Director, Major Gifts

Location: Commerce Place 

Work Days: M-F 8:30-5  

Category: Professional and Management  

Department: Alliance Foundation  

Job Type: Full time  

Work Shift: Day 

Hours/Week: 40.00 

Union Name: Non Union

Summary
The Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) Foundation serves as the philanthropic partner of the Cambridge Health Alliance, dedicated to advancing CHA's mission of improving the health and well-being of its communities. The Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving plays a key role in this mission by driving CHA’s major gifts and planned giving strategies in partnership with the Chief Development Officer (CDO). This position focuses on securing substantial gifts, ranging from $10,000 to over $1 million, with an emphasis on gifts of $250,000 and higher. By developing, implementing, and refining strategic plans to generate $3 million or more annually in major and planned gifts, the Director will support CHA’s mission, ensuring the resources necessary to expand and sustain CHA’s programs and services. This role requires exceptional relationship-building skills and collaboration with the CDO, board members, community leaders, clinicians, foundation staff, and volunteers.

Responsibilities
The Director or Major Gifts and Planned Giving will create and implement strategies to significantly expand CHA’s major gifts and planned giving program, directly supporting CHA’s mission to improve community health by:

• Portfolio Management: Personally cultivating and soliciting a portfolio of 100+ high-capacity major and planned gift prospects within the CHA region, ensuring alignment with CHA’s mission and priorities. Meet performance objectives by maintaining high levels of development activity that result in critical funding and identification of new prospects.

• Proposal Development: Preparing proposals (for outright and planned gifts) and ensuring stewardship reports for donors and prospects. Build plans to involve senior leaders, clinicians, and board members in cultivating major gifts, partnering with the CDO to engage key stakeholders who are committed to advancing CHA’s mission.

• Donor Relations: Establishing and maintaining positive, long-term relationships with donors and prospects, inspiring continued support for CHA’s mission.

• Prospect Coordination: Collaborating with the Prospect, Grant, and Research Specialist to identify major donors, utilizing events as effective prospecting, relationship-building, and stewardship opportunities.

• Collaboration: Coordinating with Foundation staff and CHA leadership to ensure a unified approach to donors and prospects that supports CHA’s mission and vision.

• Metrics and Goal Setting: Adhering to and documenting metrics that track success and highlight areas for improvement, setting and meeting annual goals aligned with advancing CHA’s mission.

• Program Performance Analysis: Analyzing the major gift and planned giving program’s performance and reporting outcomes to Senior Leadership in partnership with the CDO, with a focus on advancing CHA’s strategic goals.

• Industry Awareness: Staying informed on philanthropic trends and best practices, and applying them to enhance the effectiveness of CHA’s mission-driven development work.

• Internal Engagement: Partnering with CHA leadership to find creative opportunities for donor engagement and support for CHA’s mission.

• Program Management: Building support across all levels of CHA to identify and cultivate planned and major gift prospects who are committed to CHA’s mission.

• Confidentiality and Compliance: Following privacy, confidentiality, and HIPAA regulations to protect donor information.

• Strategic Alignment: Understanding the Foundation’s role within CHA’s broader strategic plan and raising funds that directly support CHA’s mission and vision.

• Diversity and Inclusion: Demonstrating a commitment to inclusiveness, respect, and diversity, essential to CHA’s mission of serving diverse communities.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., non-profit management, public administration, business, finance, social work, or community development). Equivalent experience may substitute for a degree.

• Experience: Minimum of seven years of professional fundraising experience in major and planned gifts, with progressive responsibility and leadership growth. Experience in healthcare or higher education fundraising is preferred.

• Interpersonal Skills: Proven ability to engage effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including donors, senior leaders, board members, volunteers, and community and business leaders.

• Leadership Skills: Demonstrated leadership and management skills, with an emphasis on detail orientation, timeliness, and ability to work under pressure on multiple projects. Ability to independently manage projects while providing essential updates to leadership.

• Communication: Advanced writing skills to produce clear, accurate, and detailed communications.

• Database Experience: Proficiency with donor databases and the capability to lead a metrics-driven program through consistent reporting and data management.

• Analytical and Creative Thinking: Strong analytical and creative skills to support program development and donor engagement.

• Self-Motivation: Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, balanced by a commitment to providing regular updates to leadership.

Other Information

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, with frequent regional travel for in-person events, meetings, and other business needs.

 
In keeping with federal, state and local laws, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) policy forbids employees and associates to discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, color, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to establishing and maintaining a workplace free of discrimination. We are fully committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not tolerate unlawful discrimination in the recruitment, hiring, termination, promotion, salary treatment or any other condition of employment or career development. Furthermore, we will not tolerate the use of discriminatory slurs, or other remarks, jokes or conduct, that in the judgment of CHA, encourage or permit an offensive or hostile work environment.