating compelling opportunities for impact, and grounding fundraising practice in a distinctly Christian theology of generosity.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Principal Gifts Fundraising & Relationship Management
  • Manage a national portfolio of 25-40 ultra‑high‑net‑worth donors and prospects with the capacity to make seven‑figure gifts.
  • Lead partners through the full principal gift engagement cycle—qualification, cultivation, solicitation, commitment, and stewardship—resulting in transformational philanthropy.
  • Design and execute customized, donor‑centric strategies that align partner passions with World Relief’s mission, strategies, and funding priorities.
  • Secure principal‑level outright gifts that advance national, global, and programmatic initiatives through accountability to lead indicator targets and revenue goals.
• Faith‑Centered Donor Engagement
  • Integrate personal faith in Jesus Christ into donor relationships with authenticity, humility, and pastoral sensitivity.
  • Engage partners spiritually as appropriate, recognizing philanthropy as both a calling and an invitation into faithful Kingdom participation.
  • Demonstrate pastoral care and spiritual leadership in conversations with partners, particularly as they discern significant generosity.
  • Embrace and model World Relief’s fundraising values, including those articulated in Henri Nouwen’s The Spirituality of Fundraising, treating donors as partners—not means to an end.
• Strategic Partnership with Leadership & Board
  • Partner closely with the CEO, VP SED, and senior leaders in developing cultivation and solicitation strategies for top‑tier partners.
  • Prepare and deliver high‑impact proposals, briefings, cases for support, and stewardship reports appropriate for a principal gift audience.
  • Facilitate authentic, purpose‑driven interactions between partners and senior leaders that strengthen long‑term commitment.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on principal gift strategy, donor discernment, and philanthropic engagement.
• Pipeline Development & National Reach
  • Identify, qualify, and cultivate new principal gift prospects through national networks, referrals, peer fundraisers, board connections, and strategic events.
  • Build and manage a robust principal gifts pipeline with clear strategies, projections, and next steps.
  • Collaborate with prospect research and peer fundraisers to prioritize high‑capacity opportunities across regions and portfolios.
  • Help support the whole of the Strategic Engagement team through equipping frontline fundraisers to pursue principal gifts in their own portfolios.
  • Represent World Relief with excellence at national donor gatherings, small group experiences, and relationship‑building events.
• Stewardship, Accountability & Collaboration
  • Steward principal gift partners with integrity, transparency, and gratitude, reinforcing trust and long‑term partnership.
  • Maintain accurate donor strategies, records, and activity reports in accordance with organizational and database standards.
  • Participate in principal gifts portfolio reviews, forecasting, and goal‑tracking processes.
  • Collaborate across the Strategic Engagement Division to ensure donor engagement aligns with enterprise‑wide fundraising priorities and culture.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Mature and personal Christian faith
• Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
• Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
• Ability to affirm and actively live out World Reliefs , , and
• Demonstrated integration of personal faith into professional life with maturity, discernment, and grace.
• Bachelor’s degree required
• 7–10+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, with a proven track record securing $1M+ gifts.
• Experience engaging ultra‑high‑net‑worth individuals and partnering with senior executives and boards.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and storytelling skills.
• Strategic and relational thinker with the ability to navigate complex donor journeys and long cultivation cycles.
• Collaborative spirit with experience operating effectively in national or matrixed fundraising environments.
• Proficiency with fundraising systems and tools (e.g., Raiser’s Edge NXT, Microsoft applications).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree preferred
• Additional participation in philanthropic societies and advanced industry training in principal gifts

$115,000 - $140,000 a year

World Relief offers a competitive benefits package and employee discount program for full-time, Regular, employees. World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well‑being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.