Director, Major Gifts

Job Description

Job Description

Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) — a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization based in New York — seeks an enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission aligned Director of Major Gifts to join the Development department.

The Director of Major Gifts will bring a passion for the mission of Harlem Children’s Zone: break the cycle of intergenerational poverty with comprehensive, on-the-ground programming that builds up opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work, and life.

Reporting to the Managing Director of Development and working with the Chief Development Officer and executive leadership, the Director of Major Gifts will oversee all major gift initiatives including cultivating and stewarding current and potential donors as well as the supervision of the Individual Philanthropy team, currently comprised of a Major Gifts Officer and Development Associate. The role will be a visible representative of the organization internally and externally and will collaborate effectively across all departments including Program, Finance, and Research & Evaluation. The Director will partner with the Director of Institutional & Planned Giving to identify planned giving prospects in the Individual Philanthropy vertical. The Director is a member of the organization’s Leadership group—which works collaboratively and strategically across departments to meet organization-wide strategic objectives. Within the Development department, the Director will achieve strategic revenue growth by leading a team-driven effort in coordination with direct reports and the Development Operations and Institutional Giving teams. The candidate should have a passion for contributing to the mission of a pre-eminent anti-poverty organization, which is a leader in New York City and nationally in place-based solutions to promote economic and social mobility.

For more information, check out Want to Work at Harlem Children’s Zone? Here’s 7 Things You Need to Know.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years fundraising experience required

• Proven track record in prospect management and major gifts solicitation (preferably at the $100,000+ level)
• 2+ years successfully managing and mentoring a front-line team

Who You Are

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Outlook

• Experience working with Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM platform

• Time and project management skills and the ability to work well under deadlines

• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with strong attention to detail

• Working knowledge of leading NYC and national philanthropists, with a learning mindset to draw connections and relationship map

What You’ll Do

Portfolio Management

• In partnership with the Managing Director and CDO, proactively identify principal giving prospects and strategies to engage and grow revenue.
• Manage and grow a targeted portfolio of current and prospective major gift donors through best practice cultivation and stewardship to achieve strategic revenue growth.
• Successfully set and achieve annual revenue targets for self and Major Gifts Officer.
• Assist the CDO on all facets of board-driven solicitation for the annual Friend of the Children Award gala, which raises $10M+, and other cultivation events, ensuring timely follow up, stewardship, and strategic engagement to expand portfolio of Major Gift donors.
• Create and implement Major Gift pipeline strategies using research and targeted donor communications.

Management of Individual Philanthropy Team

• Supervise the Individual Philanthropy team of a Major Gifts Officer and an Individual Philanthropy Associate.
• Lead the Individual Philanthropy team in the enhancement and expansion of the individual giving donor base.
• Develop and implement a strategy to increase revenue at the under $50,000 level with the goal of $1.5M+ raised annually.
• In partnership with an Annual Fund consultant and Director of Operations, manage the annual appeal process, including mailed and digital appeals.
• Supervise the content creation and deployment of targeted correspondence—including annual reports, solicitations, proposals, appeals, and stewardship materials—to engage donors and prospects.

Strategic Collaboration and Integrated Systems Management

• Work with CDO and Managing Director of Development, organizational leadership, and lead program staff to develop and implement fundraising strategies around emerging organizational projects and priorities.
• Collaborate with the Managing Director to implement systems, utilizing the skillsets of the Research Manager, Individual Philanthropy Associate, and Development Operations Associate to create efficiencies for Development Operations.
• Partner with Director of Institutional & Planned Giving to identify planned giving prospects across the Individual Philanthropy vertical, within all assigned portfolios. Ensure that the Individual Philanthropy team is prioritizing and proactively assessing Planned Giving opportunities within portfolios.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Events & Special Projects to design tactics and long-term engagement strategies for events, including the annual benefit, to deepen donor commitment, increase giving, broaden the donor base, and manage the stewardship of HCZ’s philanthropy.
• Play a key fundraising role—through collaborating with project leads for prospecting, solicitations, and post-event follow-up—for HCZ events, including the annual Friend of the Children Award celebration and cultivation events.

Schedule

• Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days remote)

Benefits

As a member of the Harlem Children's Zone team, you will join a supportive and inclusive community dedicated to helping children, families — and our staff — thrive. We offer highly competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for growth.

Our exceptional full-time benefits include:

• Highly competitive base salaries
• Paid time off
• Performance bonus eligible
• Employee referral bonus
• Career advancement
• No-cost health insurance
• Life Insurance
• Short-and long-term disability
• Additional voluntary benefits
• Wellness discounts
• Commuter benefits
• Financial wellness perks
• Additional Benefits (Discounts on flights, hotels, theme parks, concert tickets, and more.)

The salary range for this position is $140,000 - $150,000 per year. This position will be eligible for an annual performance bonus and participation in the Senior Management Growth Fund, a deferred bonus program for senior staff. To be considered, interested applicants should apply directly through the posting. No telephone inquiries or recruiters, please. Replies will only be sent to qualified applicants. Harlem Children's Zone and Promise Academy Charter Schools do not provide work visas for candidates who require employer sponsorship to ensure work authorization in the United States. Harlem Children's Zone is an Equal Opportunity Employer.