Director of Major Gifts

Philadelphia Museum of Art • Philadelphia, PA

2d • $140,000

About The Position

The Director of Major Gifts leads the museum’s Major Gifts program, overseeing a team of Major Gifts Officers (currently two) and managing a portfolio of high-capacity donors. This position develops and executes strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward transformational gifts that support endowment, capital, and programmatic priorities. The Director works closely with Trustees, museum leadership, and colleagues across Advancement to strengthen relationships and align fundraising with institutional goals.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive major gift or individual fundraising experience, preferably in a cultural or nonprofit institution.
• Demonstrated success cultivating and soliciting major gifts, generally in the six-figure range, with a focus on long-term donor relationships.
• Experience supervising and mentoring fundraising staff.
• Strong leadership, strategic, and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to articulate institutional priorities and align them with donor interests.
• Proficiency with CRM/fundraising databases (Raiser’s Edge preferred) and Microsoft Office.
• Bachelor’s degree required
• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, and integrity in all interactions.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and refine a comprehensive strategy for the Major Gifts program to grow the pipeline of high-capacity prospects ($25,000+), emphasizing sustainable, long-term donor relationships.
• Personally manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, developing and executing individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
• Conduct face-to-face solicitations and coordinate donor meetings with senior staff and Trustees.
• Supervise, mentor, and support a team of Major Gifts Officers (currently two), establishing clear performance expectations and fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Partner with the Senior Director of Individual Giving and other Advancement colleagues to align major gift strategies with broader institutional and donor priorities.
• Identify and cultivate prospective donors from the museum membership and wider community to expand the donor base.
• Serve as a liaison to curatorial or program departments to translate institutional priorities into philanthropic opportunities.
• Ensure accurate documentation and reporting of donor interactions in the museum’s prospect management system.
• Lead internal portfolio reviews and support collaborative moves management processes.
• Support special projects or initiatives as requested.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family
• Discounted guest tickets for admission
• Discounts on gift memberships
• Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams
• Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance
• Health savings or flexible spending account program
• Retirement savings program with museum match
• Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director