Seattle Development Director, Major Gifts

The Seattle Development Director, Major Gifts is responsible for building and leading the Seattle site’s inaugural major gifts program, securing significant philanthropic support for annual, multi-year, and campaign priorities. As the first hire dedicated to major gifts in the Seattle market, this role will establish systems, strategy, and a robust prospect pipeline while personally managing a portfolio of at least 75–100 high-net worth donors.

The Seattle Development Director, Major Gifts will work closely with the CDO, CEO, National Board of Directors, Seattle Advisory Board, and Development team to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors capable of making transformative gifts. This role requires a relationship-driven fundraiser who is both strategic and hands-on; someone excited to build a Seattle program from the ground up while delivering immediate fundraising results. The position is based in Seattle and will focus on regional donors while contributing to the broader organizational fundraising goals.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Major Gifts Program Development

• Lead the introduction and implementation of Juma Seattle’s Major Gift Program by adapting and localizing the HQ plan.
• Build and maintain an initial major gift prospect list through research, qualification, and relationship development.
• In partnership with the CDO, develop short- and long-term major gift strategies aligned with fundraising and campaign goals.

Donor Relationship Management

• Build a personal portfolio of approximately 75–150 high-networth individual donors and prospects.
• Manage a portfolio of 10–20 Seattle-based institutional funders.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for assigned donors and funders, ensuring timely, meaningful, and personalized engagement.
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and moves management strategies, with a focus on multi-year and five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts.
• Conduct 100–150 intentional, personalized interactions annually to support prospect discovery, field research, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Engage in strategic networking and relationship-building activities to identify and qualify new donor and funder prospects.
• Write and present tailored gift proposals and investment opportunities, and provide ongoing impact reporting and stewardship.
• Collaborate closely with the Senior Grants Manager and Senior Director of Institutional Giving by sharing funder insights and relationship notes to inform grant strategy and proposal development.
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure appropriate staff engagement with funders and donors, including volunteer opportunities or youth-facing activities when requested.
• Track and document all relationship activity, progress, and outcomes to ensure strong stewardship, accountability, and positive funding partner experiences.

Prospect Research and Pipeline Building

• Conduct prospect research to assess donor capacity, philanthropic interests, and readiness to give.
• Actively participate in new donor discovery, including outreach, engagement, and qualification.
• Build a sustainable pipeline that supports annual, mid-level, and future major gift growth.
• Collaborate with the Senior Grants Manager and Senior Director of Institutional Giving to evaluate prospective Seattle institutional and corporate funders.

Advisory Board, Executive, and Volunteer Engagement

• Lead the development and execution of the Seattle Advisory Board, including planning and facilitating quarterly Advisory Board meetings.
• Partner closely with the Advisory Board Chair to ensure strong engagement, alignment with organizational priorities, and effective leadership of the Advisory Board.
• Own the creation of meeting agendas and facilitate meetings to drive meaningful engagement, accountability, and fundraising outcomes; collaborate with the Individual Giving Manager to develop board materials.
• Partner with the CEO, CDO, Seattle Advisory Board, and key volunteers to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects.
• Prepare briefing materials, talking points, and meeting strategies for leadership team and volunteer solicitation.
• Equip Advisory Board members and volunteers with tools, guidance, and confidence to participate effectively in major gift fundraising.

Fundraising and Donor Events

• In partnership with Juma’s Community Engagement Manager, plan and support donor cultivation and stewardship events, like friendraisers and other engaging opportunities.
• Lead the planning and execution of Juma’s annual Seattle donor fundraising event, in partnership with Juma’s Community Engagement Manager.
• Collaborate on event strategy, theme, and messaging to create an experience that deepens donor relationships and inspires multi-year support.
• Work closely with development and communications teams to identify, invite, and engage donors, ensuring the event drives cultivation, stewardship, and major gift opportunities.
• Collaborate with Juma’s Individual Giving Manager to create compelling donor-facing materials, including proposals, appeals, and impact reports.
• Support planning and execution of capital or growth campaigns in partnership with organizational leadership.

Operations and Data Management

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records, contact reports, and cultivation and solicitation plans in Salesforce and Google Drive.
• Monitor and report on portfolio performance, revenue projections, and progress toward goals.
• Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising standards, confidentiality requirements, and organizational policies.

Qualifications

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification listed. If you’re excited about this role and believe your experience aligns with our mission, we’d love to hear from you.

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive fundraising experience, including at least 2 years in securing major gifts.
• Demonstrated success securing five-, six-, or seven-figure gifts from individuals.
• Proven ability to build and manage donor relationships from identification through solicitation and stewardship.
• Experience working with Boards, senior leadership, and volunteers on fundraising initiatives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including proposal writing and donor presentations.
• Experience using a donor CRM system, preferably Salesforce
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple priorities independently

Preferred

• Experience launching or significantly expanding a major gifts program.
• Familiarity with the Seattle or Pacific Northwest philanthropic landscape.

Employee benefits include medical, dental, vision and life insurance, 403B plan, sabbatical, and a significant paid time off package