Director of Major Gifts

The Director of Major Gifts is an essential part of HMRI, providing leadership in the fundraising activities of the organization. HMRI seeks a dynamic individual who will be responsible for major gifts fundraising activities, ensuring that donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities are consistent with the organization’s mission and strategic plan. The primary responsibility is to engage key stakeholders in activities that increase philanthropic revenue and support to the organization. Under the supervision of the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Major Gifts is responsible for expanding and diversifying the donor base. The successful candidate will help cultivate and solicit new relationships to build HMRI’s philanthropic revenue streams; develop a revenue growth plan that builds out a robust major gifts program; engages current and prospective major donors; and is responsible for identifying and researching funding opportunities; writing and submitting gift proposals; and executes successful donor stewardship.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily and maintain a high level of integrity and confidentiality. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university;
• Experienced philanthropy professional with a minimum of 5 years demonstrated successful fundraising, particularly in major gifts preferably in a medical or academic environment;
• Knowledge of fundraising principles and techniques;
• Previous experience using Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge software or another donor database;
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues and prospects, building respect, consensus, and trust across reporting lines;
• Knowledge of the Southern California philanthropic community and donors to scientific research a plus;
• Build and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders;
• Proven track record of developing and closing new charitable contributions, and maintaining long-term major gift donors, meeting, and exceeding revenue goals and fundraising metrics;
• Strong verbal and written presentation skills, including the ability to tell compelling stories and deliver persuasive presentations; and
• The Director of Major Gifts also performs other duties as assigned.