State Policy Network is seeking a Director of Major Gifts who thrives in an entrepreneurial, mission-driven environment and is motivated by building meaningful relationships that advance freedom and self-governance.
The ideal candidate has experience leading major gifts programs, coaching frontline fundraisers, and managing complex donor strategies that align philanthropic goals with organizational impact. The right person for this role is a strategic thinker, people developer, and relationship-builder who consistently delivers results while fostering a positive and accountable team culture.
This role requires someone dedicated to advancing SPN’s mission by ensuring donors are meaningfully engaged and that fundraising strategies are both ambitious and realistic. The ideal candidate is able to balance big-picture strategy with hands-on execution, managing both people and a personal donor portfolio.
The Director of Major Gifts will report to the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, serve on the development leadership team, and manage two Strategic Partnership Advisors, with potential for team growth as revenue expands.
This role includes a competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus benefits. Much of SPN’s staff are remote, and this position is eligible to work remotely from a virtual office anywhere in the United States.
Your Day-to-Day
- Lead and manage the major gifts program, ensuring fundraising goals are met and exceeded.
- Coach and mentor a team of frontline fundraisers to build long-term, sustainable donor relationships.
- Host donor strategy meetings and provide ongoing performance feedback and professional development.
- Ensure each major donor and prospect has a clear, customized engagement strategy.
- Maintain accurate revenue projections and adjust strategies as donor circumstances evolve.
- Partner with Development Operations to ensure timely and accurate data entry and reporting.
- Collaborate with Strategic Partnership Advisors and senior leaders to expand and strengthen prospecting efforts.
- Prioritize general operating support while also securing funds for special projects.
- Partner with internal teams to identify and solicit donors for RFPs, special initiatives, and a mission campaign.
- Manage a personal portfolio of major donors and prospects nationwide.
- Cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts of $25,000+, with a focus on $50,000+ donors.
- Develop and structure complex and planned gifts aligned with donor interests and SPN priorities.
- Maintain deep knowledge of SPN’s programs, funding priorities, and strategic objectives.
- Participate in opportunities to share fundraising best practices with affiliate development leaders to help the Network raise more money.
TLDR? We’re looking for...
- 5+ years of development experience, including at least 3+ years closing major gifts of $25,000+
- Demonstrated experience managing and coaching fundraising staff
- A strong commitment to advancing SPN’s mission
- An entrepreneurial, results-oriented mindset
- Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
- Comfort balancing multiple priorities and deadlines
- Proficiency in MS Office; Salesforce experience is a plus
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 40%
Are YOU a good fit?
- Are you Mission-Bound? Everything we do at SPN is in service to the restoration of individual rights and self-governance. We pursue excellence in our work and set aside our pride and differences to commit ourselves to this end.
- Are you Candid and Humble? We give and receive honest and respectful feedback with the assumption of positive intent. We deal with problems and conflict directly with the individuals involved. We are open to challenges, eager to learn, and willing to acknowledge mistakes to improve.
- Are you Entrepreneurial? We seek opportunities, embrace innovation, and take prudent risk with a bias toward action. We test, fail small, and scale our successes. We’re resilient but also nimble, looking for the potential in every challenge.
- Are you Relational? Trust and respect are built over time through competence, reliability, and integrity. We establish credibility through meaningful relationships, demonstrating value before expecting influence or partnership.
Skills Required
- 5+ years of development/fundraising experience
- 3+ years closing major gifts of $25,000+
- Demonstrated experience managing and coaching fundraising staff
- Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors ($25,000+), with focus on $50,000+
- Experience developing and structuring complex and planned gifts
- Experience managing a personal portfolio of major donors and prospects
- Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment and balance multiple priorities
- Proficiency in MS Office
- Salesforce experience
- Willingness to travel up to 40%
- Commitment to SPN's mission and values (mission-bound, candid, humble, entrepreneurial, relational)
What We Do
State Policy Network is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to building and mobilizing a durable state-based infrastructure for freedom. Its mission is to catalyze thriving, durable freedom movements in every state, anchored with high-performing, independent think tanks, by providing strategic support, leadership training, and networking to state-based policy organizations.
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