Director of Major Gifts

Full-time position – Start date by 7/1/21

The Wily Network works with talented, resourceful young people who are navigating their four-year college experience on their own. Wily Scholars are college students who have experience with homelessness or foster care, or whose parents may be deceased or incarcerated, dealing with addiction, or struggling with mental health issues. Some Scholars are estranged from their families due to identifying as LGBTQIA+. 

The Wily program offers weekly trauma-sensitive coaching, supplemental financial assistance, a community of peers, and networking opportunities to help Scholars move from surviving to thriving. For more information, please visit thewilynetwork.org.

Wily and You

Are you a natural connector and storyteller? Are you passionate about bringing people into the Wily Pack to create a robust and sustainable organization? Has your previous development experience led you to the moment where you are ready to grow and lead Wily’s major gifts with your creativity, network and energy?

If your answer is yes, then let’s meet and learn more about each other. 

We are looking for a driven, detailed oriented, problem solver who will leave no path unexplored. As our first Director of Major Gifts you will take our pack to the next level by building and executing your strategies around cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and corporations with a special focus on multi-year gifts and gifts over $25,000. Your work will support the Wily Network as we all work to strengthen fundraising efforts through the broadening of the donor base and diversifying and increasing philanthropic revenue streams. The Director of Major Gifts will partner with the Executive Director to develop networks and secure donations.

The Wily Network is especially committed to recruiting candidates from historically marginalized backgrounds and identities as well as those whose leadership style fosters diversity, equity and inclusion. The successful candidate will possess the authenticity and cultural humility necessary to be an effective representative of Wily and the Wily Scholars as they build bridges and collaborations with partners, donors, and external constituencies. 

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience, success, and progressive responsibility in fundraising with a minimum of 5-7 years experience as a seasoned major gifts professional
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• Valid driver's license and/or reliable transportation for travel to and from donor meetings

The Wily Network strives to create a workplace that reflects our commitment to racial, gender, and social equity. All identities will be welcomed, valued, and protected as a member of our Pack.