Director of Corporate & Major Gifts

ROLE SUMMARY:

The Director of Corporate & Major Gifts is a senior philanthropy leader responsible for securing significant philanthropic investments from individuals, corporations, foundations, and community partners. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Philanthropy, this position serves as a frontline fundraiser, relationship strategist, and ambassador for Wellnest, cultivating high-impact partnerships that advance the organization's mission and strategic priorities.

The Director will manage a portfolio of major donors and corporate partners capable of making investments ranging from $10,000 to seven figures, while developing new opportunities for sponsorships, corporate engagement, employee giving, volunteerism, and long-term philanthropic support.

Success in this role requires exceptional relationship-building skills, strategic thinking, a demonstrated record of securing major gifts, and the ability to confidently represent Wellnest among philanthropic, corporate, and community leaders throughout Los Angeles.

External engagement and relationship development are core functions of this role. The Director is expected to maintain a consistent presence in the community, regularly attending events and networking opportunities that support donor cultivation, corporate partnership development, brand visibility, and long-term philanthropic growth.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Major Gifts Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Develop and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors capable of making gifts of $10,000 and above.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity individuals through strategic relationship management and moves management practices.
• Design and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
• Conduct donor visits, discovery meetings, site tours, and stewardship activities.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and board members to advance donor engagement and solicitation strategies.
• Develop compelling proposals and cases for support that align donor interests with organizational priorities.

Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships

• Develop and grow Wellnest's corporate philanthropy and sponsorship program.
• Secure corporate support through sponsorships, employee giving campaigns, volunteer initiatives, cause-marketing partnerships, and program investments.
• Build relationships with corporate executives, business leaders, corporate foundations, employee resource groups, and community affairs professionals.
• Create customized partnership opportunities that align corporate objectives with Wellnest's mission and impact.

Revenue Growth & Strategic Fundraising

• Establish and achieve annual revenue goals for major gifts, corporate partnerships, and sponsorships.
• Maintain a robust pipeline of prospects to support annual giving, special initiatives, capital projects, and planned giving opportunities.
• Monitor fundraising activity, donor movement, and portfolio performance through data-driven reporting and forecasting.
• Partner with the Vice President of Philanthropy to implement long-range fundraising strategies that diversify revenue and expand philanthropic support.

Board & Volunteer Engagement

• Partner with board members, ambassadors, Friends of Wellnest participants, and volunteer leaders to identify and cultivate prospective supporters.
• Provide strategic guidance, coaching, and fundraising materials that support donor-facing activities.
• Leverage volunteer and board networks to expand donor and corporate prospect pipelines.

Stewardship & Donor Relations

• Ensure exceptional stewardship of donors, sponsors, and corporate partners.
• Develop recognition opportunities, impact reports, and engagement strategies that promote long-term support.
• Maintain accurate donor records, activity tracking, and moves management documentation within the CRM system.
• Partner with the Communications team to ensure consistent, donor-centered messaging and engagement.

Planned Giving & Long-Term Relationship Development

• Identify and cultivate planned giving opportunities among major donors.
• Support the development and implementation of Wellnest's legacy giving strategy.
• Integrate long-term philanthropic conversations into donor engagement and stewardship plans.

Leadership & Team Development

• Supervise and mentor assigned development staff.
• Foster a culture of relationship-based philanthropy across the organization.
• Support staff professional growth, accountability, and performance excellence.
• Serve as a key member of the Philanthropy Department leadership team.

External Relations & Strategic Partnerships

• Serve as a highly visible ambassador for Wellnest throughout Los Angeles, representing the organization at community, corporate, philanthropic, and networking events.
• Build and strengthen relationships with business leaders, community stakeholders, civic organizations, and philanthropic partners to advance fundraising and partnership goals.
• Actively engage with organizations such as the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Latino Chamber of Commerce, business associations, corporate leadership groups, and other professional networks to identify and cultivate new funding and partnership opportunities.
• Attend galas, community events, conferences, and networking functions to increase Wellnest's visibility, expand its network of supporters, and generate qualified major gift and corporate partnership prospects.
• Position Wellnest as a trusted leader in children's, youth, and family mental health through strategic external engagement and relationship-building.

Key Performance Indicators

• Achieve annual major gift and corporate fundraising goals.
• Increase the number of qualified major donor and corporate prospects in the fundraising pipeline.
• Secure new corporate partnerships and sponsorships annually.
• Maintain a high level of donor retention and engagement.
• Expand Wellnest's visibility and strategic relationships throughout the Los Angeles community.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree required. A CFRE designation, advanced degree, or equivalent fundraising credentials preferred. Minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising experience with increasing levels of responsibility.Demonstrated success securing five-, six-, and preferably seven-figure gifts. Significant experience in major gifts, corporate partnerships, sponsorship development, and donor engagement. Proven ability to build and manage relationships with executives, board members, volunteers, and high-capacity donors. Experience utilizing CRM systems, prospect research tools, portfolio management, and fundraising analytics.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Employee may be asked to pursue additional training when it is determined to be in the best interest of the Company. Employee must have the ability to use a personal vehicle with the required insurance coverage to complete the essential duties of their job and conduct agency business. Employee must maintain a valid California driver’s license and clean driving record that meets Wellnest’s insurance carrier’s criteria for liability coverage. In keeping with Company policy for all employees, the successful applicant must also complete a test for TB, and fingerprint clearance by the Department of Justice. Employee must agree to Wellnest's Arbitration Agreement as a condition of employment.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Employee regularly works in an office environment. Employee may be required to work flexible, evening and/or weekend hours for time-sensitive projects.

REASONING ABILITY: 

• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from clients, office personnel, other employees and the general public
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret manual and office documents
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form
• Ability to define problems, gather, transcribe and post data, analyze, synthesize and classify information, and draw valid conclusions where only limited standardization exists
• Ability to work independently and with others - including other employees, clients and members of the public - in face-to-face and telephonic contexts
• Ability to multi-task, establish priorities and manage time, meet deadlines and perform duties under time constraints
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing work demands
• Maintain high level of concentration and attention to detail for extended periods of time
• Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints
• Maintain a high level of ethical and professional standards in accordance with agency and community policy

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to talk or hear in order to give and receive information and instructions.
• Ability to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls
• Ability to reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to use computer keyboard up to 75% of the day.
• Visual acuity, ability to adjust focus and peripheral vision for work on a laptop or other computer equipment.
• Lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Able to use telephone, office copier, calculator, fax machine, computer printer and scanner, or other equipment as required.

This description is only intended to illustrate the duties, responsibilities and requirements for it.  It is not intended, nor should it be interpreted to describe each and every duty the employee may be required to perform.

Wellnest does not discriminate against any client, parent/guardian, employee or community member on the basis of actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

Due to restrictions from DHCS, Wellnest, as a health care provider, is unable to employ anyone on a DHCS exclusionary list or database. Applicants will be asked to confirm within the application process whether they are subject to an exclusion.