Senior Director of Individual Giving

Title: Senior Director of Individual Giving  

Reports to: VP, Development  

Location: Hybrid or Remote  

Department: Development (Advancement)  

Salary Range - $150,000 - $165,000

The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA), the largest non-governmental funder of lupus research in the world, is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Senior Director of Individual Giving to develop and maintain a donor-centric, individual major gifts fundraising program in support of LRA. This will require the ability to collaborate with the executive leadership team, staff and volunteer leadership to fund high priority programs and projects. The Senior Director of Individual Giving will be responsible for managing a team of fundraisers (Philanthropy  Officers) and related fundraising events to engage donors and prospects (director of special events).  They will also develop a portfolio of major gifts prospects consisting of both current and potential donors.  

 Strategic Leadership  

• Develop and execute an Individual Giving strategy that supports department and organizational goals.  

• Work with leadership and staff across the organization to recognize opportunities for growth and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them.  

• Collaborate with leadership, the marketing and communications team, scientific advisors/researchers, and patients to highlight LRA’s impact and motivate our donor base to engage with our efforts.  

• Work across the Development team to ensure collaboration, effective communication, and trust.  

 Fundraising Operations:  

• Maintain, cultivate, and develop a portfolio of 50-75 major gifts prospects.  

• Maintain all necessary documentation for prospective and current donors in the database  

• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts prospects and donors at the levels of $10,000 and above.  

• Conduct personal visits, calls and other communications on a regular basis, and track all activity.  

• Assess planned giving opportunities and develop a network of strategic support for the planned giving program..  

• Prepare major gift proposals, solicitation plans and other necessary fundraising materials.  

• Work with leadership to identify and draft solicitation plans for major gifts prospects that align with the organization’s priorities.  

• Partner with the Development Operations and Marketing and Communications teams to develop a donor-centric leadership annual giving and recognition program.  

Team Development/Management  

• Manage a national team of frontline fundraisers.  

• Oversee the donor events function to ensure these events strategically play an integral role in helping the LRA Development department meet its annual fundraising goal.   

• The events team leads support and thoughtful coordination of all donor events including our national gala fundraiser, golf tournament, and other high-net-worth fundraising events.   

• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.  

• Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis.  

• Establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, and conduct annual performance reviews.  

Experience and Background:  

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience  

• 9 – 12 years of experience in fundraising/nonprofit management   

• Experience working with and managing relationships with high-net-worth individuals  

• Proficiency in Salesforce and Microsoft Office Suite, including ability to efficiently create and manipulate Excel data   

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, to multi-task, and to work under pressure on time- sensitive issues  

• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution skills, results oriented  

• Ability to make decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs  

•  Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive; a team member and leader who can positively and productively impact operations on both strategic and tactical levels     

• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management, LRA Board of Directors and all staff  

•  Ability to effectively operate as both a tactical and strategic thinker  

• Passion for the work and mission of LRA