Director of Major Gifts

YMCA of Greater Boston

Director of Major Gifts

LOCATION: Association Offices- 316 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA
REPORTS TO: Vice President of Development

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position offers an exciting opportunity as the organization seeks to expand its philanthropic footprint by building a vibrant and sustaining major gift program. The Director of Major Gifts will be responsible for developing and executing strategies to secure major gift donations from individuals including existing YMCA members and donors. They will cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of 150 – 250 individuals. This position will be highly visible within the organization working in partnership with our local YMCA family centers to develop compelling gift opportunities and engage prospective and existing donors in our work.

Founded in 1851 as America’s first YMCA, today the YMCA of Greater Boston reaches more than 150,000 children and adults throughout the region through its 13 family centers and signature programs. The YMCA of Greater Boston is one of the largest providers of early education, before/after school programs and teen employment in the region and will provide over 3.5 million meals to hungry children and families this year. The Director of Major Gifts will play a key role in advancing the mission of the organization and increasing its community impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy Development:

• Develop a comprehensive individual major gifts strategy aligned with the organization's mission and goals.
• Identify potential major gift prospects and create personalized cultivation plans for each donor.

Donor Cultivation and Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective major donors. Meet with 5 – 10 donors monthly.
• Organize and oversee donor cultivation events, personalized meetings, and engagement activities. Partner with YMCA leaders for effective donor conversations. Prepare and write briefings for internal champions.
• Develop and implement stewardship plans to ensure ongoing engagement and retention of major donors.

Fundraising and Solicitation:

• In partnership with YMCA executive directors, make direct solicitations for major gifts.
• Collaborate with senior leadership, executive directors, and board members to engage them in donor cultivation and solicitation activities.
• Create compelling fundraising materials, proposals, and presentations tailored to major gift prospects.

Data Management and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate records of donor interactions and manage donor information in the CRM system.
• Generate regular reports to track progress, analyze fundraising metrics, and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies.

Collaboration and Coordination:

• Work closely with the development team, executive directors, and leadership team, to integrate major gifts initiatives into overall fundraising efforts.
• Work with board members, donors, the CEO, and executive directors and on one’s own to open doors to potential major gift donors and leverage the existing relationships of the CEO to secure meetings when appropriate.
• Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to create targeted messaging for major gift prospects.

Research and Prospect Identification:

• Conduct research to identify new potential major gift prospects both currently in and outside the current YMCA orbit and assess their philanthropic interests.
• Analyze donor giving patterns and wealth indicators to prioritize and qualify prospects.

• Perform other duties as needed

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 8 years demonstrated fundraising experience or similar professional experience.
• Proven experience in major gift fundraising, with a track record of securing significant donations.
• Excellent writing, proofreading and computer skills.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and networking skills with large groups.
• Ability to maintain poise and professionalism in all circumstances.

• Demonstrated ability to take primary responsibility for diverse number of projects and to complete them in a timely manner with limited supervision.
• Strong strategic planning and project management abilities.
• Proficiency in CRM software and fundraising tools.

Salary Range: $110,000 - $120,000