Major Gifts Director

Organization Overview:

StreetWise Partners is on a mission to create the most diverse, empowered and capable workforce for today and tomorrow. We have driven economic equity for 25 years by delivering highly impactful workforce development mentoring programs for over 25,000 individuals. These programs provide unemployed and underemployed adults in New York City and Washington D.C. with life-changing career opportunities while giving employers access to a pool of capable and diverse talent.

StreetWise Partners’ one-year mentoring program provides customized, individualized mentorship for internship and job seekers while helping them establish an expansive professional network made up of hundreds of advocates who open doors and support long term career success. By 2026 we aim to launch 1900 careers, which equates to $92m in first year cumulative wages to transform individuals, families, and communities.

StreetWise Partners is amid a 3-year growth campaign to deepen our impact and close the career opportunity gap. You will have tangible and direct contributions to help our organization and programs scale. This is your time to help build the workforce of tomorrow.

Position Overview:

StreetWise Partners is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and driven Major Gifts Director to join our growing fundraising team and help scale annual revenue from $4M to $6M. The individual will play a pivotal role in securing major gifts, supporting growth campaigns, cultivating long-term donor relationships, and driving revenue growth for our important mission. The ideal candidate is strategic, and analytical, has a proven track record in major gift fundraising and a commitment to StreetWise Partners’ mission. This is an exciting role for someone who likes to be entrepreneurial, build portfolios and identify new opportunities.

This is a hybrid role with 1-2 days in the office, in addition to donor-facing meetings and events as needed.

Your Role Will Include:

• Donor Relations & Portfolio Management: Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with individuals, with a motivation to grow a portfolio of high potential, high-value donors and prospects. Execute on solicitation strategies from cultivation to close, with a focus on 5-6 figure gifts.
• Strategic Fundraising: Create individualized and customized asks for Major Donors, using moves management principles to meet financial targets, particularly in annual appeal and individual giving campaign verticals. Provide CEO and CDO with moves management support, ensuring portfolios are leveraged.
• Stewardship and Engagement: Design and create stewardship plans and schedules, including in-person events, digital campaigns, etc., with an emphasis on building a robust engagement program with donors.
• Marketing: Create external communications schedule and materials for stewardship and fundraising, including the annual appeal and volunteer grant program. Liaise with the marketing team to develop external communications and marketing collateral.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Analyze donor and volunteer data to identify and prioritize prospects and optimize fundraising efforts. inform and strengthen the Major Gifts pipeline through research and cultivation of new and existing prospects.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams, including program management and communications, to align fundraising strategies with organizational goals and drive forward the growth strategy of the Major Gifts program.
• Event Support: Assist in the planning and execution of key donor engagement and fundraising events (charity Poker Tournament, Breakfast Gala, and cultivation events), using these occasions to strengthen relationships and drive commitments.
• Project Management: Manage multiple projects and deadlines in a nimble and fast-paced environment, proactively driving major giving initiatives and maintaining a forward-thinking approach.
• Reporting & Forecasting: Generate data-driven revenue reports for senior leadership and forecast potential major gifts based on prospect data, ensuring progress toward fundraising targets and supporting the growth of the major gift program.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Experience: 5-7 years of proven success in securing major gifts, particularly at the 5- and 6-figure levels.
• Relationship Building: Expertise in building and sustaining relationships with high-value donors and stakeholders, and a proven ability to grow donor giving.
• Campaign Experience: Experience managing and implementing fundraising campaigns (e.g., annual appeals, capital campaigns, endowment campaigns).
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in data analysis, budgeting, and CRM systems like Salesforce, Blackbaud, and Raiser’s Edge, with strong knowledge of Excel.
• Project Management: Experience managing multiple initiatives simultaneously, familiarity with software tools like Asana.
• Growth Mindset: Eagerness to learn, adapt, and grow into potential management responsibilities.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop creative solutions, maintain attention to detail, and plan both short- and long-term fundraising goals.
• Independent Worker: Ability to proactively manage assigned workload with minimal supervision.

Competencies:

• Ability to Influence
• Accountability
• Planning and Organizing
• Building Partnerships
• Persuasive