Position Purpose
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Working as part of the fundraising team and reporting to the Senior Vice President, Individual Philanthropy, the Senior Director, Major Giving is responsible for the strategic direction and management of key donors and fundraising initiatives essential to identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major philanthropic support. The Senior Director leads the major gifts team to meet and exceed budgeted income goals and build relationships toward gifts of passion, that align with Hospital and RCF priorities, through the process of donor development. The Senior Director, Major Giving supports major gift portfolio movement and works with the team, and volunteers, to identify, cultivate, solicit and engage donor prospects. Direct Reports: Individual Philanthropy Specialist;Major Gift Officers; Senior Major Gift OfficersKey Responsibilities
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* Expectations for All Managers
Working closely with the Leadership Team:* Develop and Influence Riley Culture: As a manager, realize the importance of modeling and influencing Riley Community. Exhibit trust, innovation and inclusion.
* Lead the Way and Be Accountable: Manage staff in planning and organizing projects. Develop goals and accountabilities. Follow Foundation performance management practices and meet Human Resources deadlines. Model the way.
* Hire the Best: Have up\-to\-date job descriptions for all direct reports. Follow Foundation hiring practices. Prepare and participate in new employee orientation.
* Guide Your Staff: Set clear expectations and high standards of performance. Provide training, coaching, feedback and corrective action when necessary.
* Engage Your Staff: Be approachable to direct reports and others. Use forms of recognition to thank employees within your team and across the Foundation. Collaborate across the Foundation.
* Create a Best Practice Operation: Stay up to date on best practices. Effectively allocate resources. Manage budget as necessary. Establish metrics to minimize costs and maximize impact.
* Manager Training: Actively participate in all Manager Briefings and use the skills and behaviors identified.
* Fundraising Leadership \& Operational Oversight
- Lead, coach, and support a team of Major Gift Officers and Senior Major Gift Officers, providing regular guidance and feedback to strengthen overall fundraising effectiveness.
- Oversee team fundraising performance by monitoring dollars raised along with visit, qualification, and proposal metrics; identify opportunities to strengthen activity and outcomes; and partner with gift officers to adjust strategies when additional momentum is needed.
- Ensure the development and management of a strong donor pipeline, with consistent movement from discovery through solicitation and stewardship.
- Ensure that proposals and solicitations align with Foundation and hospital priorities and that they follow appropriate internal approval processes.
- Promote strong operational discipline through consistent CRM use, accurate documentation, and adherence to prospect management policies.
- Serve as the first point of contact for donor strategy questions, portfolio challenges, and operational needs, escalating issues to the Senior Vice President of Individual Philanthropy as complexity increases.
- Work closely with colleagues across Mid\-Level Giving, Annual Giving, Corporate \& Foundation Giving, Prospect Development, Donor Engagement and other Foundation teams to drive coordinated fundraising efforts and organization\-wide initiatives.
- Partner with the Senior Vice President to advance strategic priorities for Individual Philanthropy and strengthen pipeline development.
- Ensure strong collaboration with internal stakeholders and external partners to support donor engagement opportunities, events, and campaign initiatives.
* Personal Fundraising \& Portfolio Management
* Portfolio: Build and manage a portfolio of approximately 75 to 100 donor prospects or current supporters.
* Relationship Building: Develop authentic relationships with donors in a focused portfolio to help donors define and accomplish their philanthropic goals in alignment with Riley Children’s Foundation organizational priorities. Conduct qualification calls/visits and develop customized cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans.
* Solicitations: Solicit and close immediate gifts at the $50,000\+ level with focus on solicitation of $100,000\+. Partner on planned gifts of all levels where possible.
* Hospital/Volunteer partnership: Partner with an assigned hospital team, clinical area or volunteer group to maximize fundraising for the area and serve as foundation point of contact.
* Collaboration \& Strategic Alignment
* Administrative
* Administrative: Maintain accountability to administrative systems and procedures including submitting expense reimbursements, credit card reconciliations, invoices, reports, RCF calendar additions, etc., by the deadlines assigned.
* Meetings: Prepare for and actively participate in all Riley Children’s Foundation meetings as appropriate. Ensure expectations and tools for meeting agendas and follow\-up are implemented.
* Budget: Work with your direct manager to develop, manage and monitor the budget, staying within overall budget guidelines.
* Technology \& Data Systems: Ensure effective and consistent team use of Foundation technologies, including CRM systems, reporting dashboards, and project management tools to support accurate pipeline management and decision\-making.
* Compliance: Compliance: Ensure strict compliance with all Foundation policies, as well as applicable legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements governing nonprofit fundraising and business practices.
* Riley Children’s Foundation Representative
* Presentations: Represent Riley Children’s Foundation through delivering speeches about the organization and its mission to the external public and funder representatives.
* Tours: Give tours of the hospital, and provide information on Riley Hospital, Riley Children’s Foundation, JWR Museum Home, Camp Riley and Wells Center for Pediatric Research as appropriate.
7\. Other Duties as Assigned* Riley Children’s Foundation events: Participate in Riley Children’s Foundation Events as requested.
Other duties as assigned.
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Education and Experience
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To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the following education and/or experience.* Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Graduate degree preferred.
* Experience: Six to eight years of fundraising experience. Four to six years of people management experience. Two to four years of leading leaders (manager of managers, directors, or functional leaders). High level of knowledge of an overall donor or customer experience model.
* Skills:
+ Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop a high\-performing fundraising team.
+ Strong portfolio and pipeline management skills, with experience driving disciplined movement and meeting ambitious fundraising goals.
+ Excellent communication skills, including the ability to articulate donor strategies and organizational priorities clearly.
+ High level of CRM competency, with the ability to interpret data, ensure documentation accuracy, and use system insights to inform strategy and coaching.
+ Strong organizational and project management abilities, with consistent follow\-through in a fast\-paced environment.
+ Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with senior leaders, clinicians, and partners.
* Qualities:
+ Personal belief in Riley Children’s Foundation vision, mission, core values and strategic direction.
+ Sound judgment and decision\-making, with the ability to triage issues and escalate appropriately.
+ Relationship\-oriented and donor\-centered, with strong interpersonal skills and professional presence.
+ Motivational leader who fosters accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
+ Highly proactive, adaptable, and solutions\-focused.
+ Resilient and adaptable, capable of leading through change, ambiguity, and evolving organizational priorities.
+ Must adhere to the highest ethical standards.