Director of Principal Gifts

Background

Founded in 1874, The 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) is a global center for culture, connection, and enrichment. 92NY connects New York City, the country and the world through programs centered on culture, entertainment, and conversation, harnessing the power of arts, ideas, and Jewish values to enrich, enlighten, and connect the world.

92NY is a singular organization reaching more than 700,000 people annually in person and online. 92NY reaches all 50 states, 200+ countries, and 24 million video views annually. 92NY contributes to the vibrant global cultural landscape and welcomes people of all ages, races, faiths, and backgrounds.

This is an exciting time to join the 92NY as it prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2024 and enters the final stages of a capital campaign that will transform the campus, build an endowment, and support its world-class programs.

The development team is a dynamic group of highly skilled, goal-focused individuals who, alongside program partners, continue to achieve fundraising success by finding creative and unique ways to inspire support across the organization.

At this momentous time in 92NY’s history, the scope and volume of the Development Department’s work continues to expand exponentially, making it imperative to continue growing the team’s staff resources. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Principal Gifts is an integral member of the development team who is a proven frontline fundraiser with extensive experience with high-level individuals and foundations. The Director will possess a blend of proven frontline fundraising experiences with excellent donor relationship development. The successful candidate will be responsible for the generation of increased and new major gifts and the continuing cultivation of annual donors and prospects, as well as loyal patrons. 

Position Summary

As an integral member of the Development Department, the Director of Principal Gifts will be responsible for building an individual portfolio of 25-50 six- and seven-figure and above individual and foundation donors and prospects by identifying, qualifying, cultivating, securing, and stewarding increased support of 92NY. The Director of Principal Gifts helps to build upon 92NY’s robust culture of philanthropy, expanding the donor base and engaging the highest-capacity prospects in 92NY’s mission in meaningful and compelling ways.

Major Accountabilities

• Actively develop and manage a portfolio of 25-50 major gift donors and prospects, including individuals and foundations at the six- and seven-figure level.
• Initiate contact with potential major gift donors and prospects and develop strategies to cultivate relationships.
• Move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure.
• Maintain stewardship contacts with donors, adhering to the highest ethical standards, demonstrating empathetic disposition and perseverance, reflecting an optimistic and positive attitude, and conveying sensitivity to the needs of donors.
• Prepare and present major gift proposals with input and assistance from leadership and/or staff partners, as appropriate.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with a demonstrated track record of growing revenues through successful and meaningful prospecting efforts.
• Expertise in working with high-net worth individuals including Board members.
• Strong organizational skills and discipline in stewarding donor information and database records.
• Adherence to the highest ethical standards with the ability to act with discretion, self-assurance and diplomacy.
• Sound judgment in maintaining strictest of confidentiality of donor information.
• Willingness and desire to attend evening/weekend programming activities in order to cultivate/steward key donors and prospects.
• Demonstrate a collegial disposition to achieve required results with the ability to work positively in a flexible team environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Tessitura preferred.

Experience, Education, & Skills Desired

• Bachelor’s degree; Master’s preferred.
• Ten plus years of portfolio management and major gift solicitation experience in a fast-paced complex institution.
• A proven, successful, track record of closing five, six and seven figure gifts.

• Entrepreneurial spirit with a demonstrated track record of growing revenues through successful and meaningful prospecting efforts

• Expertise in working with high-net worth individuals including Board members.

• Strong track record of partnering with program staff to build donor relationships and foster long-term philanthropic support.
• Experience in an arts institution and/or Jewish organization a plus.
• Experience working with planned giving programs and general knowledge of giving vehicles a plus.
• Strong organizational skills and discipline in stewarding donor information and maintaining database records.
• Ability to think creatively and entrepreneurially about ways to fundraise for 92NY’s many diverse and unique program areas.
• Adherence to the highest ethical standards with the ability to act with discretion, self-assurance, and diplomacy.
• Sound judgment in maintaining strictest confidentiality of donor information.
• Willingness and desire to attend evening/weekend programming activities in order to cultivate/steward key donors and prospects.
• Demonstrate a collegial disposition to achieve required results with the ability to work positively in a flexible team environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and fundraising software, preferably Tessitura.

Work Environment & Requirements

40 hours/week.

This position is approved to utilize a hybrid working model which is subject to change in the future.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should forward a resume and a cover letter with salary requirements.

Due to the high volume of applications that we receive, we are only able to contact those applicants whose experience most aligns with the position profile.

Compensation Range

$150,000-200,000/year

The actual compensation offered will be based on a number of factors including, but not limited to the qualifications of the applicant, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.